City of East Prairie, Mississippi County Rural EC
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State: Missouri
County (Census Tracts): Mississippi (9504)
Community Population: 4,312
Community Area: 4.3 square miles
Poverty Rate: 35.3%
Unemployment Rate: 10%
Overview
Mississippi county, Missouri is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in the heart of the nation. It is the eastern most county in the state and is surrounded by 95 miles of Mississippi River frontage.
According to the 1990 Census, Mississippi county ' s population experienced an 8.2% decline in population while the state averaged a 4.1% increase in population. The number of housing units declined by 4.6% while the state experienced a growth of 10.6% in housing units. Median value of a home in the county is $27,500 less than the state median home average. Mississippi County's median household income is $15,458, which is $11,213 less than that of the state.
Poverty and illiteracy have been endemic to the City of East Prairie as well as in Mississippi County. The communities have agricultural based economies, but there are several small manufacturing firms in the county, each employing a substantial number of workers. The single largest industrial employer in East Prairie is C.B. Forms with 100 employees.
Epworth Bootheel Family Learning Center will serve as the coordinating agency, with the City of East Prairie as the legal recipient of funds. The planners envision the development of an economically independent community, supporting healthy, self sufficient, productive and involved citizens.
A strong community development component includes a proposal to boost the education of the population from ages 5 to 24 in a systematic incentive-program. The program is designed to focus on increasing the number of high school graduates, skills training, and adult education for residents over 25 years old.
Key Activities
Economic Opportunity:
The economic development strategic plan for the East Prairie area is based on the belief that developing economic opportunities will allow citizens to break the cycle of welfare dependency and apathy caused by generational barriers of poverty and isolation.
Physical access to other areas is developed through a transportation support infrastructure. Social equality is planned through incentive growth plans for youth and adults to become literate and prepared citizens by :
- Improving access to vocational /technical training programs for 85% of the citizens participating in human development youth and adult incentive education programs by co-locating programs to maximize participation.
- Maintaining jobs by developing and implementing a formalized business retention program whereby business and industry will be called upon twice per year to provide assistance as needed.
- Assisting 50 new business ventures through development and implementation of a comprehensive recruitment plan to include tourism development, infrastructure development and market evaluation. The cost of the proposed 10 year three pronged economic development strategy is $12,750,00.
Community Building:
Focal group in this revitalization plan is the Epworth Bootheel Family Learning Center. It will provide a variety of educational programs from pre-school to remedial learning for senior citizens. The Center will coordinate Day Care Operators and Early Childhood educators.
Housing will get much attention, both through financing new construction and rehabilitating existing units. Plan is to make maximum use of Rural Housing and Community Development.
Sustainable Economic and Community Development:
The strategic plan is based on the principle that "success breeds success" and that citizens want to live as productive community members. Along with plans for economic development, incentive increment programs were developed to encourage youth and adults to leave their cycle of welfare dependency. Family development programs encourage healthy family living in safe and decent housing. Each portion of the strategic plan encourages continued growth of its citizens.
Public Sector Commitments: $26.8 Million
Local Government Resources:
The plan identifies an infusion of $2.5 million in local funds over the 10-year span of the EC program. It does not specify whether or not these are local government funds or contributions from business or other private sector participants. Family Development, $1.2 million to support development of family support infrastructures; Community and Economic Development, $625,000, to assist 50 new businesses to start and Basic Needs, $750,000 to develop a comprehensive plan for housing rehabilitation and construction . The plan does not identify the specific source of these funds.
State Government Resources:
The State plans to contribute $9.5 million over 10 years to be distributed as follows: Education, $24,000; Family Development, $385,00; Community and Economic Development, $3.5 million; Health, $602,040, to establish a site for the delivery of preventive and primary health care, and Basic Needs, $5.0 million. Specific sources of these funds are not identified.
Federal Government Resources:
The plan will use $14.8 million in non-SSBG Federal government funds, but the specific accounts involved have not been identified. Education, $6.9 million; Family Development, $890,000; Community and Economic Development, $5.6 million; Health, $628,000, and Basic Needs, $750,000.
Private Sector Commitments
The Private Industry Council (SEMO)(PIC) will provide education funds. Grants and scholarships through Missouri University system are pledged, but no specific amount was indicated.
Contact:
Name: Dr. Martha Ellen Black Address: Epworth Bootheel Family Learning Center, 207 N. Washington St., P.O. Box 249 East Prairie, MO 63845 Phone: 573-649-3731 Fax: 573-649-5028 Email: martha@swflc.org Website: www.eastprairiemo.net
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