Jackson County Rural EC
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State: Florida
County (Census Tracts): Jackson (9802, 9803, 9806, 9808)
Community Population: 16,247
Community Area Size: 332 square miles
Poverty Rate: 29.5 %
Unemployment Rate: 7.2%
Per Capita Income: $9,654.00
Education: 61.2 %
Overview
The Marianna, Florida Chamber of Commerce nominated a region of Jackson County with a population of more than 16,000 people and a poverty rate over 29%. The vision of community leaders calls for the development of economic self sufficiency for all citizens. To Support this vision, the plan calls for the development of small businesses, provision for industrial expansion, and establishment of family support systems. The family support system rests on a series of five community centers in the area that will provide a wide range of social, health, recreational, educational, job readiness, and related support services. Five vans will be purchased to provide rural residents access to the family centers, as well as, other services and jobs.
Employment opportunities for unskilled workers are presently limited to low wage jobs in the large retail and wholesale trade sectors or service occupations totalling 3,000 and 1,000 jobs respectively. According to the 1990 Census data, the average wage for residents of Jackson County was $7.53 per hour which is insufficient to support even one person. The Jackson County Health and Rehabilitative Services staff estimate that the average mother with two children requires a minimum of $1500 per month to meet the basic household requirements.
The social services agencies and residents of the county have worked hard to provide a high level of social services to disadvantaged residents. A continuing message throughout the strategic planning process that small rural communities need to focus their community as a place where children can learn, where parents can come for guidance and support and where elders can go for companionship.
Key Activities
Economic Opportunity:
Establish a Jackson County Economic Development Council to focus and coordinate economic development activities and provide assistance to existing small business and entrepreneurs. This includes establishing and operating a Jackson County branch of the Gulf Coast Community College Small Business Development Center.
Community Building:
Jackson County has decided to make the building and staffing of a community services center in the five municipalities in the project area, a priority. These centers will be built or rehabilitated using local labor and in-kind contributions of labor and materials to the maximum extent possible. The very process of building the community centers will build the community and will provide a sense of ownership and responsibility.
Five Community Development Service Centers will be established as a means of delivering a wider range of community services to encourage self sufficiency and to make health care accessible. Included in this program is a Mobile Health Unit. Four child and elder care centers will also be built.
Sustainable Economic and Community Development:
The community is supportive of expanding the existing fixed route transportation system to make it more accessible and affordable. A transportation assistance program will be established, including a volunteer transportation network and the promotion of shared rides for employees of large companies and industrial parks where concentrations of companies exist.
Develop a comprehensive housing assistance program will be developed through a systematic plan for accessing CDBG Housing Rehabilitation funds. The effectiveness and efficiency of management of housing assistance programs. Included in this program will be partnering with local banks to provide home buyer assistance programs and providing technical assistance to non profit providers of low income housing.
The community will improve access to safe sources of potable water and use state and federal funding sources for public works and infrastructure more effectively.
A new Vocational and Applied Technology Center will be built to provide health career and vocational training for high school students.
Major Public Sector Commitments
Local: $890,000- $40,000 for construction/rehab of community centers; $200,000 for a recreation program; $200,000 for family support services/job placement; $100,000 each for Economic Development Council, Small Business Development Center and Housing assistance.
Major Private Sector Commitments
$250,000 from local banks for housing assistance program.
Contact:
Name: Bill Stanton Address: P.O. Box 920 Marianna, FL 32447 Phone: 850-526-4005 Fax: 850-526-4008 Email: stantonjcdc@earthlink.net
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