Published: May 22, 2009 St. Francis County leaders are gearing up for Tuesday’s quarterly meeting with Southern Bancorp officials. According to a press release, the meeting is set for 5:30 p.m., at the St. Francis County Courthouse, and those in attendance will...

Southern Good Faith Fund, an affiliate of Southern Bancorp, is a leader in helping to improve the lives of low-income and low-skilled residents in the Arkansas and Mississippi Delta, says Angela Duran of Little Rock, the SGFF president.

Southern Bancorp opened its doors on Cherry Street on Jan. 17, 1931 as Phillips National Bank. Seventy-eight years later the bank is still going strong thanks to loyal customers, local management decisions making by a local board of directors.

Exploring Innovation participants had the chance to test their innovation skills in the “Fed Prize Challenge,” a contest that asked participants to submit their most creative response to a question on the minds of community development practitioners.

About 50 people heard an update on the Clark County Strategic Plan at Hickingbotham Hall Tuesday.

A co-chair from each CCSP subcommittee spoke about 2008-2009 accomplishments and upcoming plans. CCSP Chair Dr. Wesley Kluck reported that 26 action goals have been completed since the 2008 meeting, and that 49 goals are being worked on.

The Arkansas Public School Resource Center has announced that eight schools, including KIPP Delta College Prep in Helena, affiliated with the education organization were designated a “higher performing school” by the National Center for Educational Achievement.

Arkansas bankers keep rolling with the changes wrought by last year’s financial shake-up. Across the state, bank executives and directors are examining their place in the market: buy, sell or hold as well as deciding to cut or add branches.

The market flux has forced a refresher course on minding the basics, to maintain adequate capital and liquidity and scrutinize risk analysis. A wild card thrown into the mix is an evolving government program designed to aid troubled banks and provide extra capital to healthy lenders in hopes of stimulating the economy.

Arkadelphia’s Southern Bancorp Inc. put its $11 million in TARP capital to work expanding through two acquisitions. The first up was the $5 million-plus deal for troubled Timberland Bank of El Dorado, a $135 million-asset venture launched in 2000.

Henderson State University and Arkadelphia Public Schools have partnered to create a new educational opportunity for Arkadelphia High School freshmen. The Arkadelphia College Preparatory Academy is scheduled to begin classes on Saturday, April 18.

The pilot program was designed as part of the High School Redesign Initiative of the Southwest-A Education Renewal Zone and the Arkansas Department of Education. Leaders from Arkadelphia Public Schools, HSU, Ouachita Baptist University, Ouachita Technical College, Dawson Educational Cooperative, Clark County Strategic Plan, local business and community representatives and elected officials participated in the development of the Academy.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Mike Ross along with U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S Representative Marion Berry have announced that the Southern Good Faith Fund will receive a $176,471 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services for its asset building program.