1999 Annual Report Executive Summary*
Greene/Sumter Enterprise Community
The Greene/Sumter Enterprise Community has made great progress since the resigning of the Agreement between The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund in April of 1999.
All past descrepancies from the audit report from the Department of Human Resources have been cleared. Two (2) Co-Coordinators were hired in November 1999 to carry out the EC day to day operation. The budget was submitted to ADECA in December of 1999. The EC Administrative Office is now located in Livingston, Alabama. The Sumter County Commissioners donated office space, rent free with all utilities paid by the County. A satellite office is located in Greene County. This office is opened on Tuesdays and on the day the Greene County Commissioners have their monthly meeting. The Greene County Commissioners donate this office space with utilities paid by the County.
The EC applied for two grants in 1999; the Youth Opportunity Grant (YOG) and the West Alabama Regional Skills Consortium.
The Revolving Loan Subcommittee has revised the guidelines and procedures for the Revolving Loan Fund. The New South Coalition held a workshop on January 14, 2000, at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Al, which included bankers and loan officers. Banks present were Compass Bank, Regions Bank, AM South Bank, Citizens Federal Bank, and the Federal Reserve Bank. Representatives from Stillman College, Alabama Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Supportives Program, and Alabama State University, Small Business Development Center. Urban Economic Research were also present at this workshop. Ten (10) residents from the EC area were present at this workshop that were interested in starting or expanding their businesses. After the workshop, EC residents had the opportunity to speak with bank representatives on one to one bases. All banks that were present stated that they would partner with us to help leverage money for the community and residents of the EC area who is interested in starting or expanding their businesses. However, the problem would be in trying to make interested potential business owners eligible. The EC plans to hold workshops and trainings to address these needs.
The Infrastructure Subcommittee has been in the process of adding benchmarks and tasks to the Infrastructure fund. Health Care, Housing, Public Safety and Law Enforcement and Transportation were addressed in the Strategic Plan; however, no benchmarks were listed for these concerns. Partnerships have been established with Family Health Care of West Alabama to address the needs of affordable health care in the EC area. Partnership has been established with USDA/Rural Development to address the needs of housing in the EC area. Many EC residents face credit problems. The EC plans to hold workshops and trainings to help residents in the EC area correct these problems and teach them what they need to do in order to qualify for a home. Partnership has been developed with West Alabama Public Transportation to provide transportation for EC residents to carry them to and from health services.
The Education & Training Fund Subcommittee has developed an application, guidelines and procedures for these funds. Partnerships have been developed with the Greene and Sumter School systems.
The Steering Committee has adopted guidelines and procedures to govern the Steering Committee regarding EC funds to ensure that there is no conflict of interest and all funds are intended for the purposes as stated in its Mission Statement and support the objectives as outlined in the Strategic Plan and Benchmarks.
The EC-Co Coordinators have attended Commissioners meetings and City Council meetings to address the needs of both Counties. Citizens and County Officials are deeply concerned about jobs, homes, water, sewage and job training. The needs of the communities are being addressed.