The Halifax/Edgecombe/Wilson Empowerment Alliance EC
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State: North Carolina
Counties (Census Tracts): Halifax (9908, 9909), Edgecombe (0201, 0202), Wilson (0002, 0007, 000801)
Community Population: 29,810
Community Area: 273.8 sq. mi.
Poverty Rate: 35.2 %
Unemployment Rate: 7.7 %
Overview
The Wilson Community Improvement Association, the Rocky Mount/Edgecombe Community Development Corporation, the Halifax Community Development Corporation and the Haliza-Saponi Tribe, Inc. joined together to form the Empowerment Alliance. The four Community Development Corporations (CDCs) have many years of experience in planning and operating comprehensive housing programs in the area. The application process generated a community-wide understanding of the conditions and causes of poverty. Poverty constrains human capacity and leads to hopelessness, anger, low expectations, poor self-esteem, and a sense of victimization that culminates in the conscious decision to "give up". The consequence of discouragement is evident by the highest school delinquency and dropout, teen pregnancy, and criminal activity.
The Empowerment Alliance participants developed several innovative ways to attack poverty's root causes with particular emphasis on the development of capable young people. The Strategic Vision of the Empowerment Alliance is "a new regional grassroots approach to identifying, understanding and solving the problems in creating equity and overcoming racial prejudice so that all children will enter school ready to learn and graduate from school with the job and social skills to (1) be safe, happy, and self-supporting; (2) realize their potential in the career of their choice; and (3) become home-owners in a beautiful, culturally diverse community. Elements of the Empowerment Alliance plan include:
- Parenting education
- Capacity-building for families receiving public assistance
- Early identification of high-risk children
- Counseling and increased mental health presence in schools
- Coordinated job-related school and other training programs
- Affordable home ownership counseling and opportunities
Key Activities
Economic Opportunity:
The Empowerment Alliance plans to build 250 new businesses within the region over the next 10 years. Business and technical assistance will be provided for women and minorities to start or expand a business with assistance Business Development Centers. Capital for business start and expansion will be generated in a "one-stop" CDC Center that will provide information on all sources of loan capital and equity. The CDCs also plan to develop specialized businesses assistance programs focused on specific sectors such as neighborhood retail, day care and construction. Lastly, the Alliance will develop or renovate key commercial center buildings to establish a base of community services and businesses to provide neighborhood access to goods, services and jobs.
Sustainable Economic and Community Development:
Over the next ten years, 1181 owner-occupied homes will be rehabilitated, 915 single family homes will be built, 510 rental units will be rehabilitated, 540 new rental units for low-income and elderly residents will be built, and 81 units will be built for low-income residents with special needs. Water and sewer infrastructure development is targeted to all residents and industrial prospects.
A comprehensive transportation program is planned to include a study on transportation needs of the region, including the rail system and the purchase of buses and vans. The Alliance will capitalize on its Interstate 95 location by recruiting environmentally-friendly industrial clients in order to gain better job opportunities.
Community Building:
Plans have been made to create an Adopt-a-Family Program, a Minority Business Council and sensitivity and multi-cultural training for teachers and law enforcement officials. The Reach-One-Teach-One program is designed to develop self-esteem among the region's youth, teach students how to deal with peer pressure, improve school performance and teach leadership skills. Start-up or expansion funds for existing and prospective child care providers will be provided. A comprehensive, community-based Family Resource Center will be strategically located in the region. The facility will provide information and referral services in addition to counseling and health-related information networks.
Major Public Sector Commitments
State Government Resources:
The Rural Economic Development Center has offered access to their programs including the Microenterprise Loan Program, Capital Access Program, Child Care Loan Guarantee Fund and Capacity Building Grants program.
Major Private Sector Commitments
The nonprofit Opportunity Industrial Center will provide job training, child care and job placement services. The North Carolina Association of Community Development Corporation's Equity and Pre-Development Fund will support the early stages of the commercial and housing development projects. The North Carolina Community Development Initiative will provide technical assistance and capacity-building grants. The Self-Help Development Bank will provide home mortgages, as well as, small business loans and microloans.
The four CDCs will contribute the staff and technical assistance to implement the Empowerment Alliance plan. Merck & Company, Champion International Corporation, Safelite Glass Corporation, Centura Bank and Wachovia Bank are only a sample of the private sector entities that indicated their general support for the Empowerment Alliance plan.
Contact:
Name: Terri Anderson Address: P.O. Box 1180 Rocky Mount, NC 27802 Phone: 252-972-1609 Fax: 252-972-1590 Email: anderson@ci.rocky-mount.nc.us
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