DeltaCorps expands program in Arkansas and surrounding states

The Delta Regional Authority and Americorps have expanded their joint program, DeltaCorps, in Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Arkansas. DeltaCorps added 16 members at seven sites in those states, expanding the program to more than 67 AmeriCorps members already awarded in the Mississippi River Delta.

DeltaCorps programming focuses on education, environmental stewardship, disaster recovery, economic opportunity, and veterans and military families. DeltaCorps members have recruited and managed over 2,000 volunteers and supported 300 displaced residents throughout the Delta as they returned to safe, stable housing.

“Service is an opportunity for DeltaCorps members to give back to their communities, and we’re proud to see more volunteers and organizations joining us to expand community capacity,” DRA Chairman Chris Masingill said. “The mission of DeltaCorps is to engage individuals and organizations in service projects to improve economic opportunity by helping create jobs, build communities and improve the lives of the 10 million Delta residents and it’s clearly becoming a great success.”

The seven new sites include:
• The Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation of southeast Missouri will have one DeltaCorps member who will mentor 10 Boy Scouts in Pemiscot County, developing the first Boy Scout troop in this area.

• Two members will work with the United Way of Southeast Missouri to tutor students in grades 2-6 to increase reading by at least one grade level by the end of the year.

• The Jackson Zoo in Mississippi will host a DeltaCorps member to implement, evaluate, and develop education programs that help economically disadvantaged students learn more about the zoo’s exhibits and animals.

• Members in Morehouse Parish in Louisiana will provide tutoring to economically disadvantaged students and help them attain workforce readiness certificates to increase job readiness.

• Purchase Area Health Connections in western Kentucky will host two DeltaCorps members to improve health, wellness and economic issues in the region.

• Three DeltaCorps members will serve with Rural Community Alliance in Elaine and Eudora, AR, by providing after-school tutoring services and summer learning activities to nearly 200 children in both communities. Children ages 0-5 will receive free books.

• The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance will host five DeltaCorps members who will serve in 38 counties in the Arkansas Delta to expand programs, including the Arkansas No Kid Hungry Campaign, Cooking Matters nutrition education, hunger gardens, Summer and after-school meal programs, and volunteer coordination.

DeltaCorps is modeled after the AmeriCorps program, which since 1994 has attracted 1 million members who have contributed more than 1.2 billion service hours to communities across the nation.

In 2017-2018 DRA expects to contribute $17,500 per DeltaCorps member placed at an organization, with a total of 60 positions available in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. Participating organizations must provide a $2,000 match per DeltaCorps member that is applied toward a living allowance.

DeltaCorps’ first class began in 2016 to support projects in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Northeast Arkansas, Pulaski County Arkansas and Tennessee. Most recently, New Orleans-based DeltaCorps members helped to renovate the 100-year-old home of an elderly New Orleans couple to honor the memory and service commitment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Delta Regional Authority is a federal-state partnership created by Congress in 2000 to help create jobs, build communities, and improve lives through strategic investments in economic development in 252 counties and parishes across eight states. To date, the DRA’s SEDAP investments, together with its state and local partners, have leveraged federal resources into nearly $3.5 billion in public and private investment into local small business owners, entrepreneurs, workforce improvement, and infrastructure development projects. DRA investments have helped to create and retain more than 37,000 jobs, train more than 7,300 workers for 21st Century jobs, and deliver water and sewer improvements to more than 66,000 residents.