Fayette County/Haywood County Rural EC
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State: Tennessee
Counties (Census Tracts): Haywood (9803, 9804, 9805, 9808), Fayette (0601, 0603, 0605, 0606)
Community Population: 29,080
Community Area Size: 669 square miles
Poverty Rate: 31%
Unemployment Rate: 8.5%
Education: 69% of residents lack a high school diploma
Overview
The Fayette County-Haywood County Enterprise Community is located in a rural area of Western Tennessee. Through the ten year strategic plan, the targeted community seeks to plan and implement a program that will create opportunities for local residents to acquire the educational and job skills needed to advance economically, live in safe and affordable homes and neighborhoods, have access to basic services that support the preservation of families and to create an environment to sustain long term community growth.
The Fayette County-Haywood County Enterprise Community Steering Committee will function as the lead organization in the coordination of the partners that will implement the strategic plan. A major focus of the program will be the improvement of basic and vocational skills through specific training programs developed by an innovative partnership of businesses, high schools, universities, vocational/technical schools, and employment specialists. The counties will seek to increase the recruitment of medium to high wage, environmentally friendly industries to the area. This would be accomplished through the coordinated efforts of the local Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations, Community Development Corporations, and the financial community.
The Enterprise Community program will utilize the Federal SSBG funds to leverage State Housing Development Agency and CDBG funds for the renovation and rehabilitation of sub-standard housing in the two counties. The housing program will also provide new housing for low income individuals through cooperation with a local Habitat for Humanity affiliate and also by making low interest loans with USDA and other available loan funds.
An innovative feature of the program is the recruitment of primary care physicians and nurse practitioners to the area by means of incentive and scholarship programs. A traveling nurse will also be hired to provide greater health care access to individuals with mobility limitations.
Key Activities
Economic Opportunity:
The community will establish accessible job training programs that are relevant to the needs of local and regional employers. A key component of this development effort is a local public-private job training/retraining and referral center. The center will be operated by a partnership of local schools systems, local industry investors and the local JTPA program. In exchange for partial financial support, the center would give local industry a voice in the conduct of job training programs that will provide a greater pool of potential applicants for their skill needs. An entrepreneurial development assistance program will be developed and offered to inform and assist local residents who are interested in starting a business. A micro-loan fund will also be created.
Community Building:
The community, in conjunction with the Memphis area and South West Community Health Agencies, will establish a scholarship fund for qualified area students who are pursuing a career in medicine. The scholarships will be based on academic excellence and community involvement. A traveling nurse practitioner will be hired as an extension of the local Health Department to allow improved access to health care for those with mobility limitations.
Sustainable Community Development:
The Enterprise Community will form a network of local bankers, construction experts, community -based organizations, planners, and local elected officials to develop opportunities for new residential construction. They will work to enhance the existing Habitat for Humanity program will establish another within the targeted area. Programs will be developed to address the needs of elderly and/or disabled residents for housing rehabilitation and maintenance. Efforts to obtain funding for the housing projects will continue with applications to the State Housing Development Agency HOUSE Demonstration and CDBG Programs and the USDA Housing Preservation Grant.
Major Public Sector Commitments: $ 1,497,000
Local Government Resources:
$192,000 total from Fayette County, for multi-purpose Satellite Community Service Centers.
State Government Resources:
$ 1,000,000 from the State Housing Development Agency as match for the housing program. $305,000 for the Community Nurse Program, Tennessee Department of Health.
Contact:
Name: John Sicola Address: 1420 Union Avenue, Suite 410 Memphis, TN 38104 Phone: 901-729-2871 Fax: 901-729-4107 Email: jwsicola@maagov.org
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