Delta Compass and Washington County Economic Alliance Receive Three Community Building Grants
Dec 5, 2023
Contact: [Hillary Boggs], [hboggs@wceams.com]
PRESS RELEASE
Delta Compass and Washington County Economic Alliance Receive Three Community Building Grants
[Greenville, Mississippi] – December 5, 2023, Washington County Economic Alliance and Delta Compass’ CEO, Justin Archer Burch, announced the award of three community development grants to Washington County and the Mississippi Delta. “We continue to see forward momentum as our organizations mature into serving as regional intermediaries and capacity builders,” said Burch on the recent announcement of $65,000 in grants.
National Endowment for the Arts and South Arts have provided $15,000 in a creative placemaking grant to Delta Compass for support on the Greenville “FUNnel”, offering cultural amplification to the Delta while revitalizing the alley running from Washington Avenue to Main Street within the commercial district. These funds will be used in leverage to the BCJI planned $400,000 + awarded to the Greenville Safety Collaborative, which also includes Main Street Greenville, the Community Foundation of Washington County, and the Greenville Police Department. “When equitable development is coupled with creative placemaking, the power of arts and culture can be leveraged to further advance equity by connecting the cultural and social fabric of a community. These grants demonstrate Washington County Economic Alliance and Delta Compass’ commitment to bringing impactful arts and cultural activities to the Mississippi Delta”, said Washington County Economic Alliance and Delta Compass COO, Hillary Boggs.
Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation provided $30,000 towards capacity building, which will allow Delta Compass to strengthen Greenville’s innovation corridor and future planned innovation hub and co-working space. The Delta Compass Innovation Hub is designated to open by June 1st, 2024, in the 600 Block of Washington Avenue in Greenville, Mississippi offering incubation space, business technical assistance, and growing capital support to emerging entrepreneurs. “The City of Greenville sincerely thanks National Endowment for the Arts, South Arts, Rural LISC, and LISC Housing for such critical infusion of resources into our community to support downtown revitalization, housing, the arts, and entrepreneurship. A sincere thanks to Washington County Economic Alliance and Delta Compass for their continued partnership as the City of Greenville continues its efforts in driving forward progress in record numbers.”, said Mayor Errick Simmons.
LISC Housing will provide $20,000 in a healthy housing grant, which will be used to retrofit and revitalize housing properties within Washington County to be more energy efficient. The goal is to make the housing stock in the Delta healthier and also offer updated appliances, which will be less taxing on the climate as well as the owners/renter’s pocketbooks. “The Washington County Economic Alliance and Delta Compass appreciate the support from all our partners and are excited about the role we are able to play in success stories within Washington County and the Mississippi Delta as a whole,” said Board President Parker England.