Delta Bridge Project to Host Poverty Simulation

The Mississippi County Delta Bridge project is excited to present Living on the Edge: Taking a Look at Poverty, a free poverty simulation designed to teach how to help those living in poverty by truly understanding their difficulties. The event will take place Wednesday, September 9, 2015 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the ANC Governors Ballroom located in Statehouse Hall on the main campus in Blytheville, AR.

During this interactive learning process, participants will be given roles within family units to perform day-to-day tasks, such as sending children to school, going to or finding work, paying bills, accessing community resources, buying groceries, interacting with financial institutions, and more. At the end of the training, a debriefing session will link participants' experiences to the realities of Mississippi County citizens living in poverty.

Following the workshop portion, a community panel discussion titled “Where Do We Go From Here?” will feature a host of Mississippi County citizens and community leaders and experts from around the state and the nation to begin the conversation on how Mississippi County can engage in collective impact strategies to assist under-resourced citizens to make the journey from poverty to prosperity


For more information, call 870-838-2920. For full details or to register online, visit http://bit.ly/1Q3zf6o

Quick Links:
Facebook event page
Full info & online registration

This community engagement workshop is hosted in partnership with Arkansas Northeastern College, Arkansas Department of Higher Education, Mississippi County Arkansas E.O.C., and Great River Economic Development Foundation and a host of community sponsors.

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Chamber to Relaunch Leadership Academy

The Osceola/South Mississippi County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the return of a

program that will enrich the local workforce and professional community.

The Leadership Academy of Osceola and South Mississippi County is slated to launch in September, after a nine year hiatus. "We have a lot of new people in leadership positions or on their way there, so the time is right to bring it back," said Chamber Director Ammi Tucker. The goal of the academy is to help identify and strengthen those that have community leadership potential, as well as help local businesses and industries cultivate potential leaders and increase opportunities to promote from within.

The Academy will take place in one day-long meeting per month from September through December, and culminate with a day trip to Little Rock in early 2016. Each session will be interactive, hands-on, and designed to equip participants with the tools that will better prepare them for leadership opportunities within the community as well as their organization or company. In a new twist to the program, sessions will be held at various locations in communities throughout South Mississippi County to help make participants more aware of the people, places, and resources in our area.

The Chamber is striving to keep the Leadership Academy rich in content yet still accessible. The tuition fee is $350 per participant and includes meals and snacks, program materials, transportation & meal during the Little Rock visit planned for early 2016. A discounted tuition per participant is available if any company wishes to enroll three or more employees. Also, a limited number of scholarships may be awarded to businesses or nonprofit organizations with 10 or fewer employees.

Sessions begin Wednesday, September 2, and the deadline for applications is Friday, August 28, 2015.  For more information about the Leadership Academy, or to inquire about sponsor and partnership opportunities, contact Ammi Tucker at 870-563-2281 or osceolachamber@sbcglobal.net

Helpful quick links:

Download the Leadership Academy Application for Enrollment

Download the Leadership Academy Program Booklet 
Download the Leadership Academy Scholarship Application
Download the Leadership Academy Sponsorship Commitment Form

Osceola/SMC Chamber Initiatives information

Osceola/SMC Chamber Offers Educator Incentives

Attracting and retaining educators to the Delta is a challenge, and the Osceola/South Mississippi County Chamber of Commerce education committee is taking strides to help show appreciation and reward local educators for their excellent work in our local schools.

Starting this academic year, the Osceola/SMC Chamber will recognize three Educators of the Quarter: one each from Osceola School District, Rivercrest School District, and Arkansas Northeastern College. From those that will accumulate over four quarters, an Educator of the Year will be selected.  In addition to the recognition, recipients will also receive monetary awards.

The nomination process will be conducted online, and is open to anyone that wishes to recommend an individual for consideration. Anyone that is employed at either of the three institutions is eligible for nomination, regardless of title, accolades, length of employment, or level of education. “It is an educator award, not exclusive to teachers or instructors, as all school employees have a direct impact on student success,” says Chamber Director Ammi Tucker. “It may be a bus driver that keeps a student encouraged to continue school, or a cafeteria staff member that holds conversations to keep them academically accountable. Every school employee matters.”

A perfect attendance bonus will also be awarded to eligible teachers at Osceola and Rivercrest Schools on a semester basis.

In addition to these awards, the Chamber coordinated with Osceola Municipal Light and Power to help encourage relocation to the area.  As a result, any employee of the three schools that is getting a new utility connection with OML&P is eligible for a waived utility deposit after providing proof of employment and residence. “We want our local educators to live close and be a part of the communities,” says Tucker. “Student accountability and development of a positive bond with their teachers is much more probable when they see them outside of school, too, such as at the grocery store, at community events, or at the gas station.”

For more information about the Chamber’s educator incentives, or if you or your company would like to partner with the Chamber in making these awards possible, contact Ammi Tucker at 870-563-2281 or osceolachamber@sbcglobal.net

Helpful quick links:
Link to Nominate Educator of the Quarter
Osceola/SMC Chamber Initiatives information

SMC Upcoming Area Events for April & May 2015

Updated 4/14/15  3:00 p.m.

Over the course of the next couple of months, there is something happening in Osceola and South Mississippi County communities nearly every week!  Here is your quick guide of what's going on, where, and when:



Thursday, April 9

7:00 p.m., Blytheville: Arkansas Northeastern College Department of Fine Arts presents "For The Love of Music," music centered around the emotion music stirs within us. Blytheville Main Campus, Adams/Vines Recital Hall.

Friday, April 10

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Osceola: Staffmark Career Fair. Bring your resume.  Inside the Osceola/SMC Chamber of Commerce, 116 N Maple (parking in back of building).

7:00 p.m., Blytheville: Miss Co Arts Council presents "Della's Diner" from Springer Theatricals. Ritz Civic Center, 306 W Main. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door, children 12 & under admitted free with purchase of adult ticket.

Saturday, April 11

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Osceola: ReNew East Arkansas city-wide neighborhood summit. Harold Ohlendorf Civic Center at 116 N Maple (parking in back of building).

11:00 a.m., Wilson: Groundbreaking for the new Hampson Archaeological Museum, on the square

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Osceola: Main Street Osceola crawfish boil with music by Loose Change. Plates $15 each, dine in or carry out.  Inside the Bingo Hall at 106 W Hale (next door to the Main Street Osceola offices)



Sunday, April 12

3:00 p.m., Blytheville: Arkansas Northeastern College Department of Fine Arts presents "For The Love of Music," music centered around the emotion music stirs within us. Blytheville Main Campus, Adams/Vines Recital Hall. 

Friday, April 17

6:30 p.m., Blytheville: Miss Co Arts Council presents "Rip Van Winkle" from Bits ‘N Pieces Giant Puppets. Ritz Civic Center, 306 W Main. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door, children 12 & under admitted free with purchase of adult ticket.



Tuesday, April 21 ***NEW***

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Osceola: Temps Plus will be hosting a Job Fair. Stop by and fill out an application, visit with the Staff, and enjoy some refreshments. Temps Plus office, 415 West Keiser.



Wednesday, April 22

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Osceola: Osceola/SMC Chamber Annual Administrative Professional's Day Luncheon, Harold Ohlendorf Civic Center at 116 N Maple (parking in back of building). Tickets $15 each and include lunch & door prizes.  Homemade Spring Hat contest with Chamber Cheques prizes awarded to 1st place $100, 2nd $75, and 3rd $50.  Companies may sponsor a table centerpiece for $30. To RSVP or sponsor a centerpiece, call 870-563-2281 or email chambersecretary@scbglobal.net or print & return this form.



Thursday, April 23

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Blytheville: ANC Job Fair, Briggs/Sebaugh Wellness Center.  Booths are free, but require pre-registration by April 17.  To register a company booth, contact Bridget Shemwell at 870-838-2974, email bshemwell@smail.anc.edu, or print & return this form.



Saturday, April 25

7:15 - 11:30 a.m., Osceola: County-Wide Clean-Up.  The City of Osceola Street Department will pick up at your curb side debris such as chairs, tables, mattresses, box springs, and other small items between the hours above.  NO tires, shingles, limbs, leaves, and household garbage will be picked up. To ensure your Saturday pick up, call 870-563-2612 and leave your name, phone number, and address and you will be scheduled. (Also, the county landfill will be free to all county residents from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. if taken by residents personally.)

2:00 - 8:30 p.m., Wilson: Mud Bugs on the Square. Free admission with Kevin Johns selling crawfish, other food vendors also available.  Kids' zone $5 unlimited wristband.  Live music with Loose Change.  Horseshoe tournament benefiting Wilson Volunteer Fire Department, $25 per two-person team, $100 grand prize, $50 runner up, winner's trophy to be on display at Gunn's Supermarket.  Tournament starts at 3:00 p.m.  Pre-registration required at Wilson Cafe in advance now through up until 2:30 on festival day.



Sunday, April 26

3:00 p.m., Blytheville: Arkansas Northeastern College Department of Fine Arts presents Community Band Concert. Blytheville Main Campus, Adams/Vines Recital Hall.

Wednesday, April 29

12:00 p.m., Osceola: Osceola/SMC Chamber Quarterly Member Luncheon. Program is Mayor Dickie Kennemore with the State of the City Address. Tickets $15 each and include lunch.  To RSVP, call 870-563-2281 or email chambersecretary@sbcglobal.net.  Harold Ohlendorf Civic Center at 116 N Maple (parking in back of building).



Friday, May 1

6:00 p.m., Osceola: South Mississippi County Relay for Life, downtown on the courthouse square.  To register a team, survivor, or booth, or to volunteer, contact Ashley Hennessey at 870-270-7931 or ashley.hennessey@cancer.org or visit the SMC Relay for Life website.  (Note: North Mississippi County Relay for Life is June 5 in Blytheville and North Mississippi County Buffalo Island Relay for Life is June 13 in Leachville).

***NEW DATE*** Friday, May 8

8:30 a.m. tee time, Osceola: ANC Foundation Great River Promise scholarship golf tournament, Osceola Municipal Golf Course. Four-person scramble, $180 per team includes green fees and lunch. Cart rental extra.  To register a team or sponsor the tournament, contact Rachel Gifford at 870-838-2902, email rgifford@smail.anc.edu, or print & return this form.


Friday May 15 & Saturday May 16

17th Annual Osceola Heritage MusicFest featuring David Nail, downtown on the courthouse square. Fun weekend of live music, kids' activities, food and non-food vendors, backyard grillin' competition, SMC United Way MusicFest 5K, poker run, and more.  Sponsorship opportunities available.  For full details or to purchase tickets, visit OsceolaHeritageMusicFestival.com (save BIG with an early bird weekend pass!).

Etowah Completes Wastewater Improvements for Residents

The Town of Etowah, located in Mississippi County just 12 miles west of Osceola along Highway 140 and 77, recently completed improvements to the wastewater system to benefit current and potential residents, as well as local offices.  The completed project provides decent, safe, and sanitary wastewater facilities for new users and improved service for the existing users.

Etowah originally constructed a wastewater system in 2004 to serve the Town.  After the construction was completed, other areas wanted to be added to the system, as existing septic tanks in the area have a high failure rate.   The previous system, consisting of a combination of gravity and small diameter collection lines with some individual pump/grinder stations, served around 143 users.  The improvement proposal was to extend the wastewater service to serve an additional 26 users including the Little River Water office that is on State Highway 77 and to make upgrades to some existing pump stations and the wastewater treatment plant.  A combination of grant funds and loans were used to complete these much-needed extensions, which consisted of two new wastewater pump stations, gravity sewer lines and force mains, as well as making pump station and wastewater plant improvements for the existing system.

Construction of the waste water line extensions and improvements were completed in early February, 2015.  Twenty-four new residences, a farm shop, and the Little River Water Association Water Office have been afforded access to a safe and sanitary wastewater collection and treatment system, as well as improvements being made to the existing collection and wastewater treatment facility. Twenty-three of the twenty-four new residential users received free hook ups from the CDBG funds due to their Low to Moderate Household Income.

Etowah Mayor Charles Bo McCollum hopes that the improvements will help the Town appeal to incoming industrial workers as an option for living within a rural setting to settle if they so choose. He is happy with the results of the project, further stating, "the Town of Etowah is most blessed to be in Mississippi County.  This new addition to our waster water system is beneficial to the citizens of Etowah and the outlying area to the south of the city limits on State Highway 77.  Houses along the South State Hwy 77 now have the convenience of having wastewater treatment rather than septic tanks.  This also includes the Towns fresh water source Little River Water."

This project was made possible by the USDA Arkansas Rural Development, who provided $148,000 in Water/Environmental Program (WEP) loan funds and $192,000 in WEP grant funds, along with leveraged funds from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant funds administered by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission in the amount of $403,850.

The Town of Etowah is a proud member of the Osceola/South Mississippi County Chamber of Commerce.

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Chamber Collecting Snacks for Student Testing

Standardized testing is a huge task to orchestrate in both Osceola and Rivercrest school districts, with nearly all grades partaking in multiple sessions through the year.  As a way to help keep students' morale and focus at a good level, snacks are provided to not only welcome a break, but also refuel their mental and physical energy.  However, with approximately 110 students per school per grade level, and at least 3 testing sessions planned for the year, the quantity of snacks needed for students quickly adds up to a substantial amount.  This has proven to be a struggle for districts to satisfy through limited funding.

The Osceola/South Mississippi County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, with the encouraged support of area businesses, organizations, and individuals in our communities, hopes to show our collective support of local students by helping alleviate this burden and ensuring they have snacks as a welcome break from the tedium of testing.

The Chamber will collect donations now through March 30, and will deliver the items to each respective school district.  Both purchased donations of snacks or drinks and monetary donations with which to buy them will be accepted.

If you wish to donate items, all quantities will be helpful, as items can be mixed and matched through the grades and classes to give variety.  Suggested snacks include any reasonably healthy, individually wrapped and/or portioned food and drinks, such as:

• Juice boxes
• Capri sun pouches
• Cereal bars
• Granola bars
• Fruit snacks
• Healthy snack cakes
• Chips
• Pretzels
• Peanut butter crackers
• Bananas, apples, or oranges
• (please refrain from donating chocolate)

We are planning two drop off days, one on March 4 and another on April 2, to ensure both product freshness and ease of delivery.  We will make purchases with any monetary donations within a few days prior to each respective drop off date above.

For more information or to drop off items or monetary support to purchase items, please feel free to contact the Chamber at 870-563-2281, chambersecretary@sbcglobal.net, or stop by the office at 116 N Maple, Osceola.

Both Osceola and Rivercrest School Districts are proud members of the Osceola/South Mississippi County Chamber of Commerce.

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