Strategic Plan Download the Delta Bridge Project Strategic Plan

The crucial first stage of the Delta Bridge Project in Phillips County was completed when the Phillips County Strategic Community Plan (PCSCP) was ratified unanimously by the local Steering Committee in January 2005.  More than 300 individuals from Phillips County participated in over 70 large planning meetings and 500 smaller meetings to develop the PCSCP, a document that not only provides a unified vision, but also a blueprint for community development with 46 strategic goals and nearly 200 action steps- workable plans of action that provide organized community engagement in a comprehensive process involving each of the five fundamental pillars of community life: economic development, housing, education, leadership development and health care.

Since its ratification, the PCSCP has received over 80 endorsements from local businesses, academic institutions, non-profits, public organizations, faith based organizations, and civic organizations, plus endorsements from two U.S. representatives, two U.S. senators, and the Governor of Arkansas.  The PCSCP is a living document, with the power to amend it residing in the Steering Committee.

The Strategic Community Plan is designed to coordinate resources from interested parties that include federal, state and municipal organizations, philanthropic foundations, economic development agencies, key regional leaders, legislators, commercial businesses and community citizens.

The Strategic Community Plan was developed through an intense ten month planning process that included over 300 community residents. Involvement in the rigorous planning process was open to all residents of Phillips County and took into consideration the County's historic, racial and cultural diversity. The Community Strategic Plan has the endorsement of community, civic, business and governmental organizations in Phillips County and throughout the State of Arkansas.

In order to develop the Strategic Community Plan, the Phillips County Steering Committee was formed in January 2004. The Steering Committee was comprised of approximately 50 community residents. In March 2004 the Steering Committee hired a professional facilitation organization, Performance Development Plus of Metairie, Louisiana, to facilitate the Steering Committee meetings and processes. The Steering Committee, or subcommittees thereof, met monthly from March 2004 through January 2005 and was responsible for preparation of the Strategic Community Plan.

The Strategic Community Plan is dynamic in nature and will be updated annually to incorporate new ideas, concepts and action steps. The second edition of the PCSCP was released in spring of 2007. The second edition provides updates on the status of each goal and action step (highlighted in red). It is critical to note that the PCSCP works in partnership with other organizations to affect community change. As of June 19, 2008, The PCSCP has leveraged over $60 million to develop the economy of Phillips County.

Farmers harvest sweet potatoes to stockpile in the sweet potato storage facility funded by the Delta Bridge Project.