Communities Unlimited Inc

COMMUNITIES UNLIMITED, INC. CU CONNECTS PEOPLE AND RURAL COMMUNITIES TO SOLUTIONS. PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE O FOR OUR PROMISE, OUR PURPOSE, OUR APPROACH

CU'S ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROGRAM WORKS WITH SMALL POPULATION COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: COMMUNITY DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS; WASTEWATER SYSTEMS; AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS THROUGH ON-SITE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, PUBLICATIONS, AND FINANCING. WITH A CURRENT STAFF OF OVER 47 HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS, CU ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR EVERYONE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY-RESPONSIBLE WASTE DISPOSAL WITHIN AN EVER-CHANGING REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING. OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOCUSES ON BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITY OF GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS, ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATORS, AND OTHER SYSTEM STAFF SO THAT THEY WILL DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN THE CAPABILITY TO ADEQUATELY MANAGE AND OPERATE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. ALL OF CU ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES' TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING IS FOCUSED ON ACHIEVING NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEM OUTCOMES. AS A REGIONAL PARTNER OF THE NATIONAL RURAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP, (RCAP), CU SERVES AS THE SOUTHERN RCAP PARTNER IN PROVIDING ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING THROUGHOUT A SEVEN-STATE REGION OF ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, TENNESSEE, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, TEXAS, AND OKLAHOMA. ADDITIONALLY, CU ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SUPPORTS OTHER RCAP REGIONAL PARTNERS IN OTHER REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY WITH ACCESS TO THEIR CDFI COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL LENDING. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2022, CU ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROVIDED ONSITE ASSISTANCE TO 620 SMALL COMMUNITIES AND RURAL ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS. CU'S ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF LEVERAGED OVER $169 MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION FINANCING TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS. CU ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES STAFF COMPLETED 83 TRAINING WORKSHOPS ATTENDED BY 885 COMMUNITY OFFICIALS, BOARD MEMBERS, CERTIFIED OPERATORS, AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STAFF MEMBERS. IN ADDITION, THROUGH THE AGUA4ALL PROGRAM AND ITS FUNDERS, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE 15 FILLING STATIONS TO THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS AND ALABAMA. THIS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE BENEFITED APPROXIMATELY 6 DISTINCT SCHOOL BUILDINGS, 206 FACULTY MEMBERS AND 1,223 STUDENTS. CU ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES LAST YEAR FOR THE FOLLOWING NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES: 52 COMMUNITIES: IMPROVED COORDINATION BETWEEN COMMUNITIES (REGIONALIZATION STRATEGIES); 94 COMMUNITIES: IMPROVED PUBLIC HEALTH BY ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE WITH SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT RULES AND REGULATIONS; 80 COMMUNITIES: IMPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BY ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE WITH CLEAN WATER ACT AND POLLUTION CONTROL ACT RULES AND REGULATIONS; 51 COMMUNITIES: IMPROVED CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES; 183 COMMUNITIES: ACHIEVED FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY; 149 COMMUNITIES: INCREASED MANAGERIAL CAPACITY; 18 COMMUNITIES: IMPROVED SELF-DEFINED PROSPERITY; 32 COMMUNITIES: ACHIEVED GLOBAL INFORMATION SYSTEM MAPPING CAPABILITIES.

IN 1992, CU STARTED MAKING LOANS TO WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS IN RURAL AREAS TO ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS HAD CLEAN, HEALTHY DRINKING WATER AND SAFE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS. IN 2001 CU WAS CERTIFIED AS A CDFI. LOANS MADE TO COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ARE USED FOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, PRE-DEVELOPMENT FINANCING, PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT AND EMERGENCY FINANCING NEEDS. IN 2022, CU LOANED $8,263,709 TO 20 WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE THEIR WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS. THESE LOANS INCLUDED $3,938,390 (48%) LOANED IN PERSISTENT POVERTY COUNTIES. LOANS RANGED FROM THE SMALL LOAN NEEDED TO MEET COMPLIANCE TO LARGER LOANS FOR PRE-DEVELOPMENT WORK THAT HELPED THESE COMMUNITIES ACCESS LARGER LOANS AND GRANTS. SMALL BUSINESS LENDING WAS ADDED IN 2010 AS SMALL BUSINESSES WERE STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM THE 2008 RECESSION AND BANK LENDING TIGHTENED. AGAIN, CU WORKS TO FILL THE GAP IN FINANCING WITH LOANS FROM $1,000 TO $100,000 TO SMALL BUSINESSES THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR TRADITIONAL FINANCING. SMALL BUSINESS LOANS CAN BE USED FOR WORKING CAPITAL, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST GAPS IN SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING. OTHER USES INCLUDE PURCHASE OR REPAIR OF EQUIPMENT AND REAL ESTATE PURCHASE OR IMPROVEMENTS. CU OFFERS A VARIETY OF SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PRODUCTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO GROW AS THE BUSINESS GROWS. CU'S SMALL BUSINESS LENDING IS FOCUSED ON FILLING GAPS IN RURAL PLACES AND MINORITY POPULATIONS. IN 2022, CU INCREASED LOAN PRODUCTION BY 41%. THIRTY-SIX SMALL BUSINESSES RECEIVED $985,660 IN LOANS, AVERAGING $27,380. THIS INCLUDES 69% TO MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, 25% IN PERSISTENT POVERTY COUNTIES, 43% IN RURAL AREAS, AND 58% TO WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES. CU REVIVED THE NUESTRA CASA LOAN PROGRAM THAT WAS HUGELY SUCCESSFUL IN THE EARLY 2000S IN THE SOUTH TEXAS COLONIAS, RE-LAUNCHING THE HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM USING THE SMALL DOLLAR LOAN GRANT IN MAY 2022 WITH THE HIRING OF A KEY LOCAL HISPANIC LENDER FOR THE BROWNSVILLE OFFICE, PROVIDED 69 NEW LOANS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS. SMALL BUT IMPACTFUL LOANS TO NOT ONLY IMPROVE AND INCREASE OFTEN THE LARGEST ASSET OF LOW-INCOME BORROWERS, THE PROGRAM OFFERS CREDIT COUNSELING AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO PAY ON TIME AND IMPROVE INDIVIDUAL CREDIT SCORES ALLOWING FOR IMPROVED ACCESS TO TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL PRODUCTS.

HOUSING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY: DURING FISCAL YEAR 2022, CU LAUNCHED ITS HOUSING PROGRAM. CU HOUSING INITIATIVES WERE IN THE EARLIEST PLANNING AND LAUNCH STAGES THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE FISCAL YEAR. CU DID INCREASE STAFF CAPACITY FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAM THROUGH THE HIRING OF AN AREA DIRECTOR FOR RURAL HOUSING. FILLING THIS ROLE ALLOWED THE ORGANIZATION TO START THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING HOUSING NEEDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE, PLAN FOR IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES UNIQUE TO THE NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND DETERMINE THE BEST WAY FOR COMMUNITIES UNLIMITED TO MEET THE HOUSING NEEDS IN THEIR SERVICE AREA. IN ADDITION TO INCREASED STAFF CAPACITY, THE CU HOUSING PROGRAM ENGAGED PARTNERS IN THE EXPANSION OF A VOLUMETRIC MODULAR HOUSING MANUFACTURING SYSTEM AND INITIATIVES TO INCREASE HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP DIVISION BEGAN RESTRUCTURING ITS PROGRAMMING IN RESPONSE TO THE RAPID GROWTH IN DEMAND FOR ITS SERVICES THAT HAS BEEN CONTINUING SINCE THE ONSET OF THE COVID19 PANDEMIC. WE LAUNCHED A NEW CLIENT RELATIONS MANAGEMENT TOOL TO CAPTURE AND MANAGE CLIENT REFERRALS THAT ARE COMING FROM ALL ACROSS ITS 7-STATE SERVICE AREA. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2022 CU'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP TEAM LAUNCHED THREE NEW PROGRAM INITIATIVES: 1. CU E-CENTER; 2. E-WEALTH HEALTH; AND 3. ARKANSAS MBDA BUSINESS CENTER. IN JANUARY 2022, THE CU E-CENTER WAS LAUNCHED OFFERING SELF-PACED ON-DEMAND SMALL BUSINESS COURSES WITH OVER 20 DIFFERENT TOPICS SO FAR SUCH AS UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CALCULATING BREAK-EVEN, ACCOUNTING VS BOOKKEEPING, DIGITAL MARKETING FOR SMALL BUSINESS, PREPARING FOR A SMALL BUSINESS LOAN, AND IDEATION TO STARTUP. SO FAR OVER 125 COURSES HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY 41 INDIVIDUALS. WE BEGAN USING THE CU 3-CENTER AS RESOURCES TO SUPPLEMENT OUR ONE-ON-ONE MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES AS THE DEMAND FOR OUR ONE-ON-ONE MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES CONTINUES TO GROW. IN THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR THERE WILL BE MANY NEW TOPICS INCLUDING COURSES TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS LEARN HOW TO AVOID A PREDATORY LOAN AND MORE IN-DEPTH COURSE CONTENT SUCH AS A CAPITAL READINESS COURSE THAT WILL BE COMBINED WITH OUR ONE-ON-ONE MANAGEMENT CONSULTING ASSISTANCE IN HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES SECURE CAPITAL. IN AUGUST 2022, THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP DIVISION LAUNCHED ITS NEW E-WEALTH HEALTH PROGRAM E=ENTREPRENEUR THAT IS FOCUSED ON CLOSING THE WEALTH GAP THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY TAKING MULTIPLE COHORTS OF COMMITTED SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, MOSTLY MINORITY OWNERS, THROUGH A 12 MONTH INTENSIVE PROGRAMMING. THE E-WEALTH HEALTH PROGRAM CONSISTS OF REQUIRED MONTHLY WEBINARS AND ONE--ON-ONE MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SESSIONS. THE BUSINESS OWNERS ARE TAUGHT HOW TO MANAGE THEIR BUSINESS TO PROFITABILITY AND HOW TO GROW BUSINESS RETAINED EARNINGS THAT ARE THEN USED STRATEGICALLY TOWARD SECURING CAPITAL AND/OR WEALTH CREATION. THESE INITIAL COHORTS OF BUSINESS OWNERS ARE OFFERED WEALTH ACCELERATOR PAYMENTS AS AN INCENTIVE TO ESTABLISHING AND CONTRIBUTING TO A RETIREMENT ACCOUNT. CU'S CEO, INES POLONIUS AND THE DIRECTOR OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP CO-AUTHORED A WHITE PAPER TITLE, WEALTH BUILDING FOR BUSINESS OWNERS OF COLOR: A WHOLE-PERSON APPROACH WHICH ADDRESSES CU'S APPROACH TO CREATING RACIAL EQUITY THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP. IN SEPTEMBER 2022, CU WAS SELECTED AS THE HOME OF THE FIRST ARKANSAS MBD BUSINESS CENTER. THE MBDA IS THE MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, A BUREAU OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. IT IS THE ONLY FEDERAL AGENCY SOLELY DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS OF MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. THE ARKANSAS MBDA BUSINESS CENTER IS BEING LED BY CU'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP DIVISION AND ITS FOCUS IS ON HELPING MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SECURE CONTRACTS, NEW MARKETS, AND CAPITAL. THIS NEW INITIATIVE WILL REQUIRE CONNECTION TO THE LARGER MINORITY REVENUE GENERATING BUSINESSES AND CU WILL BE EXPANDING ITS CONTRACT FINANCING LOAN PRODUCT INTRODUCED BY CU'S LENDING DIVISION THIS SAME YEAR. THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP DIVISION ASSISTED 343 CLIENTS WITH 165 OF THESE OPTING FOR ONE-ON-ONE MANAGEMENT CONSULTING ENGAGEMENTS. THIS IS A 35% INCREASE FROM THE 254 CLIENTS ASSISTED IN 2021. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM TRAINING EVENTS INCLUDES 41 CLIENTS COMPLETING LMS COURSES AND 251 ATTENDEES TO LIVE WEBINARS. CU'S COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY TEAM'S NETWORK OF PARTNER COMMUNITIES GREW TO A CUMULATIVE 52 COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE WORKED TOWARD DEVELOPING MORE VIBRANT, SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES BY LEVERAGING LOCAL ASSETS FOR LONG-TERM GROWTH. CU RECOGNIZES THAT FOR COMMUNITIES TO ACHIEVE REAL SUSTAINABILITY THE APPROACH MUST BE RADICALLY RESIDENT DRIVEN. RESIDENTS DRIVE THE PROCESS; CREATING THE PLANS, FILLING GAPS AND CONNECTING TO EXISTING RESOURCES TO ACTIVATE THE COMMUNITY'S POWER FOR CHANGE. CU'S STAFF FACILITATES THIS PROCESS AND ASSISTS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT, COMMUNITY FACILITY DEVELOPMENT, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ACCESS TO FINANCING. THEY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK, PLAY AND WORSHIP REGARDLESS OF THE LOCATION OR POPULATION OF THEIR COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE CS TEAM IS TO BUILD A DIVERSE LEADERSHIP TEAM WHO ARE OPEN MINDED AND MOTIVATED TO INITIATE CHANGE. THEY PROVIDE TRAINING TO BUILD PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY CAPACITY THAT WILL ENABLE RESIDENTS TO BE THE PROBLEM SOLVERS. AS A REGIONAL HUB THEY PROVIDE WEALTHWORKS TRAINING AND VALUE CHAIN FACILITATION. ASSETS ARE RECOGNIZED THROUGH THE ENGAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY LEADERS AND UTILIZED TO BUILD A STRATEGY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH. THIS STRATEGY DIRECTS THE LONG-TERM EXECUTION OF WORK BY CS STAFF SIDE BY SIDE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMUNITY. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE TEAM WORKED ALONGSIDE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO PIVOT THE WORK INTO A VIRTUAL CONNECTIVITY PLATFORM. THEY BELIEVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE AND INVESTING IN CREATING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES DURING A TIME WHEN THEY WERE OFTEN MOST IMPACTED WAS CRUCIAL. MONTHLY ZOOM COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP MEETINGS ALONG WITH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ROUNDED OUT A ROBUST ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY TO KEEP THEIR COMMUNITIES MOVING TOWARD THEIR GOALS IN SPITE OF OBSTACLES. BY DEPLOYING THEIR E.D.G.E. CAPACITY BUILDING MODEL, WHICH INVOLVES ENLIGHTENING - TRAINING, DELIVERING - TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, GUIDING - AS COMMUNITY CONDUCTS TASKS, AND EMPOWERING - MONITORING THE COMMUNITY'S CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THEIR EXECUTION OF TASKS, COMMUNITY FACILITATORS PURPOSEFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY GO INTO EVERY COMMUNITY WITH AN EXIT STRATEGY IN MIND, REALIZING THAT THE TRUE BENEFIT OF THEIR EFFORTS IS BUILDING OR STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND NON-PROFITS SO THAT WHEN THEY DO COMPLETE A PROJECT THEY ARE NO LONGER NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY FACILITIES, LOCAL HOUSING, AND/OR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE SUSTAINABLE. CU LEVERAGES EACH OF ITS PROGRAMS AND IDENTIFIES PARTNERS TO BRING THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIES TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE. COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY HELPS COMMUNITIES: EVALUATE ORDINANCES AND POLICIES THAT ARE FRIENDLY TO SMALL BUSINESSES. INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LOCAL BUSINESSES. SUPPORT GROWTH OF EXISTING LOCAL BUSINESSES. DELIVER RESOURCES AND CONVENE PARTNERS WHO HAVE NEW RESOURCES TO DEPLOY. PROVIDE ACCESS TO FINANCING. EVALUATE EXISTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS. WORK WITH GIS MAPPING PROGRAM TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MAPS. AND, DEVELOP BROADBAND STRATEGIES AND CONNECT TO RESOURCES FOR DEPLOYMENT. THEY ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH: COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL LEADERSHIP TO PROVIDE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES. SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CONSULTING. COMMUNITY FACILITIES RESOURCES. HOME IMPROVEMENT LENDING. LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE AND FEDERAL CONVENING OF STAKEHOLDERS.

HEALTHY FOODS AND VARIOUS OTHER SMALL PROGRAMS: ACCESS TO ADEQUATE QUANTITIES OF FOOD, ESPECIALLY HEALTHY FOOD, IS A SIGNIFICANT DETERMINANT OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO LEARN, TRANSFER KNOWLEDGE TO ACADEMIC/JOB PERFORMANCE AND LONG-TERM PHYSICAL HEALTH. WITHIN CU'S SERVICE AREA, THERE ARE ABOUT HALF OF THE NATION'S PERSISTENT POVERTY COUNTIES, AND SIX STATES IN THE TOP 10 OF STATES WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF FOOD INSECURITY. WE SERVE WHERE ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION AND DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO RESOURCES CHALLENGE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SMALL TOWNS, SMALL BUSINESSES, SMALL FARMS AND FAMILIES IN PERSISTENTLY POOR RURAL PLACES. HEALTHY FOODS COLLABORATES IN THE SPACE OF THE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM, WITH INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON THE MOST MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, PRODUCERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. OUR HEALTHY FOODS SUCCESS IS BASED ON COLLABORATION AND A COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH THAT RESPECTS THE NEEDS AND VOICES OF ALL MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY. CU HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT EMPOWERED: CONNECTIONS TO NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS; COMPLETION OF GAP/GHP CERTIFICATION BY SMALL-SCALE UNDERSERVED FARMERS; DEVELOPMENT AND/OR EXPANSION OF LOCAL MARKETS; CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LOCAL MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND SCHOOLS TO LOCAL PRODUCERS RESULTING IN INCREASED ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE; AND EXPANDED ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO MEET TRANSPORTATION, AGGREGATION AND STORAGE NEEDS IN RURAL HIGH POVERTY AREAS AND WITH SMALL-SCALE UNDERSERVED FARMERS. COLLABORATIONS WITH FARMERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, UNIVERSITY STAFF, FOOD PANTRIES AND OTHERS WORKING TO INCREASE AVAILABLE HEALTHY FOODS REMAIN CENTRAL TO OUR SUCCESS. WE DEEPLY VALUE AND APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT OF OUR PARTNERS AND THE DEPENDABILITY OF OUR SUPPORTERS. THE CARGILL BLACK FARMERS INITIATIVE IS HELPING CU ADDRESS THE BARRIER TO ADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION AND ON-FARM COLD STORAGE FOR MANY SMALL-SCALE BLACK FARMERS IN THE DELTA. THE ABILITY TO ACCESS NEW MARKETS WILL INCREASE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE FARM AS WELL AS INCREASE ACCESS TO LOCAL SOURCES OF PRODUCE FOR BUYERS LIKE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS. USDA'S FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM ALLOWS CU TO EMPOWER SCHOOLS IN COMMUNITIES CHALLENGED BY POVERTY AND RACISM TO ACCESS RESOURCES AND INCREASE THE HEALTHY MEALS SERVED TO K-12 CHILDREN. LOCAL SMALL-SCALE MINORITY FARMERS ALSO BENEFIT FROM THIS INITIATIVE AS THEY ARE CONNECTED WITH SCHOOLS THAT DESIRE TO MAKE LOCAL PURCHASES AND PROVIDED THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO NAVIGATE THE TIMING OF SCHOOL MEAL PLANNING, CONTRACTING, ETC. THE ARKANSAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MAINTAINS THE OPERATION OF CU'S FARM TO PANTRY INITIATIVE, STARTED DURING COVID AS A MEANS TO ENSURE PRODUCE FOR WHICH PRODUCERS LOST RESTRAINT/SCHOOL CONTRACTS COULD BE PURCHASED AT WHOLESALE PRICES AND DONATED TO A REGIONAL FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTER, CONTINUES. THIS PROGRAM IS MEETING THE FOOD INSECURITY NEEDS IN MANY RURAL DELTA COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING FRESH PRODUCE FOR THOSE DEPENDENT UPON FOOD PANTRIES TO HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT. SHARE OUR STRENGTH IS SUPPORTING CU'S EFFORTS TO TEST MULTIPLE PILOT PROGRAMS RELATED TO THE NO KID HUNGRY HEALTHY FOOD PRESCRIPTION INITIATIVE. WITH THEIR FLEXIBLE SUPPORT, CU IS ABLE TO PARTNER WITH MULTIPLE TYPES OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND DETERMINE THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR INFLUENCING SUSTAINABLE OBSERVABLE CHANGE IN EATING HABITS THAT HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON HEALTH METRICS FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR CARETAKERS. WE KNOW THAT FOOD INSECURITY IMPACTS A CHILD'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, IMPACTING THEIR FUTURE ABILITY TO LEARN AND TRANSFER KNOWLEDGE INTO WORK PERFORMANCE THAT EARN A LIVABLE WAGE AND BUILDS WEALTH FOR THEM. FOOD INSECURITY, COMPOUNDED BY THE LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, IS AN EQUITY ISSUE IN THIS NATION AS THE IMPACTS OF STRUCTURAL RACISM AND PERSISTENT POVERTY ARE CLEARLY EVIDENT. RURAL HOUSEHOLDS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO BE FOOD INSECURE THAN URBAN HOUSEHOLDS (12.1% VS. 8.3%). (USDA ERS) HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOMES BELOW THE POVERTY LINE (27.6%) ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO BE FOOD INSECURE THAN THE AVERAGE U.S. HOUSEHOLD (10.5%). HOUSEHOLD WITH CHILDREN HEADED BY SINGLE WOMEN WERE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE AT RISK FOR VERY HIGH FOOD INSECURITY (9.6%) AS COMPARED TO THE U.S. AVERAGE (4.1%). (USDA ERS) THE IMPACTS OF STRUCTURAL RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE PERSISTENT POVERTY COUNTIES IN CU'S SERVICE AREA ARE EVIDENT. (DATA FROM FEEDING AMERICA.) 1 IN 12 WHITE, NON-HISPANIC, INDIVIDUALS WERE FOOD INSECURE; 1 IN 4 NATIVE AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS WERE FOOD INSECURE; 1 IN 5 BLACK INDIVIDUALS WERE FOOD INSECURE; 1 IN 6 LATINO INDIVIDUALS WERE FOOD INSECURE; HEALTHY FOODS CONTINUES TO WORK FOR THE DAY THAT SMALL-SCALE FARMERS ARE PART OF SECURING THE PRODUCE SUPPLY CHAIN AND ENSURING THE NATION HAS FRESH FOOD IN THE EVENT OF NATURAL DISASTERS AND THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO ENOUGH HEALTHY FOOD.