Since the consolidation of Helena and West Helena on Jan.1, 2006, the newly formed city of Helena-West Helena has suffered varying degrees of consolidation problems.

Southern Good Faith Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the Southern Bancorp. Since 1988 it has worked to increase the incomes and assets of low-income and low-skilled residents of rural Arkansas and Mississippi. This region is one of the poorest areas in the United States and grapples with high unemployment and low wages. Combined with low education levels, residents are either unemployed or in dead-end jobs.

Southern Bancorp of Arkadelphia is among 10 community development financial institutions that are semifinalists for $8.25 million in grants and awards under a program offered by the Opportunity Finance Network.

Conner Eldridge said he was proud to become part of “a great group” like the board of the Economic Development Corporation of Clark County.

The ultimate goal of the Economic Development Corp. of Clark County is to help all of Clark County grow, said Euodias Goza, one of the five board members of the corporation.

Photo: Cyclists pedal over a small hill outside Perry on the first 75-mile day of the 2007 Regions Morgan Keegan MS 150 Bike Tour, Sept. 8. The annual Multiple Sclerosis Society fundraiser drew 160 riders and raised more than $100,000. Its second day was canceled because of a thunderstorm, but participants still had a picnic atop Petit Jean Mountain.

Delta Regional Authority Chairman Pete Johnson of Clarksdale, Miss. was in Helena Monday to present a check totaling $534,128.54 to the Delta Area Health Center.

County Judge Ron Daniell and Arkadelphia City Manager Jimmy Bolt aren’t sure what to do, they said, about the results of a county-wide survey done as part of the Clark County Strategic Development Plan committee.

Clark County Judge Ron Daniell filed the articles of incorporation Tuesday at the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office to officially create the Economic Development Corp. of Clark County, also known as the EDCCC.

The Business Development Center, a program of the Southern Good Faith Fund, is co-sponsoring a “child care licensing” workshop. The workshop will be presented by a Department of Health and Human Services licensing specialist and will inform childcare workers of the requirements needed in order to start or expand a home-based or commercial child care business.