Southeastern Wiregrass Region

In early 2011, AABC had very little impact into the Wiregrass Region.  However, with the work of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Services, we were able to have a tremendous impact in the region.  AABC held four regional meetings with the help of Cindy Snowden and CB&T bank in Ozark.  In our discussions with community leaders and non-profits, we discovered a great need for the community.  The Wiregrass area needed VITA sites.  There are over 100,000 adults in the region who would qualify for VITA and TCE assistance, but there are not enough sites.  Therefore, AABC worked with the IRS to get five new sites set up in the region.  We now have sites at the Enterprise Housing Authority, ACES in Ozark, Columbia Baptist Association, Dale Baptist Association and Geneva County Family Resource Center.  Our goal is to serve over 150 new clients in the region.

In November of 2011 we held our first Regional Mini-Conference in Enterprise.  We brought in DeForrest Brown from the United Way of Central Alabama to speak on the IDA program.  Our keynote speaker was Reverend John Whitfield of the Alabama Association of Community Development Corporations.  Reverend Whitfield spoke of the need for people to work together for the good of the community to help build wealth and assets. 

AABC was proud to present our Community Champion Award to Mr. James Ramage, III, President of First National Bank of Brundidge.  They have a program in the Wiregrass Region where they have high school students run a working branch of the bank in the area schools.

We look forward to a successful 2012 Regional Coalition