HOPE and its sponsor, ECD (Enterprise Corporation of the Delta), have been part of strengthening communities, building assets and improving lives across the Mid South for 15 years.  During that time, the combined organization has achieved some remarkable results on the way to achieving its mission.

Just a few of our significant accomplishments are highlighted below.

You can also see more of our current work in the news sections of the site.

1994

• Pew Charitable Trusts provide seed funding for Foundation for the Mid South's "Delta Partnership," an initiative to address workforce and business development needs in the Delta regions of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi
• Enterprise Corporation of the Delta (ECD) is incorporated as a free-standing entity to undertake the business development objectives of the Delta Partnership; ECD begins operations in June 1994
• ECD makes its first loan: TCS Caseworks in Hughes, Arkansas

1995

• Pew capital challenge is met by Entergy Corporation and the Walton Family, Ford, Kauffman, MacArthur, and Mott foundations
• ECD and Foundation for the Mid South organize the Southern Enterprise Communities Forum, a consortium of the region's enterprise communities and empowerment zones
• Hope Community Credit Union is chartered by Anderson UMC to address the need for non-predatory services in low-income neighborhoods in Jackson, Mississippi

1996

• ECD initiates FastTrac entrepreneurial training program. Local administrators include Delta State University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Northeast Louisiana University, Mississippi County Community College, and Good Faith Fund
• ECD kicks off Breaking New Ground campaign to highlight the Delta's potential and to promote collaboration; Community economic development practitioners and funders attend ECD-hosted networking forum in Little Rock
• Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi state economic development agencies and ECD sign Memorandum of Understanding, underscoring a shared commitment to strengthen the Delta

1997

• ECD initiates Memorandum of Understanding with state and federal manufacturing extension programs
• ECD is designated by Treasury Department as one of the nation's first Community Development Financial Institutions
• ECD Investments, LLC, is formed to secure investments from banks and institutional investors

1998

• ECD and Bain & Company analysis of business development in the Delta documents: $2.5 billion capital gap, geographical disparities, and potential for job growth and broadened ownership in the service sector
• Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, and Pew Charitable Trusts provide initial funding for "Matching Opportunity with Capital" campaign to expand ECD's impact

1999

• ECD organizes and hosts Clarksdale visit by President Clinton to kick off "New Markets Initiative" to promote private investment in economically distressed areas
• HOPE expands its field of membership to include Fellowship of Hope Ministries, Amos Network, 100 Concerned Clergy, and ECD

2000

• Entergy makes $5 million investment in ECD - the largest non-foundation investment in a community development financial institution
• Entergy and ECD organize the Delta BusinessLINC mentor-protégé program to assist fledging businesses
• ECD subsidiary is certified as an SBA lender
• HOPE opens a full-time branch in the Jackson Medical Mall

2001

• ECD launches the Kellogg Foundation-funded "Emerging Markets Partnership," a five-year effort to stimulate investment and foster networking in the Delta, focusing on key areas including enterprise development, housing and health care; Supporting Memorandum of Cooperation signed by Entergy, Fannie Mae, and governors of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi
• ECD receives national CDFI Excellence Award for Community Impact
• HOPE recruitment drive yields over 30 new faith-based organizations/not-for-profits as members

2002

• ECD receives Mississippi Governor's Small Business Achievement Award
• HOPE Mortgage program is initiated with 22 banks and mortgage originators
• ECD becomes the primary sponsor of Hope Community Credit Union

2003

• More than 25 Emerging Markets Partnership joint ventures underway; Activities through 12/03 have supported approximately 3,000 people, 320 businesses and 300 housing units in the Delta
• ECD is among the first in the nation to receive a federal New Markets Tax Credit allocation - awarded $15 million to support ECD/HOPE expansion

2004

• Service area expanded to include tri-state area
• Mississippi passes NMTC guaranty
• ECD closes initial NMTC investments
• New Orleans office opened

2005

• Hurricane Katrina & Rita devastates Gulf Region. ECD/HOPE response includes: Katrina Relief Fund , recovery loans/accounts, Power of HOPE, policy advocacy
• HOPE Affinity Network strategy initiated
• HOPE leads nation in deposit growth
• Terry Road, Biloxi offices opened

2006

• New Orleans office re-opened
• Memphis offices opened
• Home Again created
• Mortgage lending capacity expanded
• ECD/HOPE assets exceed $100 million
• HOPE leads nation in member growth as a result of Katrina services
• ECD awarded second NMTC allocation
• Delta Linen investment exited
• ECD meets with President, HUD Secretary, members of Congress, other federal & state officials regarding post-Katrina rebuilding strategies for low-wealth residents and communities
• ECD/HOPE receives national CDFI Excellence Award for Policy & Advocacy; Building Economic Alternatives Award from Co-op America, Social Investment Forum

2007

• ECD selected by State to provide financial counseling to 10,000 Miss. homeowners who suffered Katrina damage
• Mississippi Economic Policy Center launched
• Collaborative for Economic Development launched
• Mid Delta Community & Individual Investment Corp. subsidiary created
• Itta Bena office opened
• ECD/HOPE begins offering microloans across the region
• ECD/HOPE honored with Annie E. Casey Foundation Families Count Honors Award; National Rural Congress Rural Heroes Award

2008

• VITA Site locations begin offering alternative, affordable tax refund anticipation loans
• HOPE breaks ground on Mississippi Coast branch in Biloxi, MS
• Full-service Memphis branch of HOPE opens
• HOPE Mortgage introduces affordable housing product to address mortgage crisis
• ECD/HOPE receives national CDFI Excellence Award for Policy & Advocacy; Building Economic Alternatives Award from Co-op America, Social Investment Forum
• College Station Community Federal Credit Union merges with HOPE

2009

• American Savings Credit Union merges with HOPE
• Mississippi Coast Branch opens
• HOPE Membership grows to more than 27,000
• HOPE receives Credit Union Times Trailblazer Award and Episcipal Network for Economic Justice's Gloria Brown Award