Phillips County Community Foundation
The development of a community foundation was started in the early spring of 2003. By October 2003, the Phillips County Community Foundation (PCCF) had received its official notice of its determination by the I.R.S. This foundation’s development was a project that was started by PCED board, but is a separate and distinct entity from economic development.
The original goal and purpose for developing PCCF, was to provide itself as a tool for directly receiving grants and donations for community development as an organization with IRS determined 501 c 3 non-profit status.
The first project that utilized the foundation was the Solomon Valley Regional Entrepreneurial Center (SVREC), or the E-Center as it is now called.
The second project utilizing the foundation was the “For the Kids” committee and subsequent project. This committee was simply a group of 15 to 20 people in the community that wanted to create a new playground area in the park on the west end of Phillipsburg. Realizing they want something unique, they contacted Leathers & Associates from Ithica, New York, which creates plans for unique playgrounds around the nation which specifically geared toward each community. An engineered drawing for the Phillipsburg playground project was constructed after a day of brainstorming with local school kids and was presented to the public. PCDCF was approached to assist this project, due to the “For the Kid’s” committee’s need to have a 501 c 3 non-profit organization to accept & receive funds (grants) from multiple local foundations that wanted to support this project. The fundraising for this project started in June of 2004. The total project cost for the project in Phillipsburg was projected to be approximately $300,000. Approximately $100,000 would be accounted for as in-kind labor to construct the playground, but all the time and labor was donated by community residents and business workers. By December 2004, all funds for the cost of materials, engineering, and miscellaneous costs, had been raised. The completion of the construction of this project was April 13 – 16, with construction lasting only four days. The grand opening of this project ushered in a new spirit of community cooperation and spirit. The project catapulted other community activities to occur around the park and town, such as the renovation of the old Fort Bissell.