In Arkadelphia, Arkansas, access to healthcare isn’t always guaranteed—and neither is access to the workforce needed to provide it. To address both gaps, Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) launched a full-track nursing program, one of only a few in the state, to strengthen the region’s pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals.
But establishing a program of this scale is no small feat. OBU needed a partner who shared its vision for economic development, health equity, and education. They found that partner in Southern Bancorp, a mission-driven financial institution and Impact Cash partner® committed to supporting rural and economically challenged communities.
Leveraging its New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) allocation, Southern Bancorp helped finance a new 6,600-square-foot nursing education facility, equipped with over $1 million in simulation technology and medical equipment. This state-of-the-art center will allow students to learn, practice, and prepare for careers in nursing—all without having to leave their region.
This state of the art facility stands as a testament to the power of CDFI financing in catalyzing impactful, community-centered development. Southern Bancorp’s investment was crucial because it enabled the university to move forward with building the center in a timely and financially viable manner—something that would have been difficult through traditional financing alone, particularly in a rural region like Arkadelphia, Arkansas. By leveraging NMTCs, Southern Bancorp helped lower the cost of capital and made it feasible to build a high-quality educational facility that directly contributes to improving healthcare access, educational opportunity, and economic vitality in an underserved area. This collaboration underscores the vital role CDFIs play in addressing community needs by aligning capital with projects that deliver lasting social impact.
The NMTC program helps mission-focused institutions like Southern Bancorp close capital gaps for community development projects. In the past three years, Southern Bancorp has received $145 million in NMTC allocations, which it has used to support initiatives in healthcare, education, and economic growth across the South.
Tackling Nursing Shortages through Focused Education and Training
The Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) Nursing Education Center plays a pivotal role in mitigating the ongoing nursing shortage by producing highly trained, compassionate nurses equipped to meet the growing demands of the healthcare system. With a robust Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, including a four-year residential track and an RN-to-BSN online completion option, OBU ensures a steady pipeline of qualified graduates ready to enter the workforce. The center’s state-of-the-art facilities and simulation labs offer students hands-on, practice-based learning that accelerates their clinical readiness. These resources enable OBU to prepare more students to achieve licensure efficiently, thereby addressing the urgent need for nursing professionals, especially as aging populations and chronic health issues increase the strain on healthcare infrastructure.
Commitment to Rural and Underserved Communities
OBU’s nursing program is uniquely attuned to the needs of rural and underserved areas, where healthcare access is often limited and provider shortages are especially acute. Through partnerships with more than a dozen regional healthcare providers and community-based organizations across Central and Southern Arkansas, the university places students in clinical rotations that directly serve these populations. This experiential learning not only enhances students’ clinical competencies but also familiarizes them with the specific challenges of delivering care in resource-constrained environments. Many graduates, having trained in these contexts, go on to work in similar settings after graduation—filling critical workforce gaps and bringing culturally competent, community-centered care to areas that need it most.
Embedding Service and Social Responsibility
The nursing education center also fosters a strong sense of social responsibility and service-mindedness among its students, which is crucial for addressing disparities in rural healthcare delivery. By integrating concepts such as access to care and cultural sensitivity into the curriculum, OBU ensures that its graduates are not only technically proficient but also deeply aware of the systemic issues facing underserved communities. Students are positioned to lead initiatives that promote broad healthcare access.
As OBU’s team puts it, “What we’re doing is a vibrant part of the Arkadelphia community and South Arkansas.” With support from Southern Bancorp, the university’s nursing graduates will go on to provide essential care to their communities—improving lives and building economic opportunity at the same time.
