Leaders come together for COVID-19 response
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, city and county leaders have been working behind the scenes to keep the community safe.
Beginning in March 2020, local leaders began having weekly meetings. These meetings included people from a variety of expertise. The first meeting which took place in March had more than 40 people including school officials, ministers, elected officials, healthcare officials, the warden from the Ouachita River Correctional Unit and even the Arkansas National Guard, said Hot Spring County Judge Dennis Thornton.
In these meetings, people could express their concerns and share resources. Individuals were able to speak candidly about their struggles and even their fears.
“There were a lot of fear (in the beginning,) and rightfully so, because we were dealing with so much unknown,” Thornton said.
These meetings were held weekly for months.
Along with working with other county officials, the
Hot Spring County Director of Emergency Management Terry Eubanks was responsible for acquiring personal protective equipment which was in high demand. In total, Eubanks was responsible for finding personal protective equipment for more than 20 agencies across the county.
Eubanks said he had a hard time acquiring PPE because it is given out based on population.
Fortunately, county and city officials was able to secured grants for this equipment. This was another situation where different groups came together and shared resources.
A group of people from different areas of the community came together to make hundreds of face shields.
Individuals who were involved in the process include Thornton, staff from the Malvern-Hot Spring County Library, County Conversations volunteers, the Malvern/ Hot Spring County Chamber of Commerce, Hot Spring County Extension Service and community volunteers.
Arauco in Malvern provided funding the project and Food Center donated bags.
Staff at ASU Three Rivers also provided the 3D printers to created the headpieces.
“It was really heart warming to me to see Hot Spring County during a time of emergency have people pull together,” Thornton said. “We never had to ask for help, people were just showing up asking ‘what can I do to help.’”
Both Eubanks and Thornton said the most difficult aspect of the pandemic was just the unknown.
“We have plans for a lot of things (emergencies,) a pandemic was not one of them,” Eubanks said. “It’s fighting an invisible foe that nobody understands.”
Local leaders had to start thinking outside of the box, Thornton said.
County officials are now working together during the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine. Even though only certain people are eligible to receive the vaccine at this time, community leaders have a plan for when the vaccine will be available to the general public. No one knows right now when that time will come.
“We’re got a lot of incredible people in this coun
We never had to ask for help, people were just showing up asking ‘what can I do to help.’”
ty who have stepped up and are working with us on getting that taken care of,” Eubanks said.
Both Eubanks and Thornton stressed that as soon as they have the vaccines available, “we have the plans in place,” Thornton said. “We have a plan. We simply need the vaccine.”
In comparison to neighboring counties, Hot Spring County has had relatively low numbers of COVID-19 cases. Thornton attributes that the rural nature of the
county as well as the people have been sensible and doing their parts.
“We’ve seen as a whole people are taking it seriously,” Thornton said.
Eubanks and Thornton urge residents not to let their guards down now and be patient.
“One death is too many and we know there has been a lot more than that. If we do this thing right, there are probably a lot of lives that can be saved,” Thornton said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff at Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County have been a resource for the community and continued to serve.
“Starting very early in the progression of the pandemic, we have been in close communication with our community leaders. We participated in regular calls with both county and city leadership to keep an open dialogue and coordinated approach,” said Tony Hardage, president of the hospital.
During the last year, staff have had to implement several changes to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The changes include visitor precautions (screening and temperature stations,) high-tech electrostatic spray and UV light for disinfecting surfaces, negative air machines for air filtration, community drive-through testing station for COVID-19 testing and monoclonal antibody infusion treatment for COVID-19 patients, Hardage said.
“We are continuing to look for ways to keep our patients and visitors safe,” he said.
Hospital staff have also been assisting in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Baptist Health as a system and our local hospital have been working hard to help provide COVID-19 vaccinations to Arkansans. Locally, we have focused on the eligible 1-A group (healthcare workers, first responders) and 1-B (educators). We are currently preparing to transition to the 70-plus individuals that are part of the 1-B group as well,” Hardage said.
He mentioned that vaccine availability has been “a challenge.”
“We request doses on a weekly basis from the Arkansas Department of Health. We are hopeful that vaccine supplies will increase in the future as more vaccines become available, and that production will increase as well,” he said.
Baptist Health Medical
Center-Hot Spring County is a 72-bed community hospital. The hospital opened in 1923 and joined Baptist Health on Jan. 1, 2014, making it the eighth hospital in the system.
Hardage mentioned that being a part of the Baptist Health system has been beneficial during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Being a part of the Baptist Health system has been extremely beneficial,
but especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The system resources have allowed us to help provide care for our patients in many ways. Some examples include having infectious disease physicians developing consistent up-to-date treatment protocols, critical care bed availability, adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, and testing capabilities, plus many more,” Hardage said.
The COVID-19 pandemic affected many aspects of the routine day-to-day operations of many businesses, especially local businesses in Malvern and the Hot Spring County area, but the Malvern/Hot Spring County Chamber of Commerce was able to adjust to the changing environment and be a helpful asset to community businesses.
“The things that we’re used to, the way that we’re used to doing things almost all of that changed,” said Lance Howell, director of the Malvern/ Hot Spring County Chamber of Commerce. “You see what you’ve got to do and adjust, and you find new ways to do what you have to do.”
In the beginning, Howell said, the chamber of commerce shifted gears from what they thought was happening to what was happening and tried to do what they could, as fast as they could to learn about available resources for businesses. “It went pretty quickly from ‘hey here’s what we’re talking about and here’s what they’re saying about COVID. It turned pretty quickly to things being canceled, businesses not being able to do what they’re accustomed to, so we had to transition to let’s try to learn as much as we can as fast as we can about resources so that we can help businesses,” Howell said.
Howell said that the chamber of commerce was aggressive with finding available resources and was impressed with how businesses took charge to getting those available resources. “We got lots of calls, so weekly we’re counseling with small businesses of every type,” he said. “They were really good about calling and saying, ‘what do you know?’ It was good for us that we, especially with SBA (Small Business Administration) and with their programs, we got acquainted with what we thought was going to happen, then try to stay up to date on that so we could share with them (small businesses) what was coming.”
Howell continued by saying that once the government’s plans came together then the chamber of commerce was able to be more specific with what businesses could take advantage of and how. Then, he said, things transitioned so that resource programs were disseminated through local banks. “At that point we were more able to turn them over to their local banker so their bank could take it from there,” he said. “That was a big deal too. Several of our banks carried a pretty heavy load on serving our business community. A lot of credit goes to our local banking community for really doubling up. They did a great job with it and worked very hard with it.”
The chamber of commerce is still monitoring and adjusting to the effects of COVID-19 since it’s still an ongoing, progressive thing. “That’s what we see whether it’s the chamber or whether it’s local government we see do that, and small businesses have been doing it since day one,” Howell said. “We just look forward and we try to keep an eye on what’s been going on and what kind of challenges that we’ve had. We just try to plan things and do things as safely and respectfully as we can.”
Howell said that it’s impressive to see how small businesses have adjusted to change due to the pandemic. “It’s impressive to see them innovate and be able to continue to move ahead,” he said. “It’s been difficult on some of them, it’s been difficult on all of them, but it’s been especially devastating to some but there are also examples of how people have excelled in this environment.”
The chamber of commerce also had to monitor and adjust its monthly activities. The chamber ceased having its monthly chamber breakfasts and canceled its annual spring bingo night. “We were fortunate to have the community awards banquet before everything hit,” Howell said. “Those are a couple of our larger things and people historically love the bingo events.”
But the chamber found a way to host a fall bingo and hold three breakfasts before the end of 2020. The chamber divided bingo into two smaller events. Howell said that breaking up the bingo event was the best way to manage it. “It’s minor innovation but it’s a little innovation on the chamber side to say, ‘how can we do something we’re used to doing and that we want to do, that people enjoy doing,’” he said. “All the feedback that we’ve got from that, in particular, was good and people felt comfortable and appreciated the way it was done.”
Howell continued by saying that gatherings in general have been difficult to put together citing the monthly breakfasts. “We started our membership meetings back in the fall and we were able to do three of those,” he said. “And we’ve since backed off of those just out of an abundance of caution.”
The annual Malvern/ Hot Spring County Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet has been another area of difficulty for the chamber. Normally held in January, the pandemic has forced the chamber
to look at other options. Presently the chamber is planning on making an announcement regarding when and how the awards banquet will take place. “We’ve been all over the map on possibilities for a format on a present year for community awards, but we don’t want to get too far into the year that we get too separated from last year before we do it,” he said. “And we don’t want our awardees to miss out on the appreciation from the community that goes along with that. So, after debating many different formats and planning and then scrapping and planning and then scrapping we’re still looking at a modified version of that event.”
Other events for 2021 are still undecided. Howell said that they at the chamber didn’t want to try to plan another event while also planning the awards banquet. He said that the chamber board has been talking about other events but wants to wait until more things are open and people feel more comfortable. “Maybe some things that don’t congregate people as much, so that everybody can be OK,” he said. “We’ve been kind of waiting on the restriction element of it and also getting our awards set up so we could follow it up with the rest of the year.”
Despite everything the pandemic threw at the chamber of commerce for 2020, the chamber did grow in members. “We still had people, even in a pandemic, who still wanted to be apart and be apart of what we’re doing,” he said. Howell also expects 2021 to be another of growth for the chamber. “I expect this year, even though we’re still in this thing, I expect this year will be good.”
During the COVID- 19 pandemic, local bank continued serving residents even as some changes were needed.
Malvern Bank
National
Malvern National Bank is truly a community bank, which opened in 1934 and has operated continuously for the past 86 years. Still a locally owned Arkansas bank, MNB works hard in each of its markets to offer clients the latest in technology and the best in customer service.
The past year has been an unusual year for MNB and others with modifications being made to accommodate the pandemic. With lobbies closed to the public, bank customers have utilized more online and mobile banking services. Many customers were new to these services, discovering their convenience, and plan to use them in the future even without pandemic restrictions. Stateof- the- art technology has been a game- changer for this unusual year.
The pandemic also saw the development of the Paycheck Protection Program, an SBA- backed loan program that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the coronavirus crisis. MNB worked with existing and new business customers on roughly 300 loans totaling more than $ 18 million dollars.
Along with the standard consumer products like online banking, mobile banking and mobile deposit, over the past year the bank added Round Up Savings which collects a rounded up total from the day’s debit card transactions and deposits it into a savings account specified by the consumer. Our customers love this as an easy way to save!
Even though the pandemic has slowed all normal off- site activities, MNB continues to operate as a true community bank, with employees annually donating hundreds of volunteer hours to local organizations, including Relay for Life, Malvern Brickfest, local civic organizations and the annual Christmas Parade. The bank also offers a special Academic Prime program, through which over 1.9 million dollars has been donated to local schools since 1995, including over $ 155,000 in 2020.
MNB is located throughout central Arkansas with branches in Malvern, Hot Springs, Sheridan, East End, Benton, Bryant, Little Rock and Conway. With assets of $ 600 million, the bank employs over 130 full and part- time employees.
Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union
Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Malvern with two full- service branches in Hot Springs, has been focused on people, not profit, since its charter on May 12, 1960. The staff
at Diamond Lakes have a passion for their work and are dedicated to providing superior financial services to the members/ owners. The purpose of the credit union was ordained in 1960 when the seven employees of the Reynolds Reduction Plant contributed $ 5 each to start the credit union with $ 35. They knew that by pooling their resources to build savings and assets, they could save and borrow from each other to improve their lives and the lives of their families. Over the last 60 years, Diamond Lakes has expanded its financial services to a six- county area in Arkansas: Hot Spring, Garland, Clark, Grant, Montgomery and Pike counties. The credit union also serves all of the Hot Springs Village gated community.
Throughout the rapid changes brought by the coronavirus, the credit union has remained open and members’ funds remained safe, sound, accessible and federally insured up to $ 250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration. Diamond Lakes’ commitment during the pandemic has been to ensure the health and safety of their members, staff and community while providing financial services securely and conveniently.
The entire Diamond Lakes’ team pulled together to assist members using the drive- up lanes at all three branch locations in addition to the wide range of services available by phone and online. With Online Banking, members can view balances, transfer funds, check for cleared checks and debit transactions and so much more. Members use Online Bill Pay for paying mortgage or rent payments, utilities, payments to other financial institutions, medical bills, subscriptions, and even a child’s allowance. Mobile Banking is a convenient way to check account balances, transfer funds, pay bills, and deposit checks with remote deposit using a cell phone. Text banking allows member to do some basic banking via text message. Free Online
Statements store up to 18 months of statements electronically.
According to President/ CEO Tammy Passafiume, “We are dedicated to advocating for our members. We mediate between them and credit bureaus. We defend them when someone tries to take advantage of them as in the case of fraud or elder abuse. We are very active in talking to lawmakers and government officials about consumer- friendly financial legislation. Our staff can relate to our members because it’s like looking in a mirror. We’ve all had challenges like making ends meet, taking care of aging parents and dealing with life’s surprises. Everything life brings seems to involve money. I can say we have all been there. So we dedicate our interactions with members to education and financial counseling. In truth, we want our members to be financially successful and independent.”
For the past four years, Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union has sponsored a scholarship program for high school seniors. According to President/ CEO Tammy Passafiume, “We want to see our members succeed in building a solid foundation for their future. We believe that our scholarship program is a natural extension of our commitment to our members and financial education in the communities we serve.” Scholarship applications must be postmarked by April 2, 2021, and are available at the credit union’s Web site, www. diamondlakesfcu. org, or by calling or coming by any Diamond Lakes branch office.
Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union has innovative products and services designed to save members’ money and help them maintain a financially empowered life. In addition to reloadable debit cards, travel cards, gift cards and Lifestyle Checking Powered by BaZing, certificates of deposit and IRAs, electronic services are designed to meet the demands
of busy lifestyles.
Diamond Lakes also offers loans for most any purpose: auto, boat, RV, motorcycle, ATV and personal watercraft loans; personal loans ranging from $ 300 to $ 10,000; credit builder loans to help individuals repair their credit rating; 15 to 30- year fixed rate mortgage loans and a Prosperity Plus Grant program to assist eligible members with down payment assistance on their home loan; and the credit union has its own VISA credit card.
Diamond Lakes is a great choice for personal financial freedom. To explore the advantages of credit union membership, visit www. diamondlakesfcu. org or call 332- 6530 in Malvern or 525- 6530 in Hot Springs.
Southern Bancorp
2020 was certainly a trying year for everyone. In early March, Southern Bancorp closed all of our branch lobbies to all but pre- scheduled appointments and moved the majority of operations to the drive- through lane or through our online and mobile devices. While we are hopeful that life will get back to normal sooner than later, though we will continue to operate in this manner for the foreseeable future.
As the federal government began grappling with the economic fallout of the pandemic, former President Trump began convening working groups from various industries, including the financial sector. Southern Bancorp's CEO, Darrin Williams, was selected as one of 10 CEOs from around the country to meet with the president and discuss the issues facing financial institutions. Not only was Williams the only CEO from Arkansas, but he was the only CEO of a bank our size. The other CEOs included the heads of Bank of America, JP MorganChase, Wells Fargo, Mastercard, and others.
Williams was able to advocate to the federal government that CDFIs like Southern ( Community Development Financial
Institutions) were well- situated to serve rural and underserved communities as many larger banks simply don't serve these communities. In part due to his advocacy, in the second round of Paycheck Protection Program funding, additional money was allotted to CDFIs nationwide for making PPP loans.
For Southern's part in the PPP program, in 2020, staff made 1,285 loans totaling nearly $ 112 million supporting nearly 16,000 jobs. The majority of loans went to small businesses employing less than 10 employees. Employees also launched a program for small businesses who were unable to qualify for the PPP program, called Business Continuity Grants, which provided $ 1,000 grants to 128 small businesses, supporting 330 jobs.
As a CDFI, one of the bank’s strengths is access to HUD certified credit and housing counselors. In normal years, these services are available in person; however, due to the pandemic, employees have switched to conducting these free sessions via Zoom, making them accessible to anyone in local markets. As housing has become a major issue, we have setup a special website through our non- profit partner, Southern Bancorp Community Partners, for housing related assistance, available at www. southernpartners. org/ housing- counseling. This assistance is free to the public and is not limited to Southern Bancorp customers as is all other financial education offerings.
One of the financial services that the bank have become known for providing is free tax prep for communities through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program or VITA as it is known nationally. This IRS- sanctioned service certifies volunteers to prepare basic tax returns, though we've had to change up how we offer this service due to the pandemic.
This year, customers can check the bank’s website for a list of participating locations at www. banksouthern. com/ vita and they can then contact that branch to schedule curbside drop- off of their tax materials. Customers may also utilize www. myfreetaxes. com for a free online service provided by VITA sites and United Way if they'd prefer a completely online method.
“As we move into 2021, our focus will continue to be on providing the financial resources needed by customers in these unprecedented times. Staff are participating in the continued Paycheck Protection Program which has expanded eligibility for those unable to apply the first time, as well as additional funding for those in the second round. We encourage any customers interested in the second round program to go to the financial institution they used in the first round as that will expedite their paperwork. We are also exploring a continuation of the Business Continuity Grant program,” according to the bank.
For individuals, staff encourage the use of free financial resources available online or through our virtual financial coaching services, and staff continue to offer SBA loan service for businesses needing additional assistance.
“Southern Bancorp is committed to our communities, and will continue to provide our unique blend of financial products and coaching services throughout this pandemic and beyond,” according to the bank.
Farmers Bank & Trust
Despite all businesses facing challenges in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, Farmers Bank & Trust was able to make an investment in significant personal protection equipment to reopen lobbies in June of 2020. All Farmers Bank & Trust lobbies are open for full service to conveniently help with all banking needs.
In December 2020, a new full service branch was opened on Arkansas 5 in the Bryant/ Benton area and a full service branch was also opened in Paris, Texas.
Farmers Banks and Trust has two branches located in Malvern at 521 E. Page St. and 1929 Oliver Lancaster Blvd.
The bank was established in 1906 in Magnolia. The company currently has 300 employees. Local employees include Chief Executive Officer Chris Gosnell; Malvern Market President Scott White; Senior Retail Loan Officer AVP Brandi Ray; Branch Manager III Andi Whitman; VHMDA Loan Operations Office and VP Joyce Rynders.
Bank employees said their HEART Core Values which include honor, excellence, adaptability, respect and Teamwork are what makes their bank successful.