| Shorter College is helping to improve the surrounding community of Shorter Garden in North Little Rock, Arkansas. North Little Rock's population is approximately 62,000 with a minority population of 25 percent. Shorter Garden's population is made up of 56 percent minorities, with 40 percent of the population living in single-parent-headed households. Eighty percent of Shorter Garden's residents are classified as low-to-moderate income.
On January 21, 1999, central Arkansas was struck by a devastating tornado, which destroyed more than 1,070 homes as it tore through the region. President Clinton declared the county a disaster area. One of the hardest hit areas was that served by Shorter College. Shorter Garden contains 23 percent of the total housing units in North Little Rock. Eighty-two percent of the owner-occupied housing, which makes up 55 percent of Shorter Garden's housing units, is valued under $50,000. Less than 1 percent is valued at more than $100,000. It is estimated that the need for housing rehabilitation exceeds 1,200 homes.
Shorter College's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) activities include the construction of a community center, which will provide economic development and other services to the community and office space for community organizations. The center also will serve as the location of two other HBCU activities: Shorter College's Housing Rehabilitation program and a community childcare facility.
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