Washington County Economic Alliance

Many similarities exist between the four counties of Washington, Leflore, Sunflower, and Bolivar that make up the Washington County Economic Alliance, including decade-long trends and other specific vulnerabilities residents face including education, lack of access to high-speed internet,  water infrastructure, and poverty. Poverty affects nearly one-third of residents and deep poverty rates are almost double the state-wide average. Despite these descriptions, the region has a high labor force participation rate, with both blue-collar and white-collar jobs across a wide range of industries.

The Washington County Economic Alliance Community Network is committed to addressing overlapping key priorities within the region. The network hosts a handful of youth engagement and other local organizations and will continue to develop partnerships for economic investments and stability.