Although improving and developing tourism, recreation and the quality of life in Phillips County is a tough goal there are some dedicated people volunteering to address the topics for the next phase of The Delta Bridge Project.
The TRQ (Tourism, Recreation and Quality of Life) Goal Team met in the Delta Eagle Room of The Delta Cultural Center Tuesday to tackle new goals and the roll over goals from Phase One.
Katie Harrington, co-chair of the team and others, went through an overview of Phase Two and held a brainstorming session for new goals based on a SWOT Analysis. A SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved in a project or in a business venture. 
Jobs and economic development fall under the TRQ Goal Team and several SWOTs were listed in documents from the team’s driving member, Tim Schuringa.
The port, Phillips College, agriculture, the airport, festivals, landfill, and several other strengths and opportunities were cited.
“What is missing from the roll over goals?” asked Schuringa.
“Specific quality of life goals is what we have been missing,” stated Daniel Sims.
Sims said the team needed to look at the neighborhoods and include neighborhood watches.  Sims said that the team had “tourism down” but needed to address the neighborhoods themselves and improve the quality of life in them Schuringa said that neighborhood watches fell under the housing goal team and may need to address the issue together.
Crime also was discussed as to whether or not that topic needed to stand alone in their goals.
Cathy Cunningham suggested park improvements and Harrington mentioned recycling.
Harrington said that the perception that downtown is unsafe needed addressing and that the downtown area might need marketing.
Cunningham said that recreation “for everyone” would be addressed.
Harrington said beautification of the downtown area was a roll over goal.
“Its about serving existing residents as well,” said Schuringa. 
The group talked about training people, especially youths and seniors, for the Civil War Interpretation Project for Helena-West Helena through the college. 
The team also briefly mentioned developing six tourist events for the county, an Elaine museum, expanding the river park, a travel corridor, a tri-state blues music trail, an image campaign, walking and biking trails.
The group presented a lengthy list of weaknesses and threats that include declining population, a lack of shared resources, lack of an educated workforce, general appearance of the area and a lack of quality parks. 
Meeting for other goal team are scheduled and include: Education, Thursday, May 28, 5p.m. to 6 p.m., Great Rivers Educational Cooperative; Leadership, Monday, June 1, Noon to 1 p.m., Southern Bancorp (Cherry St.); Healthcare, Thursday, June 18, Noon to 1 p.m. Southern Bancorp (Cherry St.); and Housing, whose meeting time has not been announced.