Where Grant Dollars Become Youth Leaders.
Grants are not line items on a report. At Village Public Health they become certification training, field visits, stipends, and service hours for Arkansas students. Here is exactly what the Amex Shop Small® Grant made possible.
One of 505 Small Businesses Chosen Nationwide.
Village Public Health, Inc. was selected for the Amex Shop Small® Grants Program, made possible by American Express and Main Street America. Out of thousands of applicants, 505 small businesses nationwide received $20,000 each to strengthen their communities.
We put our award to work in the 2026 Summer Institute, a free four-week youth mental health leadership program. Nine high school students from eight schools completed 202.5 cumulative service hours with 94% attendance, and every single participant earned Teen Mental Health First Aid certification.
$20,000
Amex Shop Small Grant award
9
high school students
8
schools represented
202.5
cumulative service hours
94%
attendance rate
9 of 9
Teen Mental Health First Aid certified
How the Grant Became a Program.
Every dollar had a job. Here is how the $20,000 award translated into direct benefits for students and their schools.
Certification Training
Every student completed Teen Mental Health First Aid certification at no cost to their family. Each graduate can now recognize when a peer is struggling and connect them to help.
Field Visits and Career Exposure
Students visited hospitals, labs, and aviation training facilities to see health careers up close. Grant funding covered transportation and access so cost was never a barrier.
Student Stipends and Supplies
The Summer Institute stayed completely free for families. Funding covered program materials, meals, and stipends so students could focus on learning and service.
Service Learning Projects
Students completed 202.5 cumulative service hours in their own schools and neighborhoods, putting prevention-first health education into practice where they live.
Small Grants. Lasting Ripple Effects.
When funders invest in community-rooted organizations, the return shows up in classrooms, hallways, and group chats. Our Summer Institute graduates are back in their eight schools right now, certified to recognize a peer in crisis and trained to connect them to help.
Grant support also keeps programs free for families. No student was asked to pay for certification, transportation, meals, or materials. That is what elevating power looks like in practice: removing the price tag between a young person and their own leadership.
Igniting CommUnity.
Thank You, American Express and Main Street America.
Your investment in the Village is already at work in schools across Arkansas. We are proud to stand among the 505 small businesses selected for the Amex Shop Small® Grants Program.