WHO WE ARE

Mission Statement

STEP will provide exceptional services for people seeking to improve their quality of life through community, economic, personal, and family development.

STEP (Support to Eliminate Poverty), Inc., is a non-profit community action agency. There are approximately 1,000 community action agencies across the nation serving low-income populations with the goal of promoting self-sufficiency and empowering individuals to obtain the American dream.

In 1964, the Office of Economic Opportunities was created by President Lyndon Johnson to fund community programs across the nation to help the poor overcome the cycle of poverty by providing funds for education and job training programs, medical and legal services, etc. These funds were specifically targeted for Community Action Agencies.

Chartered in September 1966 as Franklin County Community Action, the name was changed to Support to Eliminate Poverty (STEP) in 1990. Initial programs provided were Adult Education, Clothes Closet, and Job Training. The corporate office is in Rocky Mount, VA and serves the communities of Franklin County and Patrick County, VA. Today, STEP, Inc. has an annual budget of $2,383,313. STEP, served 1,554 people with programs such as Head Start, Housing & Weatherization, Education, Senior Meals and Supportive Services in the fiscal year 2005-2006.