East Missouri Action Agency

About Us

EMAA will act as a catalyst within the community to empower economically disadvantaged individuals and families to reach their highest possible level of success.

East Missouri Action Agency, Inc. (EMAA), is a community action agency established in 1965 under the authority of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.

EMAA is a not-for-profit Missouri corporation governed by a 24-member Board of Directors. Each of the eight counties included in the primary EMAA service area is represented by one board member from the public sector and one board member from the low-income sector. In addition, eight Board members are selected from the private sector and represent the eight-county service area at large. The Head Start Policy Council Liaison to the Board is included in the number of private sector representatives and represents the entire service area.

With a staff of more than 225 full- and part-time employees and a budget of nearly $17 million annually, EMAA provides services to more than 18,000 low-income individuals every year.

EMAA primarily serves the Southeast Missouri counties of:

Bollinger
Cape Girardeau
Iron
Madison
Perry
St. Francois
Ste. Genevieve
Washington