This article was originally posted in ARML City & Town magazine.

Community branding is more than a marketing strategy; it’s a vital component to shaping a community’s identity and it drives economic development activity. As cities and towns look to enhance their appeal and foster growth, branding initiatives have become a critical tool. Community branding involves creating a unique identity for a place that encompasses the community’s image and values distinguishing it from other localities.

Effective branding plays a crucial role in economic development by attracting investment, enhancing local business growth and boosting community pride. A well-defined brand establishes a good first impression, boosts existing local business by increasing visibility, and fosters a sense of pride and belonging among residents.

The Northwest Arkansas community of Pea Ridge is a small dynamic city known for its military history and its location along a high ridge in the Ozarks. Pea Ridge has a promising economic outlook as it is located in the fastest growing region in the state of Arkansas. The city recently embarked on a new branding initiative with the University of Central Arkansas ( 每日大赛网站) Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) and Thrive, Inc., a Helena based nonprofit that helps rural communities reach economic goals through rebranding, placemaking initiatives, and engaging youth.

The goal of the branding process is to capitalize on the current economic growth in Northwest Arkansas and define what makes Pea Ridge unique.听

Pea Ridge Mayor Nathan See said, 鈥淏y undergoing this process, we are hoping to show that our city is a city of great opportunity for business, residential, and economic growth. We are moving forward and growing not only in population, but also growing our local economy.鈥�

In partnership with 每日大赛网站 and Thrive, the City of Pea Ridge has developed a new city logo and brand. The process was highly inclusive, involving community meetings and a committee of residents that worked hand-in-hand to design the new brand. When Mayor See convened a brand leadership committee, he was intentional in his recruitment. The committee included a local graphic designer, native residents, and new residents.

The new design concept incorporates elements of Pea Ridge鈥檚 history and geography. The overall diamond shape was chosen to be representative of the Arkansas state flag. The pea leaves bring to mind the native plants for which pioneer settlers named the community. The ridge itself is represented in the shape of the hills, and the star hearkens back to the Civil War history of the Battle of Pea Ridge. The colors were chosen to represent the natural beauty of the Ozarks in and surrounding the city.听

In addition to the new logo, the city has adopted the tagline, 鈥淟ife is Better on the Ridge,鈥� sharing the pride they share in their community鈥檚 quality of life.听

The community has already started to embrace the new look. Shirts and hats are available for purchase at City Hall, new 鈥淲elcome to Pea Ridge鈥� signs are in production, and the city鈥檚 vehicle fleet and website are being updated to include the new logo and tagline.

To measure the success of the branding initiative, the city will be tracking several indicators, and regular community feedback will also be crucial in assessing the brand鈥檚 impact.听

Mayor See added, 鈥淚 will be watching how the community comes to like the logo more and more; I have heard some say it has a look of growth and opportunity, we are a staple in Northwest Arkansas, and that Pea Ridge is a healthy community.鈥�

As Pea Ridge moves forward with its branding efforts, other communities looking to enhance their own economic landscapes may take cues from this initiative. Exploring branding consultations with organizations like Thrive, Inc. could offer valuable insights and strategies to harness the transformative effects of a community brand.听

This article was originally posted in ARML City & Town magazine.

Community foundations serve as catalysts for change in communities across Arkansas. These organizations, deeply rooted in the communities they serve, play a pivotal role in driving progress, fostering development and providing support for crucial services. Through strategic philanthropy, collaborative partnerships and innovative initiatives, community foundations propel communities into brighter, more inclusive futures.

At their core, community foundations are vehicles for collective action. They operate as charitable organizations that pool funds from diverse donors鈥攊ndividuals, families, corporations, and institutions鈥攁nd strategically invest those resources to address pressing local needs. Unlike traditional charitable organizations, community foundations are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between donors and community stakeholders, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and sustainably to maximize impact.

One of the key ways community foundations drive community advancement is through their understanding of local needs and priorities. By actively engaging with residents, nonprofits, government agencies and leaders, these foundations gain invaluable insights into their communities’ challenges. Armed with this knowledge, they can tailor their grantmaking and initiatives to target needs within areas such as education, healthcare, economic development, environmental conservation, arts and culture, and social services.

There are community foundations doing great work in all four corners of our state, and the Ashdown Community Foundation is no exception.

Since 2012, Ashdown has hosted a community-wide auction to help finance community projects. As the auction grew, the need for a primary organizer to assist with planning and implementation emerged. Therefore the Ashdown Community Foundation was born in 2017 to take on that leadership role.听

Written in their by-laws, the purpose of the Ashdown Community Foundation is to fund projects in downtown and at the city park. In recent years, the Foundation has funded an all-inclusive playground, splash pad, batting cages at the city park, and added an obstacle course to the city park.

According to Vickie Williamson, the Economic Development Director of the Little River Intermodal Authority and Ashdown Community Foundation Board Member, 鈥淭he Foundation is passionate about projects that provide opportunities for our families and friends to enjoy time together by improving the infrastructure and facilities already in our community.鈥�

To meet the Foundation鈥檚 goals this year, the community auction also included two raffle contests: 1) to win a five minute shopping spree at The Rancher鈥檚 Wife, a locally owned boutique, and 2) an opportunity to win a new pickup truck through a nerf football throwing contest. All proceeds from the raffle contests were donated to the Ashdown Community Foundation to assist with downtown projects and other community improvements.

In total, the Foundation raised over $126,000 through the raffles and community-wide auction, an impressive increase compared to the $19,000 raised in 2012 at the first community auction.听

In addition to helping fund local projects, the Foundation also reinvests local money back into the community. According to Market President of Diamond Bank and Ashdown Community Foundation Board Member Tyler Davis, 鈥淔or every dollar that we spend on our downtown, we are getting about $3 worth of value.鈥澨�

The key to success of community foundations can be found in the buy-in and support from the community. As we navigate an increasingly complex world, the role of community foundations has never been more critical. By harnessing their collective power of generosity, compassion, and collaboration, community foundations are helping to build a brighter future for everyone.

This article was originally posted in ARML City &Town magazine.

As community leaders, we are always looking for ways to kick-start development and progress at the local-level. Ideally, we are searching for how to generate positive impacts with limited capacity, shoestring budgets, and minimal resources. The term most often used to describe what we are looking for is 鈥渓ow-hanging fruit;鈥� the obvious or easy things that can be most readily done or dealt with in achieving success or making progress toward an objective.

There is a multitude of low-hanging fruit we can 鈥減ick鈥� so it can be tough to determine what direction is right. Sometimes the best way forward is to start with a fresh perspective. To answer questions such as: 1) How is our community perceived? 2) What unique assets do we have to offer? 3) How can we improve in the future?

A tool that is a perfect fit for communities who want the answers to those questions is a First Impressions Tour (FIT) assessment. A First Impressions Tour (FIT) is an assessment tool that can provide a community with an unbiased perspective of its strengths and weaknesses. The assessment is truly a 鈥渇irst impression鈥� of a community. Groups of community leaders will swap places for a day to complete an assessment of one another鈥檚 communities using the First Impressions Tour assessment tool (developed by our team at the University of Central Arkansas; or you can make your own assessment tool).听

After exploring one another鈥檚 communities, each group takes their findings and shares them via a report and debrief meeting. The information gathered can be used to provide general direction for future community and economic development efforts by identifying broad categories of community assets and/or areas for growth. Exploring another community also allows for opportunities to benchmark and exercise R&D (ripoff and duplicate) efforts.

A FIT assessment includes information gathered through various avenues: demographic and market data, discussion with community leaders and citizens, online assessment, a driving tour, and on-the-street resident interviews. This information is compiled into a simple report that analyzes a community鈥檚 online, physical, social, and economic infrastructure and provides a list of possible next steps. The two groups of leaders have opportunities to connect and network with one another as well.

Recently leaders in the City of Prairie Grove and City of Harrison participated in a First Impressions Tour assessment. The two leadership groups consisted of Mayor David Faulk of Prairie Grove, Mayor Jerry Jackson of Harrison, Wilson Marseilles of the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce, Taryn Golden of the Prairie Grove Chamber of Commerce, and various business owners, city staff, and residents. The groups traveled to one another鈥檚 communities during day trips, completed online searches of Harrison and Prairie Grove, participated in virtual introduction and debrief sessions, and worked with our staff at 每日大赛网站 to develop final reports of one another鈥檚 findings.

CEO of the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce Wilson Marseilles believes that First Impressions Tour assessments are beneficial because they can uncover blind spots and provide confirmation from outside experts. Marseilles said, 鈥淎t the beginning of the program we thought we would learn more about our blind spots, and while we found a couple of those, the most beneficial part of the assessment was discovering that our community has already been proactive in a lot of areas. The FIT helped confirm the areas we should double down on, such as: downtown planning, creating a strong merchants association, hospitality/customer service training, and pedestrian connectivity planning.鈥�

Marseilles also shared that an unexpected result of participation in the FIT process was the bonding their local team experienced.听

鈥淲hile spending the day together, our leadership team conversed at length about the community we were discovering and our own community. The experience allowed us the opportunity to enhance the chemistry of our local community development team. Using this experience as a tool to bring our leaders together will continue to benefit us in the future because community development is a team sport,鈥� he shared.

Mayor David Faulk described the experience as something all municipalities need to consider partaking in.听

He said, 鈥淭he First Impressions Tour was a non-biased look into what a visitor sees and experiences while in our city. In this case, the visitors were professional peers with backgrounds in city planning, business, and marketing. The First Impression Tour provided insights that are invaluable to the growth of our city. We have already started incorporating the advice offered to improve the overall experience in Prairie Grove.鈥�

A First Impressions Tour assessment takes minimal funding (gas and lunch costs) and time commitment, but provides high impact. The assessment can remove our blinders so we can see our community in a new, fresh way, develop new connections, and uncover new opportunities.

You can review and utilize 每日大赛网站鈥檚 First Impressions Tour assessment packet for free at .

Article originally published in the Arkansas Municipal League Association- Autumn 2023听别诲颈迟颈辞苍.

Identifying funding for community projects tends to听hover at the very top of our needs when developing听plans to make our communities better places to live,听work and play. While there are multiple ways to fund听local development efforts (public and private funding,听grants, loans, fundraising, etc.), a relatively new concept听is crowdfunding.

You may have heard the term before but not known听what crowdfunding is. Crowdfunding harnesses the听power of social networks and the internet to give people
the means to raise funds, help others overcome hardship and meet aspirational goals. Crowdfunding activates听small donations that add up to big impacts. According
to personal finance company Nerdwallet, $17.2 billion听is generated yearly through crowdfunding in North听America. There were 6,455,080 worldwide crowdfunding campaigns last year, and successful crowdfunding听campaigns have raised $28,656 on average.

Crowdfunding can not only be used to support听individuals and organizations, but communities as well.听Crowdfunding projects can focus on diverse spaces like
infrastructure, recreation, workforce development, education, downtown development, beautification and more.听One organization with a unique approach to听 community crowdfunding is ioby (). The nonprofit鈥檚听name stands for 鈥渋n our backyards,鈥� and the organization听strives to give local leaders the ability to crowdfund the听resources they need to build real, lasting change from the听ground up. The platform helps connect local leaders with听support and funding from their communities to make听neighborhoods sustainable, healthier, greener, livable and听fun.

鈥淲ith crowdfunding, you don鈥檛 need huge donations听to get to your goal, you just need a strong community听that鈥檚 willing to support your idea,鈥� said ioby Match
Programs Director Miriam Parson. 鈥淪uccessful crowdfunding campaigns are funded by neighbors, friends,听family, local businesses and others who would love to see听your project brought to life.鈥�

If you鈥檙e interested in crowdfunding a community听project, ioby suggests the following:

Build Your Team, Plan Your Asks鈥�This is no time听to go it alone! Be strategic in assembling your fundraising听dream team. Consider developing a team of three or
four committed individuals. Be intentional in creating a听diverse team. You will need your team to work together to听make the right asks of the right people at the right time.

Plan Your Story鈥�What will convince someone to听support your campaign? There are five things every good听story needs: Keep it personal, keep it focused, show the听big picture, be an authority and make it dramatic.

Plan to Get the Word Out鈥�Shout it from the rooftops! A well-planned campaign builds urgency and keeps听telling the story over time. When getting the word out,听plan to share an initial announcement that sets the stage听for the campaign and introduces your ask to potential听donors. Celebrate your milestones, such as when you hit听50 percent raised. Thank donors as contributions come in听and continue to nudge others gently. Always include your听deadline as the campaign winds down to create urgency.

Donors Must Be Asked鈥�Donors must be directly听asked to give. You will not get much if any traction by听asking 鈥渁nonymously,鈥� such as through social media posts or other mass communication. Get as one-on-one听as possible. Donors are more likely to give if they have a听relationship with the person asking, a connection with听the place, or if it鈥檚 an issue they have experienced.

You can learn more about building a successful听campaign at or submit听your idea today at

The Walton Family Foundation is partnering听with ioby on a new funding opportunity in northwest听Arkansas. Donations are being matched up to $15,000 for听projects that leverage or improve public spaces in Benton听and Washington counties that are led by residents or听small local nonprofits. Interested citizens and organizations can learn more at .

One of the first organizations to leverage this听opportunity was the Music Education Initiative (MEI)听in Fayetteville. MEI plans to host an immersive walkthrough replica of a Delta juke joint. The project will听increase the community鈥檚 exposure and access to the arts听in exciting new ways, including live music, a meeting听lace, programming developed for the conservation,听historical preservation, history, perspective and understanding of the Delta Blues.

鈥淚 am excited to be a participant in the northwest听Arkansas neighborhood match program,鈥� said听MEI Executive Director and Co-founder Orson C.听Weems. 鈥淭he听 program has been well received by the donors that I spoke with to support us in this program. ioby听has been very attentive in making sure that we used tips听and听 testimonials, to tell our story to receive support for听our campaign. I highly recommend that others utilize听this program.鈥�

Though this unique match funding opportunity is听only available in northwest Arkansas, any community in听our state can utilize the ioby platform (or other听 crowdfunding sites) to start their own campaign aimed at听creating positive change at the local level.

Flood Mitigation Supports Community

By Greta Hacker

Flooding is one of the most common weather related disasters. Flood damage to property,听infrastructure and agricultural yields can cause听significant economic and social consequences听to communities. According to Risk Factor, a nonprofit听environmental risk estimator tool, 13 percent of properties听in Arkansas have a 26 percent chance of being affected by听flooding in the next 30 years.

Many Arkansas communities have historically lacked听the resources and information to properly manage flooding. The National Centers for Environmental听 Information听reported that the Arkansas River flood of 2019 caused an听estimated $3 billion in infrastructure and property damage. Our aging flood mitigation听 infrastructure may have听contributed to the problem; in 2017, the Army Corps of听Engineers labeled over half of the state鈥檚 levees 鈥渋n unacceptable condition.鈥�

Local leaders working to manage flooding can find听help from state programs and services. The Arkansas听Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Natural Resources Division听provides education, funding and consultation for city听leaders on flood mitigation. Whit Montague, a certified听floodplain manager with the Natural听 Resources Division,听noted that making sure property owners purchase flood听insurance is a key part of recovery and resilience. 鈥淭he听average flood insurance claim in Arkansas during 2006-2016 was approximately $22,000,鈥� she said. 鈥淗owever, only听about half of the homes damaged by floods are insured for听flood damage,听 meaning that many homeowners are forced听to pay out of pocket during recovery.鈥�

Montague emphasized that lacking education about听flood insurance is part of the problem. Lenders require听property owners in official flood zones to purchase flood
insurance before taking out a mortgage. In Arkansas there听is no disclosure requirement for whether a property is in a听flood zone, so many buyers don鈥檛 find out about the flood听insurance requirement until they go to close. This leaves听the purchaser with little opportunity to shop around for a听better rate. Purchasers are often given high quotes that can听add hundreds of dollars onto their monthly payments.

鈥淲hat is missing [from the discussion] is that there are听ways to reduce that insurance premium,鈥� Montague said.听The Natural Resources Division supports听 communities听in this effort by coordinating the state鈥檚 National Flood听Insurance Program (NFIP). This voluntary program听encourages community-wide adoption of minimum regulatory standards to manage flooding and allows property听owners to purchase federally backed flood insurance. The听state NFIP office is available听 year-round for phone, email,听virtual and in-person consultation with local officials听and citizens who have questions about flood insurance or听mitigation.

The state also supports flood mitigation through听administering federal grant funding to communities.听Projects that receive funding can include repairing a听levee, creating a detention or retention pond to collect听floodwater, and training people to talk to the community听about flood insurance. The Natural Resources Division can
also provide funding for improving properties through听floodproofing, relocation, elevation or demolition of听existing structures.

The city of Clarksville demonstrates a successful communitywide flood mitigation project that received听support in part from a low-interest loan administered by
the Natural Resources Division. Clarksville鈥檚 downtown听area lies in a 100-year floodplain, which stifled growth听and revitalization due to high flood risk and the associated high flood insurance premiums. Clarksville鈥檚 levee听was built in the 1950s and wasn鈥檛 deemed satisfactory to听manage flooding in the area. The city received a $1 million听grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency听and contributed $400,000 to finance renovation of the听levee. The project took eight months and was completed听in August of 2022. FEMA then designated the area as no听longer being in a floodplain, which eliminated the mandatory insurance听 requirement for 830 properties.

Since the city鈥檚 levee project has reduced flood risk in听the area, the downtown has seen 鈥渁n explosion of capital听investment,鈥� said Steve Houserman, Clarksville鈥檚 economic听development director. 鈥淛ust in direct investment, we have听seen over $2.5 to $3 million. We also have three or four听businesses that are already underway and ready to open up听in the next couple of months.鈥�

The city has also invested in its downtown since the听levee renovation. Projects include purchasing, revitalizing听and selling a historic building to the local University of the听Ozarks, as well as constructing a public stage for concerts听and other community events.

Houserman advises local officials looking to institute a听floodplain management project to have good data, ideally听from an environmental study of the area, that shows how听the flooding causes a detriment to growth and revitalization. He also recommends involving affected groups and听other stakeholders in the effort from the beginning. 鈥淭hose听business owners, for their own wellbeing, will show up to听city council meetings and they will advocate for that issue,听because it鈥檚 going to save them money in the long-term and听help the local economy grow,鈥� he said.

Montague encourages community leaders to view听floodplain management as an opportunity for community听progress. 鈥淢anagement of flood risk is not an听 impediment听to growth and development,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n actuality, it听protects your residents and neighbors and sets the stage for听smart, safe and sustainable growth.鈥�

To learn more about the Natural Resources Division鈥檚听flood mitigation assistance programs, visit www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/natural-resources/divisions/water-management/floodplain-management.

Moving the Needle on Childcare听

By Abayi Ibro Ayouba

In its August 17, 2022, Household Pulse survey, the听U.S. Census Bureau reported that in the previous听four weeks, 2,055 Arkansas adults left a job in order听to care for children. In that same period, nearly听34,000 working Arkansans used paid leave time to care听for children, and nearly 35,000 took unpaid leave to听provide childcare. Many parents, particularly women,听are forced to leave the workforce to care for children,听reducing their earning potential and limiting their听ability to contribute to the economy. This in turn affects听businesses that rely on a stable and reliable workforce.

The COVID-19 pandemic shed a new light on the听childcare crisis that has been brewing in many countries听for years. While this crisis is not new, the pandemic听exacerbated it, highlighting the need for affordable and听accessible childcare options. As we continue to adjust听to the 鈥渘ew normal,鈥� most businesses and schools have听reopened their doors, but parents are still听 struggling to听find affordable, accessible options and are facing daunting waitlists.

The childcare crisis, especially in Arkansas, is a听significant concern for parents and caregivers. The听state has been grappling with a shortage of quality and听affordable childcare options for years. This problem is听especially acute in rural areas, where there are fewer听childcare facilities.

Leaders must understand that childcare challenges听have a negative impact on the state鈥檚 economy, and it is听critical to ensure that solutions are developed so that听parents can provide the highest quality of life possible听for their children. To address the childcare shortage in听Arkansas, policymakers and community leaders must听work together to find solutions that support both providers and families.

The Newport Economic Development Commission听understands this pressing reality and is taking a proactive approach to addressing the state鈥檚 childcare shortage听by offering home-based childcare training to community听members. 鈥淲e have a desperate need for additional听childcare slots in Jackson County,鈥� said Jon Chadwell,听the commission鈥檚 director of economic development.听鈥淎nd it is an economic development issue because if听people don鈥檛 have a place to care for their children, it鈥檚听hard for them to go to work, and they might decide听to work in a surrounding county where childcare is听available in the same place they鈥檙e working. Parents don鈥檛听typically like to leave their kids 30 or 40 miles away from听where they鈥檙e working.鈥�

The home-based childcare training program is a听promising step toward addressing Newport鈥檚 childcare听shortage. By supporting home-based providers, the听program can increase access to听 quality childcare options听for families while also promoting economic growth in听the region.

To make this happen, Chadwell鈥檚 office teamed听up with the White River Planning and Development听District and ChildCare Aware of North Central听Arkansas to provide tools and training to interested听community members.

鈥淭here is a shortage of infant and toddler care,听not only locally, but statewide and nationally,鈥� said听ChildCare Aware鈥檚 Debbie Mize. 鈥淓veryone at ChildCare听Aware is here to help anyone that would be interested in听opening family childcare in their home.鈥�

Mize and her team are working with community听leaders to provide the opportunity and tools for anyone听who wants to open a family childcare center in their听home. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a whole team at every ChildCare Aware听center across the state that works closely with state听agencies and other partners to support caregivers in any way that we can,鈥� she said. 鈥淧articipants in our
programming also receive guidance on how to become听licensed childcare providers, which will allow them to听access state funding and other resources to support their听businesses.鈥�

Home-based childcare providers offer a valuable听service to their communities while also earning income听and building their own businesses. The programming听provided through ChildCare Aware is one step in the听right direction to move the needle on childcare in a听positive direction.

To learn more about home-based childcare and听licensing or other resources, visit ChildCare Aware听online at

Article originally published in the Arkansas Municipal League Association-听惭补谤肠丑听2023 edition.

Buy-in Builds Vibrant Community Events

By Michael Hudson

Mayor Stephanie White of Keo knows a lot about听creating dynamic community festivities. In December听of 2022, she and other community leaders launched the听first annual Keo Pecan Festival, which highlighted the听city鈥檚 pecan orchards. The festival featured live music听and entertainment, a pecan baking contest, a bike ride,听arts and crafts, food and more.

鈥淐ommunity-based events signal to residents and听visitors that the place is brimming with life and interest,鈥澨齏hite said. 鈥淓nthusiasm is contagious, and the best听compliment a visitor can pay is 鈥業 wish I lived here.鈥欌��

A successful event will provide the opportunity for听residents to feel more connected to their community听and one another. It will also draw tourists to your town.听Visitors will spend money at local restaurants, retail听establishments and on a host of other expenses throughout the day. All of those expenditures will contribute to听uplifting the local economy.

So, what should be considered when creating a successful community event?

Mayor White advised that you should strive to听make your event one 鈥渨here people want to be, where听they feel at home and can truly enjoy the festivities and听individuals around them.鈥� By doing so, it will lead to听more individuals wanting to return in the future and听with them, a larger tax base.

A successful event cannot be accomplished without听a core group of dedicated volunteers. Volunteers are听essential in broadcasting to others the needs of the event,听whether those needs include more volunteers, monetary听donations or other items. Volunteers can also be some听of the best spokespeople and marketers for your event.听By developing a strong group of committed and excited听volunteers, you can maximize the impact of a community event.

But how do you inspire volunteers to get involved?

As the director of marketing for the Fort Chaffee听Redevelopment Authority, Lorie Robertson has a lot听of experience generating excitement and momentum听around community events. Some of the events and festivals held in the Chaffee Crossing community include听an indoor Christmas show, a bi-weekly festival-style farmers and artisan market, and an annual veterans day
parade.

Robertson emphasized that highlighting the value听of the event to the community is crucial for eliciting听volunteer support. 鈥淏y painting a picture or a vision of听how important the event will be to the community and听how important each role is to the overall success of the听event, you can generate buy-in from volunteers, leaders听and citizens,鈥� she said.

Successful execution of community events also听depends upon leaders鈥� ability to make sure volunteers听feel heard and understood. Mayor White often checks in听with volunteers on a regular basis to identify concerns听and address them, paying special attention to the听distribution of responsibility and work.

From personal experience, the old saying 鈥渕any听hands make light work鈥� is especially true when it comes听to event planning and implementation. If volunteers are听overworked and unable to enjoy the event themselves, it听will be extremely difficult to recruit those volunteers for听future events.

Robertson stressed the importance of a solid leadership team in successfully executing a community event.听鈥淵our leadership team needs to be individuals who take听pride in what they are doing and tell others about the听impact it has on their lives,鈥� she said. Those ambassadors听will directly impact the development of new leaders, the听retention of current volunteers and the recruitment of听new volunteers.

When developing your leadership team, consider听individuals who can offer valuable skillsets such as time听management, organization, communication, strong听work ethic and a passion for the community. They will听inspire others to invest their time and talent.

There are many reasons to develop a robust offering听of community-based events. During the event development process, it鈥檚 important to remember that a successful event cannot be accomplished without the buy-in听from the leadership team, volunteers and community.

The best way to learn about events in your region听and throughout the state is by visiting 听If your events aren鈥檛 listed, make sure听they get added.

EngageAR Partners on Pantries for MLK Jr. Day of Service听

By Shelby Fiegel

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make communities more equitable and to take action at the local level. It is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage citizens to volunteer to improve their communities. During the last quarter-century, the MLK Day of Service has grown, and more Americans have embraced the idea that citizenship involves taking an active role in improving communities.

Engage Arkansas (EngageAR) celebrates the MLK Day of Service by engaging with municipalities and nonprofit organizations to:

鈥� Engage with their community and create constructive action;

鈥� Act on Dr. King鈥檚 legacy of social justice and equity; and

鈥� Recommit by volunteering to serve others (clean up a public space, mentor a young person or help those who are food insecure).

This year in celebration of MLK Day, EngageAR supported the Little Free Pantry Movement statewide. The听Little Free Pantry is a grassroots effort launched by Fayetteville鈥檚 Jessica McClard in May 2016. She planted the first Little Free Pantry, a wooden box on a post, that contained food and personal care and paper items accessible to all citizens in her community to support neighbors in need. A Maumelle Public Works Department employee retrofits a donated Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper dispenser to serve as a community food pantry as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.

Through a donation of 100 old newspaper dispensers by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, EngageAR supported over 60 communities by repurposing the dispensers into mini food pantries. Partnering communities also hosted block parties and food drives to bring their community together.

鈥淥ur mission at EngageAR is to bridge divides by bringing people together through service and volunteerism,鈥� said Deputy Chief of Community Engagement and Faith-Based Partnership Shana Chaplin. 鈥淲e seek to provide support and tools to help local communities build strong civic infrastructure. The Little Free Pantry project is an example of how state government, private sector partners and local communities can creatively engage citizens of all ages to help meet local needs.鈥�

Each community identified a unique approach in coordinating and supporting the pantries. Some opted for nonprofit organizations, education institutions, health care facilities or individuals to take ownership of the pantries. In Maumelle, the city identified the need for additional pantries and made the decision to support the installation of two new pantries: one for general community needs on the north side of town near the police and fire department (2000 Murphy Drive) and one for pet products at the Maumelle Center on the Lake, a senior wellness center (2 Jackie Johnson Cove).

鈥淓ngage Arkansas鈥� excellent idea to turn old newspaper boxes into micro food pantries proves that a project doesn鈥檛 have to be big to make a big difference,鈥� said Maumelle Mayor Caleb Norris. 鈥淭hose families who will benefit from this program will have food on the table and will know that the people in their community have stepped up to help.鈥�

EngageAR also encouraged their partners to decorate and paint the pantries with art representative of their communities. Maumelle utilized city equipment and employee-centered volunteerism within their public works department to sand, paint and print stickers of inspiring quotes and paw prints to make the pantries aesthetically pleasing and easy to locate. Other communities and organizations opted to work with local artists and youth to decorate the pantries.

鈥淲e are so excited to be part of the MLK Day of Service project with Engage Arkansas,鈥� said Maumelle Director of Economic Development Courtney Dunn, who served as the main point of contact for the project. 鈥淧roviding resources like the Free Little Food Pantry to our community is impactful and is a community effort.鈥�

Learn more about the MLK Day of Service at www.americorps.gov/newsroom/events/mlk-day, or visit www.engagearkansas.org/mlk-day-of-service for resources, ideas for community projects and a full map of communities participating in the project.

You can learn more about the Little Free Pantry Movement at .

The Virtuous Cycle of Adaptive Reuse听

By Greta Hacker

At the local level, it鈥檚 exciting to see a new project break ground. Some of the most well-known economic development success stories in the state are projects that created something where nothing was before: a new hotel, a new restaurant, or a new factory.

But over time, these exciting new buildings become old and can eventually become vacant when their original use is no longer relevant for the community鈥檚 needs. Recently, the Lincoln Land Institute called vacancies in the United States an 鈥渆pidemic鈥� and Arkansas is not immune to this disease. Instead of viewing these buildings as eyesores, we should view them as opportunities to be catalysts for renewal, growth and community revitalization.

Adaptive reuse, the process of revitalizing an existing building for a purpose other than what it was originally designed for, is an answer to this problem. Arkansas has seen many incredible adaptive reuse projects in larger cities, including the Momentary in Bentonville (a former cheese factory turned into contemporary art space) and the Bakery District in Fort Smith (a former baked goods facility turned into a retail, coworking, restaurant and community space).

According to Ryan Biles, Lonoke 2022 Executive Committee member and owner of Kudzu Collective (), an architectural firm that specializes in adaptive reuse, these types of projects have been gaining momentum in the United States. Recent data from the American Institute of Architectural Billing Index found that renovation and adaptive reuse projects now outpace new construction and comprise over 50 percent of the value of construction dollars spent.

Although adaptive reuse projects have clear economic benefits, Biles suggests that they can have far deeper positive impacts on a community. 鈥淭he value of [adaptive reuse] to a community is certainly quantifiable, in terms of healthy lease rates and property, sales and A&P tax revenues,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut it is also a qualitative value, one where citizen perception shifts from 鈥榳e could never鈥� to 鈥榣ook what we did!鈥� That contagious positivity鈥� or 鈥渄efiant optimism鈥� as we call it in Lonoke鈥攎akes a huge impact on the mindset of a small town or neighborhood.鈥�

Adaptive reuse projects happen in communities of all sizes, and some of the examples mentioned occurred in large and more affluent cities. However, the inspiring effects of renewal can be particularly helpful for underresourced and rural areas. One organization is working in some of the most rural communities in the state to turn forgotten places into affordable and eco-conscious housing while taking a community-centric approach.

The Dels Corp () was founded in 2018 by Mark Bertel in Mountain Home with the goal of providing sustainable, multi-family housing throughout Arkansas and the Midwest. It all started with a property called The Dels, which was once known as Town & Country Motor Inn, one of Mountain Home鈥檚 original motels. With a great location just a few blocks from downtown, there was a lot of potential to breathe new life into this property and provide value to the citizens of Mountain Home. The Dels offers affordable, all-inclusive studio apartments with a strong community-based feel.

Since The Dels Corp鈥檚 original success in Mountain Home, Bertel and his team have renovated 11 properties in north central Arkansas and southern Missouri and have launched two restaurants. Although each property has unique features and its own unique story, each of them share a community-centered focus.

鈥淏efore we even think about purchasing a property for renovation, we make sure that we develop close partnerships with multiple stakeholders in that community,鈥� says Hannah Thaxton, operations manager at The Dels Corp. 鈥淚t is very important to us to build a presence in a city and to make sure that our project is something that the community needs and wants.鈥澨齋ome of the ways The Dels Corp reports involving themselves in communities prior to beginning an adaptive reuse project include joining local chambers of commerce, partnering with local schools and sponsoring events such as 5Ks and festivals.

Thaxton shares this piece of advice for leaders thinking about adaptive reuse in their own communities: 鈥淒on鈥檛 be scared of the big run-down projects, because they are usually the ones that bring the most joy. People are often thankful when something old is made new, beautiful and useful.鈥�

Biles echoes that suggestion. 鈥淚 encourage folks to think about the worst or most embarrassing building in their community and be willing to ask 鈥榳hat if?鈥� Most of us have driven through a dusty downtown or walked by an old, dark building and said, 鈥業 sure wish somebody would do something about that鈥︹�� or 鈥榃hy doesn鈥檛 somebody clean that place up.鈥� I simply remind people that you can be that somebody!”

Industry Partners,

We鈥檙e getting ready, are you? Arkansas could see听record-breaking visitation for听the Great North American Eclipse taking place April 8, 2024. The Arkansas tourism industry has been learning about and planning for this exciting event since 2017 鈥� now is the time to start acting.

Arkansas Tourism and the Arkansas Hospitality Association have partnered to provide quality eclipse viewing glasses to the industry at a reduced price. These glasses will comply with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for filters for direct viewing of the sun.

To show your interest in ordering eclipse glasses,. Include the organization鈥檚 name, contact information and the number of eclipse glasses you鈥檇 be interested in purchasing. This is听not听the formal order yet, but is our last call to the industry to express your interest in placing an order.

Please complete the form by听Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

To start preparing for the eclipse right now,听. Make sure you鈥檙e prepared to help your future guests view this once in a lifetime experience with eclipse viewing glasses!

For more information, email Kim Williams, eclipse project manager, at听kim.williams@arkansas.gov听or call her at 870-295-2005.

To learn more about the big event visit听.