It’s May – let that sink in for a moment. 2016 has zoomed by, hasn’t it? At least for our team it has.

Our team at the Center for Community and Economic Development has been moving full speed ahead into this year. We’re finishing up projects all over the state in North Little Rock, Crossett, Heber Springs, and the both the Technical Assistance for Mayors (TAM) program and our Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF) Regional Economic Development Boot Camps have wrapped up for the 2015-2016 year.

In this post, we would like to specifically delve into our Southwest and Northwest Economic Development Boot Camps. An astounding 55 community leaders from 39 different communities attended the Southwest Boot Camp in Magnolia and there were 40 attendees at the Northwest Boot Camp in Bentonville. The training events were a part of initiatives to support the Center’s Rural Community and Economic Development Grant awarded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF), as a part of their Moving the Needle Strategic Plan 2.0. The Center will offer a variety of similar training events and technical assistance across the state throughout the next three years supported by funding from WRF.

Participants at the Boot Camps underwent a day full of free community and economic development training on a variety of topics: “Economic Development 101 & Community Branding and Marketing,” “Role of the Local Official in Economic Development,” “Site Selection, Preparing the Product, and Working with AEDC,” “The Community’s Role in Retaining and Growing Small Businesses in a Challenging Economy,” “Fueling Local Economic Change through Youth Entrepreneurship,” and an interactive activity called “Using What You Have.” You can view the SWA Agenda here and the NWA agenda here. There were also plenty of opportunities built into the agendas for participants to network with each other and begin regional conversations.

We would like to thank our speakers who have stuck with us throughout this year to provide the regional Boot Camps: Jon Chadwell with the Newport Economic Development Commission, Steve Jones with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Jeff Amerine with Startup Junkie Consulting, and Teresa Cheeks Wilson and Kathy Moore Cowan with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Memphis Branch. Each of our speakers has been an extremely valuable piece for both our team and our participants; they are truly leaders in our field.

We would also like to thank our partners for both events: the Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District, Golden Triangle Economic Development Council, Magnolia Economic Development Corporation, Northwest Arkansas Planning Development District, and Arkansas Economic Developers.

Does this training sound like something you would be interested in hosting or attending? Do you know local officials or community leaders that would benefit from this kind of training? If so, we encourage you to reach out to us at (501) 450-5269 or sfiegel@uca.edu to get plugged in to future activities at the Center. As previously stated, the Center will continue to hold regional training events throughout the next two years and we would love to come to a community near you if there is a need. More details on 2016-2017 events will be released in Fall 2016.

Welcome 2016!

As the new year kicks off and our team settles back into our routines, we are beginning to plan programs, technical assistance projects, and state-wide training events that will fill up 2016. This year will thus far entail community and economic development “Boot Camps” in Magnolia and Bentonville, the continuance of our CDI 2015 Advanced Year work in Heber Springs as we assist the community in creating an action plan, sessions of our new Technical Assistance for Mayors (TAM) program, training for small business owners through the Conway Small Business Institute (CSBI), various presentations across Arkansas and the Mid-South, and our 30th Annual Community Development Institute (CDI). If you are interested in any of the aforementioned programs, please click the links for more information.

Sounds like we have a busy year in store, eh? Well, we’re just getting started!

We want to continue to grow our impact and help as many communities state-wide as possible. To do so, we will continue to explore new opportunities by reaching out to community leaders that believe we can help positively shape the future of their communities. Want to speak with us about what we can offer your community? We encourage you to reach out to us through our Community Technical Assistance Application.

One of the first communities to reach out to us this year was the city of Crossett in southeast Arkansas. Located in Ashley county, Crossett is the largest city in the area with a population of approximately 5,500 residents. The self-proclaimed “The Forestry Capital of the South,” Crossett is also home to Georgia-Pacific, a Fortune 500 company. Crossett is a rural community and, like many other rural communities in Arkansas, contacted us because they were unsure how to take the first steps to move their community forward.

Pam Hipp, Director of the Corssett Chamber of Commerce, is a graduate of CDI and a PCED certification holder. Pam worked closely with our team to identify how we could best assist Crossett achieve community development success. Our first decision was to develop an information gathering session and site visit to help us better understand the ins and outs of the community. Our team made the 2.5 hour trek from Conway to southeast Arkansas to sit face-to-face with a small group of Crossett community leaders: small business owners, industry leaders, representatives from major institutions, and other movers and shakers. The group reviewed a SWOT analysis conducted years prior to our meeting and updated it. Out of the SWOT analysis conversation, our team will create possible “next steps” for Crossett and identify ways we can be of assistance to the community.

As an added bonus, we were treated to a driving tour of Crossett. We explored Crossett’s many amenities (did you know Crossett has a zoo and a library that rivals some of the best in the state?!?), businesses, infrastructure, housing, downtown square, industrial park, and much more. Crossett has many positive aspects and with a little nudge in the right direction we are certain that the community can thrive and become bigger and better than ever before!

Our team always enjoys time spent in Independence County – those folks are hard working, dedicated, and ready to take action to make their communities flourish!

Over 40 community leaders from multiple cities in and around Independence County attended “Saving Your Small Town: Home Grown Community and Economic Development,” a community and economic development training event hosted by our team at the Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) and our friends at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, on November 12 at Lyon College. “Saving Your Small Town: Home Grown Community and Economic Development” was created through a medley of elements from our own premiere community and economic development training program, the Community Development Institute (CDI), and the St. Louis Fed’s program of the same name. The training is an initiative to support the Center’s Rural Community and Economic Development Grant awarded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF), as a part of their Moving the Needle Strategic Plan 2.0.

The Center will offer training events and technical assistance across the state throughout the next three years supported by funding from WRF.

At the free event, attendees learned the basics of community and economic development, how to market their communities, business recruitment, site selection strategies, the “Role of the Local Official in Economic Development (10 Things You Need to Know),” youth entrepreneurship initiatives, how to utilize a “grow your own” strategy, and participated in an interactive exercise called “Using What You Have.” Knowledgeable leaders in community and economic development throughout the state and region led each session: Ivy Owen (Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority), Steve Jones (Arkansas Economic Development Commission), Amy Whitehead (Center for Community and Economic Development), Teresa Cheeks Wilson (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Memphis Branch), Jeff Amerine (Startup Junkie), and Kathy Moore Cowan (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Memphis Branch). Drew Pack of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Little Rock Branch, deserves a special shout out for securing sponsorship of “Saving Your Small Town” and helping us coordinate the event.

The event was also held in partnership with the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce and White River Planning and Development District.

To view photos of the event, please visit our Facebook page.

Does this training sound like something you would be interested in hosting or attending? Do you know local officials or community leaders that would benefit from this kind of training? If so, we encourage you to reach out to us at (501) 450-5269 or sfiegel@uca.edu to get plugged in to future activities at the Center. As previously stated, the Center will continue to hold regional training events throughout the next three years – in spring 2016, we plan to hold events in Southwest Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas. More details on these events will be released next year.

On October 13, 2015, the Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) held a Western Arkansas Economic Development Boot Camp for community leaders in Western Arkansas at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center. The Boot Camp, modeled after our premiere community and economic development training program the Community Development Institute (CDI), was created as an initiative to support the Center’s Rural Community and Economic Development Grant awarded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, as a part of their Moving the Needle Strategic Plan 2.0. The Center will offer training events and technical assistance across the state throughout the next three years.

Over 40 community leaders from 17 different communities in western Arkansas attended the Western Arkansas Economic Development Boot Camp. At this free event, attendees learned about community marketing, business recruitment, and site selection strategies from leaders in community and economic development throughout the state. The event was held in partnership with the Western Arkansas Planning and Development District, the Fort Smith River Valley Alliance, and the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority.

To view photos of the event, please visit our Facebook page.

A similar training event will be on November 12, 2015 in Batesville, AR. The Center is partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce and the White River Planning and Development District to host Saving Your Small Town for North Central Arkansas community leaders. This event will also be free and will discuss economic development techniques, strategies for rural community development, and issues related to entrepreneurship.

Registration is free, but limited to 50 participants.

Register here to attend Saving Your Small Town.

On Thursday, September 24, the UCA campus was host to the first session of the innovative Conway Small Business Institute (CSBI), a product of a partnership between the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and the UCA Division of Outreach and Community Engagement for Conway area small business owners. CSBI’s website describes the institute as:

“This four part series of workshops has been designed to help you, the small business owner, succeed in your quest to establish, develop, grow, and maintain your business.  Each session will focus on a different organizational topic.  At the end of this series, you will be well-equipped to put your business in position to prosper!  The Institute will run from Fall 2015 through Spring 2016. All sessions will be held on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas at the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center.”

The first CSBI session, entitled “Small Business Marketing,” focused on making small businesses successful by teaching them how to get attention from the right people at the right time. Many business owners would pose the questions, “How do I find the right people? How can I set my business apart from the competition?” The session aimed to explore how small business owners can use strategic, data-driven marketing (whether through direct mail or social media) to reach their ideal customer base. Participants received real-world examples from local businesses and experienced practitioners that “do marketing well” and learned about tools and technology available to expand their customer base.

Jamie Gates of the Conway Area Chamber presented “Fundamentals of Small Business Marketing,” Jeff Standridge of Acxiom covered “Making the Most of a Limited Marketing Budget,” a panel composed of marketing experts Drew Spurgers, Kim Herrington, and Jody Gatchell discussed “Smart Practices for Small Business Marketing,” and the day wrapped up with Adena White and Kara Darling of the Conway Area Chamber sharing their “Finishing Touches.”

Many golden nuggets and words of wisdom were shared by the presenters – our favorites included:

• Marketing is about being detail oriented. Small businesses need to understand this concept.
• The most difficult thing for small businesses is effectively marketing themselves to the right customers.
• If you own a small business, ask yourself, “Is what I’m doing right now leading to a sale?” If not, you need to change your strategy.
• Be different. You must stand out from the crowd – come up with fresh ideas on how to differentiate yourself through your marketing efforts.
• Marketing is not just sending something out in the mail… make it personal, pick up the phone.
• On a limited marketing budget focus your energy on your target audience; give them special offers.
• Social media content tips: 1) give behind-the-scenes looks, 2) post content people want to share, 3) don’t be too proud to beg, 4) piggyback on holidays and “themed” days, 5) position yourself as an expert, 6) have a contest, and 7) use hashtags strategically!
• Referring to design, spending more up front saves time and money. Look for an agency or a contract designer depending on your budget.

Trust us, there were plenty more golden nuggets to share, but instead of reading about them on our blog, we encourage you to get out there and experience what the Conway Small Business Institute has to offer! If you missed the first session, don’t panic yet – there are still plenty of other sessions you can attend. The following sessions are coming up quick so hurry and register:

Oct. 29, 2015:      Veteran, Minority, & Women-Owned Business Certification

Feb. 25, 2016:      Human Resources

Mar. 31, 2016:      Small Business Finance

Even if you aren’t a small business owner, we bet you know one that could benefit from attending CSBI. Give them a helping hand and share this great opportunity with them!

If you have any questions about CSBI or any of the sessions, reach out to us at (501) 450-3429 or rshepherd@uca.edu

“Mulberry a community planning success story” by CCED Assistant Director Josh Markham was originally published in Arkansas Municipal League’s City & Town magazine.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” This quote from the book of Proverbs sums up Mulberry Mayor Gary Baxter’s belief in the importance of community planning. Baxter has leveraged his unique background to achieve great success for the city. He combines the attention to detail and meticulous pragmatism of 27 years in military service with a genuine interest in building community that comes from 22 years as an ordained minister.

Since taking office in Mulberry in January 2011, Baxter has successfully implemented numerous projects. While Mulberry is a small city of around 1,600 people, in the past five years, the city has completed development efforts ranging from park renovations, street improvements, new construction of a senior center, and the attraction of several new businesses.

Baxter will attest that having a clear, action-oriented vision for Mulberry has been critical to the city’s success.

“We needed to be ready for the future. It is the leader’s responsibility to communicate to others the direction of the community,” Baxter said.

This responsibility led Baxter to develop his 19 by 19 Plan for Mulberry. This visioning document is a clear, project-focused plan for the next four years of his term in office. The 19 goals focus largely on continued infrastructure improvements and economic development, but arriving at a short list to focus on was difficult. Over 100 items for future development were initially considered.

Baxter noted that “our staff weighed the most important, immediate needs of the community” and then tried to trim the list down based upon what development needed to logically take place first. His initial approach to communicating this plan was as straightforward as the plan itself.

“I just went door-to-door and talked to people,” Baxter said.

While this initial approach was no easy task, the effort to honestly communicate the leadership’s plan for the community underlies two focus areas that Baxter feels are integral to implementing the plan: building trust and building relationships.

While many community plans often end up on a bookshelf, for Baxter, the 19 by 19 Plan is much more than a bookend. His plan guides weekly staff meetings and helps his staff to stay on track. Additionally, due to the concise nature of the plan, it is easy for the mayor to share with people. This ease of use is a plus for all involved, but the streamlined nature of the plan was intentional for other reasons.

“Even with 19 specific focus areas, each area has ripple effects that have a larger impact on the community” Baxter said.

As such, the 19 by 19 Plan has a comprehensive approach to community and economic development by focusing on core development issues. For example, by focusing on affordable new housing, the plan aims to attract new residents, which will positively impact local businesses.

Ultimately, Mayor Baxter hopes this planning effort will lead to a strong, self-sustaining community. Economic success aside, Baxter noted that he has already seen a large increase in community pride due to the city’s conscious development efforts. This 19 by 19 Plan is designed to continue that growth. Baxter noted that “businesses need to see that the community is being taken care of. Quality of life factors such as parks and sidewalks are important to people and to the economy.”

As a result, his 19 by 19 Plan is designed to pay dividends to both residents and businesses.

• Expansion of farmers market
• Upgrades to city park
• $300,000 library expansion
• Downtown renewal
• Repair and overlay city streets
• Repair sidewalks and construct new sidewalks between high school and elementary school
• Attract business to 100-acre site in industrial park
• Sewer upgrades
• Water treatment plant expansion

“Paris builds community momentum” was written by the Center’s Director Amy Whitehead and was featured in Arkansas Municipal League’s City & Town magazine.

On May 30 the City of Paris in Logan County unveiled a five-year strategic plan for community and economic development. Only 13 pages long, the Paris Action Plan is a road map for the future of Paris. It was developed in 10 months of planning and work, with widespread participation from key leaders and organizations in the Paris area. The Paris plan is not a typical strategic plan, weighed down by endless pages of data and consultant-speak. UCA’s Community Development Institute and the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Breakthrough Solutions Program worked directly with the city to help craft a plan that could be easily read and absorbed by the public, potential funders, and stakeholders working with the community.

What makes the Paris Action Plan so unique can be found right in its name—action! The city was planning and “doing” simultaneously. Major projects that impacted workforce development, economic development, tourism, branding and quality of life were already underway as the planning was happening. The plan became a reflection of the community’s current work and future aspirations. This action plan transformed the planning process from passive to active and allowed the community to celebrate success throughout the planning process, keeping momentum high and the community engaged.

After an initial assessment and community priority setting phase in August 2014, completed in conjunction with the Community Development Institute’s Advanced Year Class, Paris decided to focus efforts on tourism and branding, workforce development and economic development, and quality of life and place. Those involved recognized that a focused effort would produce better results, especially in a community like Paris where local leaders wear many hats.

From the time the planning process began in August 2014 until it was unveiled in May 2015, the citizens of Paris celebrated the following successes:

• The installation of the Eiffel Tower Park in the downtown square, including a replica of the Eiffel Tower, a water fountain, stage, and signage.
• The development and adoption of a new brand and logo identity to be utilized on a variety of promotional materials.
• State approval to begin a satellite workforce training center, which will provide much needed skills training to the workforce in the local economy, supporting the labor needs of local industry.
• The announcement that Rethink Manufacturing would be located at the same site as the workforce training center, an empty manufacturing building located within Paris city limits.

Eiffel Tower Park is just one of the recent successful outcomes of Paris’s planning process.

Even though our team at the Center hasn’t posted to the blog in a while doesn’t mean we aren’t busy – on the contrary, we are very, VERY busy.

Heading into late June and all of July our internal brain switches have entered “CDI mode.” All we’ve thought about (and dreamed about) has been CDI. Yet, through all the organizing, planning, and increasing stress we’ve found ways to keep energized and have fun while staying on task. One of the best ways we’ve been able to do this is through the setup of our CDI Advanced Year Community Development Kickstart in Heber Springs, AR.

The Advanced Year class of CDI focuses on the application of community and economic development principles in a real-world setting, with the Advanced Year Class of CDI 2015 working with Heber Springs August 3-6. Heber Springs was chosen as the Advanced Year Community out of a competitive pool of cities from all across Arkansas. Though the Advanced Year class’s involvement in Heber Springs will end on August 6, the Center and U of A Cooperative Extension’s Dr. Mark Peterson will continue to work with the city until spring 2016. Our work will culminate with the creation of a five year strategic action plan for the community.

But before the real work gets started, our team and Dr. Peterson have been in contact with community leaders in Heber Springs to lay the foundation for our work. Our first tasks to check off our preparation list were a community leadership meeting and driving tour of the city.

At the community leadership meeting, we met with many “movers and shakers” in Heber Springs including: Mayor Jimmy Clark, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Julie Murray, City Council member Jim Lay, Executive Director of Downtown Heber Springs Mary Margaret Couch, and many others. We gave them an overview of our work in Heber Springs and also discussed with them what they believed to be their greatest community strengths and weaknesses.

To get a better sense of the city, we scheduled a driving tour with Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Julie Murray and our chauffeur Ina Brown, special projects manager for the Heber Springs Chamber of Commerce. Our excellent guides gave us the full Heber Springs experience (we now deem ourselves experts in all things Heber Springs)! The following list includes facts we picked up about the community:

• There are 13 campsites around Greers Ferry Lake in Heber Springs
• Aromatique is a potpourri manufacturer in Heber Springs
• Heber Springs has a visitors center, aquatic center, and community center
• Three hiking trails at Sugar Loaf Mountain
• Brand new cabins have been built by the river, called Red River Adventures
• There is a fish hatchery (trout) that is a popular tourist destination
• There are many mom & pop restaurants (there is a variety of restaurants) and other businesses
• Heber Springs High School has “state of the art” facilities and is building a new auditorium; the community heavily supports the school
• Collins Creek and Bridal Veil Falls are the main hiking and scenic areas
• Downtown appears to be doing well; it’s full of diverse shops

Based on our interactions with the city of Heber Springs thus far, we expect this years Community Kickstart to be an immense success. We will be working with a fantastic group of folks who are passionate about creating a bright future for their community.

Keep checking the blog for up-to-date information on our work in Heber Springs – and let us know if you’re planning a vacation to the area, we can hook you up!