BT天堂

Article originally published in the Arkansas Municipal League Association- October听2022 edition.

Preparing a workforce for the future: ACT Work Ready Communities听

By Shelby Fiegel

Arkansas may boast an impressively low听unemployment rate, but nearly 80,000 jobs听remain unfilled in the Natural State. Despite听workforce challenges and other ripple effects听caused by COVID-19, employers still require a qualified and educated workforce to fill those positions. This puts pressure on our communities and education systems to create workforce pipelines and support systems that听prepare our workforce to meet current and future demands.

How do we ensure that economic growth continues听in our state? That鈥檚 where programs like the ACT听Work Ready Communities (WRC) step in. The WRC initiative empowers states, regions and counties with data, processes and tools that drive economic growth by identifying skills gaps and quantifying the skill level of their workforce. Individuals that participate in the program leverage the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) to measure and certify work skills needed for success in jobs across industries and occupations. The overall goal is to show prospective听employers concrete proof of an individual鈥檚 skills and potential training needs to match them with appropriate employment opportunities.

Currently, Arkansas counties have a 45-percent participation rate in the program (with 34 of 75 counties having achieved certified work-ready status) and 975 Arkansas-based employers recognize the ACT WorkKeys NCRC in support of WRC goals. The most recent county to receive the WRC designation was Grant County, where a diverse group of community leaders partnered to receive the certified work-ready designation.

To begin the certification process, Grant County听leaders attended the ACT Work Ready Communities Boot Camp, an executive leadership training program focused on creating and implementing tailored efforts to improve the county鈥檚 work readiness. Leaders met with local employers, policymakers, educators and economic developers to establish goals and build a sustainable WRC model to fit unique community needs.

鈥淲e know that economic development and education are closely associated. That鈥檚 why the Sheridan School District is proud to have played a role in helping Grant County achieve status as an ACT Work Ready Community,鈥� said Dr. Karla Neathery, superintendent of the Sheridan School District. 鈥淭he skills our students are learning in Work Ready and JAG (Jobs for America鈥檚 Graduates) classes, as well as internships and other courses, help prepare them to be outstanding contributors to a workforce. When these students demonstrate those skills on the NCRC assessments, they receive credentials to indicate their work-readiness to potential employers. We believe designation as an ACT Work Ready Community aligns perfectly with our school鈥檚 mission to empower our students to become lifelong learners who are responsible, contributing citizens.鈥�

To garner communitywide support and align the WRC process with long-term community goals, leaders representing Kick Start Sheridan, a citizen-led effort focused on outlining and implementing community and economic development strategies, were involved.

鈥淭he Kick Start Sheridan initiative was started to help prepare our community for the future,鈥� said Brad McGinley, who serves as the Grant County extension agent staff chair with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 鈥淎chieving ACT WRC status听was one of our initial goals identified in our countywide strategic action plan. Having a skilled workforce that matches the needs of employers is key to driving听economic development in our county forward.鈥�

Leaders throughout Grant County understand the听necessity of developing a high-quality workforce and the听positive impact it has on local employers. Grant County听Judge Randy Pruitt said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to participate in听a program that matches an individual鈥檚 skill set to job opportunities in Grant County. It will aid economic development not only in our county but the surrounding region as well.鈥�

For more information on ACT Work Ready听Communities, go to .
Follow Kick Start Sheridan on Facebook at听www.facebook.com/KickStartSheridan to keep up to听date on community and economic development efforts听in Grant County.

Article originally published in the Arkansas Municipal League Association- August听2022 edition.

Balancing big dreams with hard work: Lessons from Greenbrier听

By Greta Hacker

The city of Greenbrier in many ways exemplifies both the joys and troubles of small-town living in Arkansas. It has a top-rated school system and its citizens form a close-knit, family friendly community. However, like many rural communities, it has struggled over the years with its transportation infrastructure and a lack of a downtown area. These challenges have only become more apparent as Greenbrier鈥檚 population has grown.听

Over the last five years, Greenbrier has demonstrated that it is up to the task of capitalizing on its assets and areas for improvement. The city has made great strides in economic and community development, and recent wins have made big impacts. Its recent progress serves as a good example of how any city can take steps to improve the quality of life in their communities.听

Greenbrier鈥檚 recent community development efforts began when they implemented recommendations from a First Impressions Tour (FIT) conducted in 2017 in partnership with the University of Central Arkansas Center for Community and Economic Development. Through the FIT, Greenbrier leaders received a broad assessment of the city鈥檚 strengths and weaknesses. Some of the suggestions for improvement that emerged from this report included the development of sidewalks, improving recreation facilities, increasing wayfinding signage and engaging in beautification efforts.听

Greenbrier city officials went right to work on implementing these recommendations in the following years. Greenbrier Events Center Director Shellie O鈥橯uinn noted that throughout the community development process, Greenbrier succeeded because they tempered idealism with realism. 鈥淥ne thing I love about our current leadership is that they seize opportunities when they arise,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey dream big but back it up with realistic expectations. The amazing facilities that we enjoy in our community today are a direct result of hard work and dedication to those big dreams.鈥�

These big dreams include several large improvement projects, including 55-acre Matthews Park, a new fire station, a new city building that houses Greenbrier鈥檚 parks and recreation department and chamber of commerce, and a 4,000 square-foot events center. In 2018 residents passed a sales tax increase that funded the construction of the city park and fire station. The projects wrapped in 2020 and 2021, respectively.听

The creation of Matthews Park addressed an important need in the community by functioning as a central gathering place, said Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce President Ashton Pruitt. 鈥淕reenbrier does not have a traditional downtown with a lively entertainment Public input helped guide city leaders when choosing the park鈥檚 amenities. Greenbrier doesn鈥檛 have a traditional city center, and Matthews Park, completed in 2020, helps make up for that by giving residents a place to gather. Photos courtesy city of Greenbrier August 2022 35 district. Matthews Park allowed us to have a special central location for recreation, celebrations and events. It really brought the community together.鈥� The park has served as the location for several large community events, including an art festival and Glisten in Greenbrier, a month-long holiday celebration featuring a tree-lighting ceremony, skating rink and light display.听

Gaining community buy-in was a key ingredient in Greenbrier鈥檚 success throughout the process of developing Matthews Park. 鈥淚t was important to us to ask the people what they would want in a park,鈥� said Greenbrier Mayor Sammy Joe Hartwick. 鈥淲e visited groups including senior citizens and school groups to get their feedback, and we included Greenbrier citizens on our city park board.鈥澨�

O鈥橯uinn also emphasized the importance of partnerships in Greenbrier鈥檚 achievements. 鈥淭he city of Greenbrier works very closely with the Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce and the Greenbrier School District,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ost of the progress in the community can be attributed to the collaboration between these amazing institutions. They share many resources that help ease the growing pains of our community.鈥澨�

One of Greenbrier鈥檚 current projects includes improving its streets and sidewalks. Mayor Hartwick noted that the city was proud to partner with the Arkansas Department of Transportation in widening its intersections and installing turning lanes and turning arrows in high-traffic areas. Hartwick also highlighted a sidewalk project connecting Highway 65 to Greenbrier High School.听

Finally, Greenbrier is taking steps to plan for future growth by conducting a community survey. City officials will eventually use this citizen input to guide the development of a citywide strategic plan.听

鈥淥ur citizens have been given a great opportunity to share their dreams and participate in the process of creating a unified vision as well as working to make it come to fruition,鈥� O鈥橯uinn said. 鈥淗aving the buy-in of our community will be essential to realizing the ultimate 鈥榖ig dream鈥� of shaping a future Greenbrier that is even bigger and better than any of us individually could ever imagine.鈥�

Article originally published in the Arkansas Municipal League Association- July 2022 edition.

Hello from Magnolia!听

How Magnolia is using their new brand to keep them top-of-mind

By Michael Hudson

As you travel throughout the Natural State this summer, take in the personality and identity of the cities and towns you pass through. Each community in our state is unique and has diverse assets that contribute to making it a great place to live, work and play. When considering how to best display everything our communities have to offer, one of the greatest tools we can utilize is the development of a community brand. Identifying and marketing a community brand sends a cohesive message on behalf of your community, engages visitors and generates community pride. Community brands also establish a positive first impression for potential new businesses, residents and tourists in the digital world.听

Magnolia city leaders saw the need to create a community brand to promote the city to external audiences and develop a sense of identity internally. The city partnered with the University of Central Arkansas鈥� Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED), Thrive Inc. and Entergy Arkansas to create a new community brand and logo.听

Magnolia鈥檚 Economic Development Executive Director Ellie Baker recognized that 鈥渢hose who wanted to connect a business or item to Magnolia would have to use any one of the thousands of [magnolia] blossom images from the internet. There was no consistency of an image being used across the board to purposefully identify Magnolia.鈥� With the new logo and branding, Magnolia portrays a sense of unity and belonging within the community using cohesive branding materials, which are free and available for anyone to use.听

Creating the brand听

It is impossible for any city or town to be able to market itself to the world as a place to come work, live and play without knowing who they are first, said Ryan Biles, Thrive Inc.鈥檚 director of development. When creating a community brand, the first step is 鈥渢o know what you believe about yourself before you can tell that story to others.鈥澨�

In Magnolia鈥檚 case, community stakeholders met with Thrive to develop an idea of who Magnolia is. To undertake a major project like rebranding your town, it is imperative that 鈥渆very community have at its heart people who are proud to be from there,鈥� Biles said. The stakeholders then formed a design team that met with Thrive, CCED and Entergy every two weeks via Zoom to ensure that the project did not lose its momentum. During those meetings, Thrive conducted workshops that extracted the 鈥渆motional essence鈥� of what each participant brings to the table. By understanding how the stakeholders feel about their community, Thrive was better able to distill what made Magnolia unique and important through the eyes of its own citizens.

Once the brand was developed, Magnolia and Thrive strategically involved high school students in the unveiling of the new brand. The students painted a mural in the city鈥檚 Square Park that displays key elements of the brand. This process also gave the students real-world experience as artists. Mayor Parnell Vann was ecstatic that Magnolia youth were so involved in the creation of the brand. 鈥淭his project brought pride and buy-in from our youth, and anytime you can do that with a city project it is a success,鈥� he said.听

Getting the brand out there听

Magnolia is incorporating the new brand into city departments and encourages citizens to use the new branding for free. Businesses are also encouraged to use the new branding and can contact city hall for the marketing materials. The city will continue to implement its new branding with wayfinding signage, future projects and a new movable mural to be displayed, according to Baker, 鈥渨herever there is an empty spot to fill.鈥�

Every community can learn from Magnolia鈥檚 branding process. Some key tips include:听

• Before your community begins to design and develop a new branding initiative, study your town to understand who you are and what your story is.听
• Gather as many perspectives as you can so that everyone has a voice in the process.听
• Create a consensus on what should be included with the brand and take pride in it!听
• Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask outside organizations or companies to help with this endeavor.

Even though there are other communities with the name of Magnolia in the United States, the new Magnolia, Arkansas, logo is truly one of a kind and cannot be found anywhere else. So, the next time you visit Magnolia, be prepared to be welcomed with a smile, and snap a photo with the new mural to say, 鈥淗ello from Magnolia!鈥�

Article originally published in the Arkansas Municipal League Association- .

Heal on wheels: Mobile health clinics reach Arkansas’ underserved听
By Dalton Thompson

Health care costs are the leading cause of bankruptcies in the United States. Rural communities, where access to care can be limited, are feeling the brunt of a crisis of access and affordability. In Arkansas, almost 250,000听people do not have health insurance. With rising costs and public health crises becoming more common,听Arkansans are delaying care to save money. Luckily,听some organizations have decided that it doesn鈥檛 have to听be this way鈥攁nd they鈥檙e coming to a town near you!

The Arkansas Minority Health Commission听(AMHC) launched their Mobile Health Unit in 2019.听Their mission is to provide underserved and minority听communities with no-cost preventive health-care services like screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, A1C听and HIV. The AMHC strives to provide equitable access听to health care for communities who have been historically underserved, but anyone can utilize its services. In听addition to screenings, the Mobile Health Unit provides听patients with health education, makes referrals to local听care providers and partners with foodbanks statewide to听offer even more support to the communities they serve.

鈥淭he Arkansas Minority Health Commission鈥檚听Mobile Health Unit serves as a vessel to promote health听and prevent diseases and conditions that are most听prevalent among minority populations,鈥� said AMHC鈥檚听Mobile Health Unit coordinator, Cindy Arreola. 鈥淥ur听team travels the state of Arkansas, meeting people where听they are and providing free services to bridge the gap听for those who do not have easy access to preventative听health care.鈥�

In addition to AMHC鈥檚 Mobile Health Unit,听Arkansans in the eastern region of the state have access听to the Delta Care-A-Van, a service of the New York听Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine听(NYITCOM) at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.听The Care-A-Van program strives to make a difference听in underserved communities in the Mississippi Delta.

Like AMHC鈥檚 Mobile Health Unit,听NYITCOM鈥檚 Delta Care-A-Van听specializes in preventive care听screenings, health education,听referrals to local care providers or听other social services, and听 health听education programs. Since 2018,听the Care-A-Van has been working听to address a shortage of physicians听in the Delta region.

According to Delta Population Health Institute Executive听Director Dr. Brookshield Laurent,听NYITCOM鈥檚 program has teamed听up with medical and nursing听school programs to connect听students and residents to the communities who need their healing听hands. 鈥淭he Delta Care-A-Van听serves to provide preventative care听and mental health screenings in听rural communities in the Delta听in partnership with health care听systems,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t offers interprofessional educational opportunities with health professional听students to increase the health care听workforce in rural communities. The Delta Care-A-Van also serves听as an entry point to provide capacity building through cross-sector听collaborations to address social听determinants of听 health.鈥�

The AMHC Mobile Health听Unit and the NYITCOM Delta听Care-A-Van join an estimated 2,000 mobile health clinics in the听United States that are bringing听real change to our communities,
and at lower costs than traditional听healthcare services. Mobile Health听Map, a collaborative mobile听clinic resource (www.mobilehealthmap.org) reports听that, on average, the cost of a visit to a mobile clinic is听about $155, but the savings are estimated to be about听$1,800 when compared to traditional medical services.听Data shows that mobile clinics are saving patients and听communities a lot of money: For every dollar invested听in a mobile clinic, $12 is saved, a 12-to-1 return-on investment. Sixty percent of patients served by mobile听clinics are uninsured, so these savings have a real impact听in our local communities.

Clinics like the AMHC Mobile Health Unit and the NYITCOM Delta Care-A-Van are great examples of how we can create healthier communities across the听Natural State without bankrupting Arkansans. For more information, please visit www.arminorityhealth.com听and www.nyit.edu/arkansas/delta_care_a_van.

Article originally published in the Arkansas Municipal League Association-

Broad sales tax initiative a success for Cabot
By Shelby Fiegel

To create thriving communities with sustainable infrastructure while effectively managing growth, municipal leaders must focus on fiscal management and identify funding sources that best fit their communities鈥� needs. While there are multiple tools available to fund community and economic development efforts, one of the most common remains the local sales tax initiative. Creating a sales tax devoted to economic development can be a big ask of our citizens, especially if our leaders do not have a plan in place to utilize that funding.

In a local sales tax election in August of 2021, Cabot citizens overwhelmingly approved an initiative to maintain the city鈥檚 current sales tax rate and issue $72 million in bonds for community and economic development听projects. Voters approved 10 separate ballot initiatives that included restructuring current bonds and funding infrastructure, public safety and efficiency improvements.

How did Cabot accomplish this win? City leadership focused on the following community and economic
development aspects.

Fiscal responsibility

When Cabot leaders began discussing the current and future needs of their city, their first concern was to be good stewards of public funds. They determined听that they could meet these needs without a tax increase. Instead, they could extend the existing 1-percent sales and use tax. The city contracted Stephens Inc. to develop a plan to restructure the bonds. Stephens presented multiple options to city leadership, who then determined which were most necessary for the city to maintain what听it had and what it needed to positively position itself for the future.

Transparency

Instead of pitching the extension of the sales tax as a听general fund for community and economic development efforts, the city identified 10 specific initiatives that could be funded through the extension: internet infrastructure, streets, drainage, early warning system, animal services, parks and recreation, public health facilities, and police and fire department improvements. Citizens were given the power to determine what would and would not be funded. The city also created a website that included detailed information about each initiative and a way to contact the city with questions.

Marketing

The city focused its marketing efforts on engaging with residents directly, taking a proactive approach when sharing information about the sales tax extension, said Cabot Director of Economic Development Alicia Wilmoth, who served as the main point of contact for the
extension. 鈥淲e focused on delivering a consistent message, providing opportunities for one-on-one engagement and being as transparent as possible. We were in front of residents as often as possible, normally two to three times
per week over the course of six weeks leading up to the听election.鈥�

Marketing efforts included town hall presentations,听presentations at civic and social organizations, development of a website dedicated to the bond extension,听physical signage, creation of a brochure, and word of mouth. No PAC (political action committee) was formed
to support the extension. All marketing was done by city leaders and a passionate group of citizens who volunteered
their time.

Developing a united front

Cabot administration worked in tandem to support the sales tax extension. All department heads participated听in community meetings, answered questions about the funding goals and delivered a consistent message to generate excitement. City leaders engaged with both nonprofits and businesses. They were also intentional about connecting with residents from every ward in the city.
Because the city followed this plan of action, Cabot听has already begun to see positive outcomes from the passage of the extension. The city has:

鈥� Completed several building and land acquisitions for upcoming projects.
鈥� Allocated $20 million for broadband, which the city will own.
鈥� Purchased an old Price Cutter building on Main Street that will house a variety of city services, meeting space and the community pantry. This project will also be a catalyst for downtown revitalization.
鈥� Begun an expansion of its recreational facilities that will further develop Cabot as a sports tourism destination.
鈥� Secured a location for new police and fire training facilities, which will support surrounding communities as well.

鈥淢oving Cabot forward is our top priority,鈥� Mayor听Ken Kincade said. 鈥淥ur administration, the city council and community leaders support our city and want Cabot听to be a city that can support itself economically. This bond听issue is really an infrastructure plan to make Cabot a top听city in the state of Arkansas to live. Investing in ourselves听makes private industry want to invest here because they know we are serious about economic development and have skin in the game.鈥�

To learn more about the Cabot bond extension, contact Alicia Wilmoth at awilmoth@cabotar.gov or visit www.cabotbond.com.

Shelby Fiegel is the director of the University of
Central Arkansas Center for Community and
Economic Development. You can contact Shelby
at sfiegel@uca.edu or 501-450-5269.

My name is Dalton Thompson, and I am a current Senior at BT天堂studying Political Science and Public Administration. After graduating, I plan on attending law school and earning my Juris Doctor degree as well as a Masters of Public Administration so that I can become a Public Defender and be a resource of change for people in my community, wherever I land.

Currently, I serve as the first openly-gay President of the BT天堂Chapter of the Arkansas Young Democrats and as a State Committee Delegate for Faulkner County in the Democratic Party of Arkansas.

I鈥檝e never felt a calling to a profession that wasn鈥檛 one of service. In the past, I鈥檝e worked multiple service-oriented jobs and been a dedicated volunteer in my community.听 Since 2014, I have spent my summer breaks at Camp Aldersgate in Little Rock, a camp dedicated to providing children with disabilities and chronic illnesses a summer camp experience they could not receive anywhere else! I鈥檝e also worked in multiple healthcare facilities and seen firsthand the impact the coronavirus has had on communities in Arkansas; I worked as a Patient Transporter at St. Vincent鈥檚 in Little Rock, providing support for doctors and nursing staff, including COVID-19 units, in a time of serious uncertainty and fear. Today, I am a Pharmacy Technician in Conway and provide care for the sick and vulnerable in our community as we continue our fight against the coronavirus.

Few things matter more to me than my ultimate goal: giving back to the communities that have raised and shaped me. I proudly hail from the Windy City (Go Cubs, Go!), but remain just as proud of my family鈥檚 roots in Arkansas. I intend to use my education and professional skills to do all I can to support and strengthen my home and community in every way possible.

by Dalton Thompson

The following post originally appeared as an article in the March 2021 issue of Arkansas Municipal League’s publication City and Town. to learn more.

The start of a new community initiative can feel monumental. Our team at the University of
Central Arkansas Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) recommends
the first step in any community-wide planning be the distribution of a community survey. Conducting a community survey engages citizens and provides direction.

A successful survey captures feedback from a diverse population and provides a healthy sample of data. Reaching this goal involves teamwork, creative marketing and data analysis. After conducting surveys in several communities across the state, our team suggests you consider these steps when developing your survey.

Develop a leadership team
Input from a diverse leadership team ensures the content and distribution of the survey encompasses your whole community. Involving voices from across your community will also assist in more accurate data collection.

The leadership team was a vital component when the city of Lonoke launched the Kick Start Lonoke Action Plan in 2016. Ryan Biles, co-chair of the Kick Start Lonoke Executive Committee, emphasized the importance of an inclusive steering committee.

鈥淲hen you successfully build a steering committee where diverse voices are heard, then you have a core group that will help you define the important questions and priorities of your work together moving forward,鈥� Biles said.

The leadership team will help engage as many community members as possible. Every citizen鈥檚 interests are addressed when a spectrum of individuals is part of the planning process.

Develop the content
A few factors influence the content of your survey. First, determine the survey鈥檚 geographic focus: city- or county-wide. The reach of the community survey depends on your community鈥檚 specific needs and the data you want to collect. This will be different for听every community depending on your goals for the survey.

When CCED worked with Hot Spring County to conduct a community survey, the leadership team decided to focus their planning efforts county-wide.

County Judge Dennis Thornton explained why they made that decision. 鈥淗ot Spring County is made up of so many wonderful communities, and I wanted to give them the opportunity to express what their specific needs were, knowing that not all communities would share the same needs,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or example, Bismarck expressed a need for incorporation, while Malvern desired a civic center.鈥�

After you define the geographic scope of your survey, consider the questions to pose to the community. Questions can be serious or lighthearted in tone, open-ended or multiple choice. They can be general or focus on a specific project.

Demographic information is essential, so consider including questions regarding race, gender, age, employment and geographic location. This data provides an even deeper understanding of your community, thus ensuring every citizen鈥檚 needs are addressed.

We suggest including questions where citizens can share their top community and economic development opportunities (education, job creation, health care, education, downtown development, tourism, etc.). We also suggest including an open-ended question that offers space for citizens to share their unique ideas and opinions.

One question our team likes to include in every survey is: 鈥淲hich words describe the personality of your community?鈥� Survey takers select from a list that includes adjectives such as 鈥渉igh tech,鈥� 鈥渟cenic鈥� and 鈥渟mall town.鈥� We find that this question offers a peek into how your citizens perceive your community and how they communicate about it to outsiders.

Finally, always include a call to action on the survey. Give citizens the opportunity for involvement in the new community initiative or planning process. At the end of the survey, develop an optional section to collect basic contact information to cultivate citizen interest. You can refer to these self-identified citizen volunteers when you begin your community work.

Collect responses
Collecting responses for a community survey involves creative marketing ideas. The goal is to collect as many responses as possible, as well as to engage a variety of citizens. The survey should be visible and easily accessible to the public.

The city of Lonoke is a great example of clever survey marketing. In 2016, they included a paper copy of their community survey in the city鈥檚 water bills. They found this tactic to be so effective that water bills are now a major piece of communication in the implementation of the Lonoke 2022 Strategic Action Plan.

鈥淚f we truly want participation, we have to employ an approach that is as diverse as our population,鈥� Biles said.

Social media is also a popular medium of communication. Mat Faulkner of Think Idea Studio led the marketing for Searcy鈥檚 community survey in 2020. Faulkner suggests utilizing video for social media marketing. 鈥淭he video format informs and engages
better than text and stagnant graphics,鈥� he shared. 鈥淪o be excited, use people in videos that the community will recognize and have a lot of fun with it.鈥�

We find that word of mouth is the most effective form of communication. Challenge your family, friends, coworkers and neighbors to spread the word about your community survey. Share the online survey link or paper copy at your local businesses, restaurants, schools, churches, nonprofit agencies and community events.

Analyze the data
Completing your survey is only step one in a big process. At your survey鈥檚 conclusion, you are left with a gold mine of data. Find someone who can analyze that data effectively and identify trends. Use the information to make informed decisions to move forward in your planning process. Compile the data into a digestible format, like easy-to-read charts, to share back with your community.

A community survey can be a tool for widespread citizen engagement and can provide direction for new projects. By focusing on building an inclusive leadership team, quality content, inventive marketing techniques and in-depth data analysis, you will capture a rich sampling of perspectives.

If you need assistance in developing a community survey, you can email the University of Central Arkansas Center for Community and Economic Development at
cced@uca.edu or call 501-450-5269.

By Emily Cooper Yates

While some people may think of art as a solitary, inwardly reflective activity, this could not be further from the truth. Public art projects like murals and other installations can create lots of visual interest in communities and encourage residents and visitors to engage with a city鈥檚 physical space. Community events based around art, such as gallery exhibitions and music festivals, can help cities brand themselves as fun and engaging places to live. There are lots of inventive ways to utilize art in community-building. Here is one that may generate some inspiration.

In June of 2019, nurse practitioner Angie Jones opened in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Art House is an art gallery and event space located in Jonesboro鈥檚 downtown area. Art House allows local artists (both professional and hobbyist) to display their art for purchase and collects a small fee for display if the art is sold. This business model makes Art House unique as a community-building tool, because it isn鈥檛 often that art galleries make an effort to be so inclusive about what is displayed. Art House encourages participation in arts-based activities because it allows every member of the community that has a passion for art to display their creations.

Art House hosts art shows every month, and its come-one-come-all approach to exhibition seems to be bringing community members together; Art House鈥檚 page on their website features smiling Jonesboro citizens perusing the gallery space in groups and posing with art they have created or purchased.听

Beyond exhibiting local art, Art House hosts classes regularly, teaching community members a variety of artistic mediums. The gallery has even taken its work outside of its physical space, spearheading the creation of a 鈥渟elfie wall.鈥� Art House helped recruit five local artists to create a in downtown Jonesboro. Perhaps more impressively, this project was completed in August of 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it helped encourage citizens to interact with the downtown space on social media by taking pictures of themselves posing in front of the murals.听

Art House represents only one model of using art as a community-building tool. Luckily, there are endless possibilities for communities to take advantage of the way art brings people together. How can your community incorporate art into its social fabric?

By Greta Hacker