Groundwork Arkansas

Groundwork Arkansas We’re here to foster open and respectful dialogue. Our team reserves the right to moderate or remove comments that violate these guidelines.

Groundwork’s mission is to provide strategic regional leadership, expertise and resources to strengthen communities for working families near employment, commercial and cultural centers in Arkansas. While we welcome diverse opinions, personal attacks, insults, or disrespectful comments directed at others will not be tolerated. Let’s keep this a space where everyone feels safe to participate and be heard.

06/19/2026

This is what happens when you put housing at the table. 85 municipal staff talking about what Arkansas towns need to tackle housing challenges head on.

Arkansas Municipal League

CHATS started as a small group conversation tool. Today, it’s something much bigger as 85 municipal staff gathered for a...
06/18/2026

CHATS started as a small group conversation tool. Today, it’s something much bigger as 85 municipal staff gathered for a CHATS session to discuss housing challenges and explore solutions that could work in their own communities.

To date, 700 people have experienced a CHATS. 300 of them this year alone.

CHATS is designed to be a resource that gives communities a way to open the housing conversation with their residents. If you’d like Groundwork to bring a session, register at groundworkar.org.

Development incentives can help get the right projects built and provide towns with more housing options, revitalized co...
06/15/2026

Development incentives can help get the right projects built and provide towns with more housing options, revitalized corridors and stronger local economies. Learn more at the link in comments.

Small towns growing faster than they can plan face real challenges but the solutions are out there. Earlier this month, ...
06/09/2026

Small towns growing faster than they can plan face real challenges but the solutions are out there. Earlier this month, Groundwork Executive Director Duke McLarty sat down with Mayor Nathan See of Pea Ridge and Audra Butler of Communities Unlimited to talk about what it actually takes to grow well. Here are three takeaways we're still thinking about. Read the webinar recap or watch the recording at the link in comments.

What happens when a historic downtown has high vacancy? Communities may begin to see fewer jobs, a reduced tax revenue a...
06/04/2026

What happens when a historic downtown has high vacancy?
Communities may begin to see fewer jobs, a reduced tax revenue and fewer housing options near main streets. Groundwork’s GROW policy framework highlights practical changes that can help towns respond to these challenges. Thoughtful housing policies can help towns activate downtowns, increase local spending and preserve the town's character through reinvestment. Learn more about the GROW recommendations at the link in comments.

"Development incentives" is a term that gets thrown around in housing and economic development conversations, but it's o...
05/21/2026

"Development incentives" is a term that gets thrown around in housing and economic development conversations, but it's often misunderstood. They're not giveaways, and they're not offered to every project that asks. They're a tool to close the gap between what it costs to build and what the market can support. Read our development incentives blog at the link in comments.

Join us on May 27th for "Planning for Growth on Your Own Terms" webinar. Mayor Nathan See of Pea Ridge, Arkansas and Aud...
05/20/2026

Join us on May 27th for "Planning for Growth on Your Own Terms" webinar. Mayor Nathan See of Pea Ridge, Arkansas and Audra Butler, Director of Rural Housing at Communities Unlimited will share firsthand insights into leading a periphery town situated next to one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation.

We will explore how to draft flexible housing plans when growth is unpredictable and how to navigate the challenge of funding new services before a stronger tax base arrives. These hard-won lessons will be translated into a practical roadmap for any town in Arkansas. Whether your community is on the edge of a boom or looking to revitalize, you will gain specific strategies to move beyond reactive growing pains toward proactive and resilient community building.

Register for this free webinar at the link in comments

Housing that communities need doesn't always get built and the reason is usually the same. Construction costs are high, ...
05/19/2026

Housing that communities need doesn't always get built and the reason is usually the same. Construction costs are high, financing is expensive, and in many places rents haven't kept pace. Development incentives exist to close that gap. The key is using incentives well. Read our full guide at the link in comments.

When rural towns lose population, the effects stack up fast. Businesses close as the customer base shrinks, schools cons...
05/14/2026

When rural towns lose population, the effects stack up fast. Businesses close as the customer base shrinks, schools consolidate, and vacant housing spreads through neighborhoods.
But population decline isn't a verdict. It's a signal. And practical housing policy is one of the most direct ways communities can respond. Groundwork's GROW policy framework highlights strategies that can help rural towns stabilize and attract new residents by expanding housing options and reducing barriers to development. Learn more at the link in comments.

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4100 Corporate Center Drive # 205
Springdale, AR
72762

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