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Breakthrough Solutions
Community and Regional Success Stories

21st Century Vision Initiative Completes Strategic Plan for Region, Targets High Potential Clusters

With six manufacturing plants closing in the last two years and a negative impact of over $14 million, the North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development Corporation (NCARED) commissioned the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Breakthrough Solutions Program to implement 21st Century Vision, a strategic planning initiative to move the region forward. Community leaders, citizens, and high school youth from throughout the region were involved in the process, and the NCARED board set priorities for the coming year:

The board emphasized that they welcome initiatives and activities in other issue areas but felt the need to focus on these top priorities for the coming year.

The North Central Arkansas Regional Profile, Report From the People, NCARED Region Target Industry Study, NCARED Regional Blueprint, powerpoint presentations, and county profiles are available here.

Breakthrough Solutions builds on its VISION 2010 predecessor which:

• involved over 9,000 citizens in community development initiatives in 21 communities
• generated over $70 million in local funds invested, grants, appropriations, and taxes
• involved 20 Breakthrough Solutions Partner organizations
• was selected to receive the Community Development Society's Outstanding Program Award
• has been used in communities, with the Community Development Institute at the University of Central Arkansas, the Community Development Society, and with communities, organizations and businesses

The following stories reflect just some of the impact from the VISION 2010 Communities and the hard work of their leaders and citizens. These projects are impacts are reported by leaders in these respective communities.

Batesville

• Batesville Moves Forward, Builds Auditorium

Brinkley

• Brinkley Continues to Lick the Skillet

Conway County

• Extraordinary Communities Conference in Conway County Was Extraordinary
   
• Extraordinary Results in Ordinary Communities Conference Set For October 20-22, 2005 in Morrilton
   
• South Conway County Public School Foundation Has Real Impact
   
• Morrilton and Conway County Have No Limits
   
• Conway County Is Coming Back
   
• Conway County Completes Strategic Plan and Movie

Eureka Springs

• Eureka Springs is Doing Exciting Things
   
• Eureka Springs Continues to Spring Forward

Garland County

• Huge Bass Tournament Landed in Hot Springs
   
• Hot Springs First Annual Downtown Development Conference a Real Success
   
• Focus Garland County Completes Plan, Moves to Action
   
• Focus Garland County Is Off and Running
   
• Garland County Focuses Toward 2010

Gravette

• Gravette Achieves ACE Certification, Another in a String of Successes
   
• Field Guide for Community Building Includes Conway County and Gravette Stories
   
• Gravette Moves from Vision to Action
   
• Gravette: The Story of the Giant Culvert

Jefferson County

• Pine Bluff and Jefferson County Make Strategic Investments for the Future

Mansfield/Sebascott

• Sebascott: A Tale of Two Counties
   
• Sebascott is on a Roll
   
• Sebascot is still on a Roll

Marion

• Japanese Plant is Coming to Marion

McNab/Twin Rivers/Western Hempstead County

• McNabb - the Small Town That Never Gave Up
   
• Twin Rivers Has Short Term Success, Long Term Vision

Mena/Polk County

• Polk County Makes Great Strides, With Over $9 Million Impact and 73 New Jobs
   
• Mena Tackles Large Projects
   
• Mena VISION 2010 Going for 501(C)3 Status

North Central Arkansas Region (NCARED)

• North Central Arkansas Region Hosts Call to Action Caucus
   
• North Central Arkansas Region to Participate in Breakthrough Solutions
   
• North Central Arkansas Region Hosts Breakthrough Solutions Workshop

Paris

• Paris is Ready for Vision Fair on May 21

Randolph County

• Pocahontas Wins in the Great Race
   
• Randolph County Conducting Technology Survey
   
• Randolph County Reaches Out, Embraces EAST Program

Siloam Springs

• Siloam Springs Initiates On-Line Survey, Hispanic Business after Hours
   
• Study Action Teams Are Active in Siloam Springs
   
• Siloam Springs Reaches Out to the Whole Community

Thornton

• Thornton - Small in Number, Large at Heart
   
• Thornton Faces New Opportunities and Challenges
   
• Thornton Attracts 100 Citizens to Town Meeting and Hears About Bears and Tigers

Van Buren

• Sparks of Greatness - $48 Million Dollars' Worth
   
• A Virtual Family
   
• Leadership Crawford County Going Strong
   
• Van Buren is Moving and Shaking
   
• Van Buren Vision 2010 Community Development Impacts (PowerPoint)
   
• Why was Van Buren so Successful?
  
  

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University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture
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Last Date Modified 10/21/2009
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