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VisionWorks' Breakthrough Solutions
Community and Regional Success Stories
Gravette Moves From Vision to Action - December 2003

Community Situation:

Gravette Steering Committee Meets to Kick Off Their VISION 2010 Process

Gravette, AR, is a rural community of 2003 citizens in the fastest growing region of Arkansas. Just miles from Wal-Mart’s corporate headquarters and the new Northwest Regional Airport, Gravette is thinking ahead in anticipation of expanding growth from the Bentonville area. Forward-thinking mayor Dean Fladager involved the community in VISION 2010, a partnership initiative coordinated by the Cooperative Extension Service with the goal of "Building Healthy Sustainable Communities for the 21st Century."

One special challenge - which was the cornerstone of Fladager’s mayoral campaign - was the need for a railroad overpass. Fladager’s passion for this issue was fueled by a conviction that the residential area needed a direct link to emergency services. 38 trains passing through the town each day make the railroad a commanding presence.

Action Steps:

Radine Nehring, a citizen of Gravette, wrote

For months, government officials from President Bill Clinton, to Arkansas state representatives, to every member of the Arkansas Highway Commission heard from Mayor Fladager weekly or more often. He let them know how badly Gravette needed an overpass to unite two halves of a town dangerously divided by trains for hours each day. Initially, he got the same answers Gravette mayors and others had been hearing for years: "Arkansas can only afford to build one overpass a year. Gravette is way down on the priority list."

Fladager’s mission gathered momentum after the community became involved in VISION 2010. As a broad base of citizens became involved in the strategic visioning process, they joined in the campaign for the railroad overpass. In addition to conducting a petition drive at the railroad crossing, Fladager (a retired engineer) researched and located an innovative overpass design which is about half the cost of a traditional overpass. The Highway Commission relented. The state granted $317,241 to be matched by $341,300 from the community. At the time of the announcement, the community had already raised $215,000 for the effort.

The overpass has since been completed, utilizing the design discovered through Fladager’s research. The overpass has made the community safer and serves as a constant reminder of the value of leadership, initiative, and perseverance.

Now what? In addition to fund raising, the community created a parks and recreation department, hired a director for the program, began organizing an ongoing leadership development program, and started a planning effort for a community center. Gravette is a community on the move.

Lessons Learned from this Experience:

When Mayor Fladager speaks about his community’s crusade, he stands atop a table with a buggy whip in hand and speaks of the importance of persistence. Like the buggy whip nudging the horse forward, the united and persistent efforts of a community can indeed move it forward.

Other qualities also helped the project to realize success. Arkansas Highway Commissioner Jonathan Barnett commented that "This is a project the City of Gravette has pursued in a very professional manner." Other key steps taken by Gravette include:

• Participation in VISION 2010, including four seminars dealing with topics of strategic visioning and planning, education, workforce preparation, economic development, leadership development, facilitation skills, sustaining the development process - all with a focus on the knowledge-based economy.
   
• Organization of a leadership team and steering committee to engage a broad base of the community population in defining Gravette’s vision for the future. This led to identification of critical issues to be addressed by action teams.
   
• Involvement of local media in the process, resulting in significant news coverage of the VISION 2010 effort.
   
• Creative and innovative approaches to activities such as fund raising. The community was recognized by the Steel Recycling Institute for its scrap recycling program to raise money for the overpass. In less than one year, the small town recycled over 50 tons of scrap metal. Involving the railroad in a positive effort, the community began a sale of golden railroad spikes for $10.00 each to add to the coffers.
   
• Attention to broader issues. Gravette is not just a one-issue community. They have hired a full-time parks and recreation director and are working towards such improvements as a community center, downtown revitalization, enhanced programs for senior citizens and youth, and a new high school with a track and sports facility.
   
• Development of a new slogan: Gravette, Arkansas - the Heart of Hometown America

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