VisionWorks' Breakthrough Solutions
Community and Regional Success Stories
Polk County Makes Great Strides, With Over $9 Million Impact and 73 New Jobs – June 2004
"Polk County as a whole is a strong, friendly, and growing
community, states Jonathon Voelkel, Chairman of Polk County VISION
2010 and Human Resources Director at the Mena Medical Center. "I
believe our success is directly attributable to a genuine,
passionate community of folks who really want to make our community
the best in the nation."
Voelkel reports that the investment from internal and external
sources for downtown revitalization, industrial improvement,
economic development, recreation development, and workforce
education totals $9,656,371, with 73 new jobs created.
Nancy Myrick, Vice Chair and Family Consumer Science County
Extension Agent, states that sixty-five people came to a recent Polk
County VISION 2010 meeting. Six committees offered reports about
efforts to improve the community.
Quality of Life Committee
- The Wellness Subcommittee reported that a Walk Across Polk County
attracted over 200 participants, and the Health Fair attracted 190
citizens.
- Several area fire departments received a grant to upgrade their
equipment and make safety vests. The Polk County Extension
Homemakers made over 250 vests for the firefighters.
- Ouachita retirees and seniors received a grant to build an
assisted living center in Mena.
- Southwest Artists have expanded their gallery and are painting a
mural for children at the Health Department.
Workforce Education Committee
The committee set up a training facility at the airport and is
building skills in local organizations.
Downtown Revitalization Committee
Committee members are working on a streetscape, with 4 blocks
already completed. They have also ordered new banners, paid for by
local organizations.
Industrial Development Committee
- The committee has expanded airport hangars, and erected a security
fence around the airport.
- Members are now setting up a weather signal that is linked to the
weather channel and the National Weather Service.
Economic Development Committee
- The committee is seeking to expand existing industries, recruit
new industries, and bring I-49 through the community.
- In addition, the hospital is expanding and moving toward becoming
a regional medical center.
Youth Community Development Committee
The city has purchased 74 acres, and will purchase 6 more. They will
soon begin constructing on a youth recreation complex for
basketball, softball, baseball, soccer, a splash pool, walking
trails, a skateboard park, and an amphitheater.
"A lot of things have been done as a result of VISION 2010," states
Carla Vaught, Polk County Extension Agent – Staff Chair. "A lot of
new people have become involved. The biggest thing that VISION 2010
did for the community was to bring a lot of groups together. The
result has been the youth complex, teamwork started happening, and
people took notice and became involved. It made our city government
realize how important the youth complex was, so they bought the
land."
Congratulations to the community leaders in Mena and Polk County for
their terrific work.
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