A few miles southeast of Fayetteville, a small town along the White River is charting its own course to the future.
“In Elkins, we like to say that we take care of our own,” says resident and community advocate Jamie Smith. “As we grow, we need to make sure that we also stay connected — and true to what makes us special.”
Elkins, like so many other rural communities in Northwest Arkansas, is experiencing a population boom. As local leaders welcome new residents, and grapple with how to responsibly expand schools, infrastructure and housing, they are finding strength in numbers through a new leadership pipeline program.
“Understandably, there has been a real focus on the big cities here in Northwest Arkansas, but really, most people here live in a rural community,” says Shelby Fiegel, director of the Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) at the University of Central Arkansas, which supports area leaders using a flagship training program developed by the nationally-recognized Community Development Institute.
“Because these rural communities are scattered, they need to work together and share what they learn about smart growth.”
Shelby and her team launched the Community Development Pipeline in 2022 to specifically address the changing needs of Washington and Benton counties.
The three-year fellowship has assembled 25 community leaders from across the region, from mayors, judges and city planners to community advocates like Jamie, for economic development training, community assessments, in-the-field technical assistance and, most critically, networking.
The goal? Over time, local leaders will connect community assets with opportunities, build consensus with other leaders and sustain positive economic development over the long term.
The Walton Family Foundation supports the pipeline program’s training through CDI as part of our work to proactively identify and support emerging leaders in Northwest Arkansas as they shape the future of the region.
Nathan See is the mayor of Pea Ridge, and another pipeline participant. “To get to Pea Ridge, you have to cross through Sugar Creek Valley. It’s what I call the “reset zone” from the hustle and bustle,” he says. “Here, we have a little bit of everything. You walk into the local coffee shop and see executives and farmers just talking about life, solving all the world’s problems.”
The population in Pea Ridge has doubled since 2020. Mayor See believes smart growth will be critical to the town’s quality of life moving forward. “We have to be prepared and proactive over the long term.”
The pipeline program has supported the smart growth of Pea Ridge in a number of ways, from a town rebranding and guidance for attracting services like childcare and retail, to a walk audit that uncovered gaps in the community’s sidewalk infrastructure.
Of the four other local mayors participating, Mayor See says the pipeline program is helping the region grow stronger, together. “A lot of times [local elected officials] stay in their own little bubbles. CDI has really created an open avenue to conversation, and a recognition of the assets you have that other towns could use or learn from, and vice versa.”
Mayor See’s city planner Keegan Stanton — another pipeline participant — takes it one step further: “When you are in a room with people who are smarter than you, that’s a room where you want to be.”
Keegan, who administers the zoning code and is responsible for long range planning, says CDI training is a new tool in the toolbox that he can now rely on. “We’ve learned from our big brothers in the region that over the long term, sprawl isn’t financially sustainable. Land is a finite commodity. Right now, we have an opportunity to build a system that is forward-looking for the future citizens of Pea Ridge.”
While the program helps identify gaps in services, it has also given Jamie the opportunity to focus on the assets her community already has and can build on.
In Elkins, Jamie Smith has come to see her community with new eyes. As leader of the Elkins Community Network, she’s using CDI tools not just to identify gaps, but to spotlight assets already in place. One overlooked gem? The White River itself.
“Folks like the river, they talk about it, but many don’t realize we even have an access point,” Jamie explains. “CDI has helped us think about how we can better use the river and its historic sites to bring more tourism and visitors to town.”
