Northwest Arkansas had a groundbreaking year in 2015. From the completion of theRazorback Regional Greenway to the announcements of a world-class culinary arts training program and an international mountain biking summit, we’re excited about what’s in store for our growing region.

While big changes are coming to our corner of the state, we know that remaining a close-knit community and preserving our small-town quality of life is vital. That’s why we’re excited to announce the Innovation Competition – a program designed to provide funding for local partners to imagine and nurture ideas that improve downtowns and promote healthy living in Benton County.

Our cities have worked hard to develop ambitious plans for downtown neighborhoods. Through this program, we want to motivate communities to join the effort by fostering thriving places to live, work and play. As we continue to grow a strong network of trails and improve access to locally grown food, this program should inspire healthy behaviors in our day-to-day lives.

Whether the Innovation Competition spurs ideas for public art, improved landscaping, outdoor recreation programs, community gardening or something more, our hope is these creative concepts will inspire us all to preserve the sense of community that make our cities and towns so special.