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Ozark Foothills Selected for $2.7M Economic Program

2 min read

The Ozark Foothills region of Sharp, Fulton and Izard counties has been selected for a multi-state pilot program designed to build up rural economies.

The program, Create Bridges, launched in Oklahoma, Kentucky and Arkansas with a $2.7 million grant from Walmart Inc. of Bentonville to the Southern Rural Development Center.

The Spring River Innovation Hub applied to have the program come to the Ozark Foothills region, and it will be conducted through University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Community & Economic Development.

“Thriving communities are those willing to be creative, utilize their unique strengths and share resources,” Spring River Innovation Hub Executive Director Graycen Bigger said in a news release. “Our area is dependent upon small business, tourism, hospitality and education sectors.

“The innovation hub, which seeks to promote creative, strategic partnerships within Sharp, Fulton and Izard Counties, is proud to lead this planning process that will support our strongest industries and result in future economic growth. We look forward to strengthening ties with neighboring communities and enacting economic initiatives with our partners to advance the area.”

The program will involve the UA, the University of Kentucky and Oklahoma State University collaborating to develop, refine and pilot a process to help rural communities build their capacity for strengthening the retail, tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors, which provide jobs and business opportunities.

Ozark Foothills is focused on growing its tourism and retail industries.

Local and state officials will facilitate a retail academy for regional leaders and a business retention and expansion program as part of Create Bridges.

They will coordinate with regional workforce investment boards as well, to identify opportunities for workforce training focused on incumbent and new workers. The program also will look at workforce solutions to retain workers and promote from within.

Create Bridges builds upon Stronger Economies Together, a collaborative effort across 32 states led by the Southern Rural Development Center that helps rural counties work together to develop and implement an economic development plan for their multi-county region.

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