(Editor’s Note: Each year, Arkansas Business partners with the Arkansas Municipal League to present the Trendsetter City awards, which recognize exceptional initiatives underway in municipalities across the state. Large, medium and small-sized cities were honored in six categories: Diversity and Inclusion; Education/Workforce Development; Infrastructure and Water; Public Works/Environmental and Green Management; Technology and Security; and Tourism Development/Creative Culture. Below is one winner’s story. For more, click here.)
Diversity and Inclusion
Winner • Under 5,000
Population: 2,200
Mayor: Robert “Butch” Berry
County: Carroll
Region: Northwest
The Challenge
With a passion for diversity and inclusion running through the city’s veins, Eureka Springs has long been seen as an opponent of bigotry, racism, religious extremism and homophobia. But the city’s compassion reaches even further, tackling issues that continue to hit close to home — food insecurity and low-income housing. The city addresses the needs of underserved and underrepresented people through volunteer organizations, hoping to assist people out of the cycle of poverty to become healthy, contributing community members.
Mayor Berry, an architect by trade, designed one- and two-bedroom housing for ECHO Village.
The Solution
The city has reached the underrepresented population through its no-cost health care, food delivery service and low-income housing. ECHO Clinic is the only free health clinic in Arkansas, providing quality health care to all in need — no insurance, no problem —through a variety of services. Eureka Springs’ Answering the Call program started during the pandemic and has now delivered over 118,000 meals. ECHO Village provides low-income, green housing with temporary residents paying rent based on what they can afford.
Servant’s Hearts
Over two-thirds of the city’s population volunteer with the projects and make consistent donations to help with operational costs.
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