(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.)
Technology and Security
Honorable Mention • Over 20,000
Population: 80,650 | Mayor: Harold Copenhaver | County: Craighead | Region: Northeast
The Challenge
As Jonesboro’s population and popularity as a tourist destination grew, its E911 department faced ever-increasing demand to enhance emergency services. With outdated systems, the city needed more efficient communication tools to serve its diverse population, including to overcome language barriers and track and spread the word about real-time data during emergencies. Technological gaps also hindered coordination between police, fire and medical services, and, following a devastating tornado in 2023, the city wanted to ensure its emergency services would never lose power.
The Solution
Over the course of four years, Jonesboro invested in a comprehensive E911 upgrade, including Next Generation 911 for real-time data sharing during emergencies, CodeRed for emergency alerts and real-time translation via Voiance. Other advancements, such as RapidDeploy, Mach Alert and AVL technology, improved communication, while Text-to-911 offered critical support for vulnerable populations. These upgrades strengthened emergency response efficiency and safety across the community, positioning Jonesboro as a leader in emergency response.
Jonesboro’s Real-Time Intelligence Center monitors 724 strategically located surveillance cameras across the city’s 82 square miles.
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