UCA, AEDC Collaborating on Assistance Program for Arkansas Mayors

Mike Preston

University of Central Arkansas President Tom Courtway and Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Mike Preston announced Wednesday the establishment of the Technical Assistance Program for Arkansas Mayors.

The program will provide education and training to Arkansas mayors, particularly in rural areas and the Delta, about various state and federal resources available to address affordable housing and non-housing community development needs.

“In these rural areas, the mayors are working very hard to help their citizens, but due to limited resources they may lack the means to secure grants and other funding,” Courtway said at the announcement at the Arkansas State Capitol. “They have unmet, needs. Through the grants being announced today, and through the efforts of the staff of UCA’s Division of Outreach and Community Engagement, help is on the way. With additional training, education and expertise, we believe many rural areas in our state will see improvements in all levels of service and economic development.”

UCA’s Division of Outreach and Community Engagement is the principal organizer of the program. The AEDC is a major partner.

Other partners include the Delta Regional Authority, Arkansas Development and Finance Authority, Arkansas Community Foundation, Arkansas Northeastern College, East Arkansas Community College and UCA’s Center for Community and Economic Development. 

“Rural communities are essential to the economic well-being of our state,” Preston said. “AEDC is proud to be a part of this collaborative effort that will empower our mayors and provide them with the resources they need to improve quality of life for their residents.”

Arkansas Rep. Fredrick Love, who helped to facilitate collaboration to establish the program, joined the two in making the announcement.

“This is the type of collaboration that it takes to really transform the condition of rural Arkansas, but in order to keep the momentum up for this type of change, we need everyone to step up and contribute to making this a sustainable program that mayors and other local elected officials can depend upon for years to come,” Love said.