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Trendsetter Cities

January 16, 2025 - Statehouse Convention Center Little Rock
Browse Honorees
Presented By
In Partnership With

For sponsorship or ticket information contact:
Tiffany Mattzela
Event Director
tmattzela@abpg.com
501.455.9334


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Winners will be recognized in the following categories:

  • Diversity/Equity/Inclusion: Steps taken to promote diversity and inclusion; empower citizens with information and how to respond; and creating opportunities for minority populations. Including actions that the City has taken to make its services or meetings available to more of its citizens. Overcoming barriers that could include: race, gender, language, economic status, new to the community, geographic, etc.
  • Education and Workforce Development: Recognize unique programs that are improving graduation rates; raising the education standards in K-12; programs that are developing a more qualified workforce for employers. Programs can be a public/private partnership and do not have to be a municipally led program.
  • Infrastructure and Water: Recognize cities/towns that have found innovative ways to preserve existing infrastructure and minimize repair costs or time including underground utilities, streets, etc.; protecting public waterways; wastewater treatment innovation; etc.
  • Public Works/Environmental and Green Management: Planning & Land Use; Parks & Recreation; Energy Resource Management and public safety programs.
  • Technology and Security: Advances in local broadband to improve education and or local access. Advances in using technology to improve city communications or services or steps taken to improve cybersecurity practices.
  • Tourism Development/Creative Culture: Recognize cities/towns that are building unique venues, attractions, museums, etc to not only attract tourism but also improve the quality of life of citizens.

The Rules:

The competition is divided into three population categories to allow cities to compete with other cities of comparable size. The population categories are: cities less than 5,000 population; 5,000-20,000 population; and more than 20,000.

Application Information:

  • Each city can submit one award application in each award category.
  • Entries must describe programs or projects brought to conclusion or showing significant results between July 2021 and July 2025.
  • An official entry application must be submitted for each project.
  • Entry Forms must be received in the Arkansas Business office by 5:00 p.m. August 29, 2025 or be postmarked on or before that date. Entry forms should be submitted to:

Bonnie Jacoby
Arkansas Business Publishing Group
114 Scott Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
or
Emailed to: Bonnie@abpg.com

  • The entry must include all required information, such as completed entry form, a concise description of the project or program, and adhere to the space requirement of four pages double-spaced for the written description and no more than four pages of supporting material.
  • If a city submits entries in multiple categories, the page limit applies to each category individually.
  • Winners will be notified in September 2025.

The 2025 Trendsetter City application can be found here.