Posts
Baxter County Forward and Growing Corning Together Receive State Awards
Congratulations to Baxter County Forward and Growing Corning Together for receiving the 2019 Innovative Community Development Awards from the Arkansas Community Development Society for communities with a population of 10,000 to 50,000 and for communities with less than 10,000.
The awards were presented at the 2019 Arkansas Community Development Society Annual Conference in Conway on Oct. 17, 2019. The Arkansas Community Development Society is an educational nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advance community development and the community development profession. This includes an awards program to recognize exceptional accomplishments of communities and individuals.
Whitney Horton, Vice President of the Arkansas Community Development Society, presented the awards, and cited the many accomplishments of each community. Baxter County Forward conducted a community survey with 538 responses, formed seven action teams, and initiated projects to support small businesses, downtown revitalization, and tourism development.
Horton described how Corning came together after the closing of a Wal-Mart store to form Growing Corning Together, then launching several projects which include a community wide cleanup, the Hop Alley Rally, a golf tournament, community garden, a volunteer recognition banquet, and over one thousand volunteer hours contributed that led to its selection for the award.
“This is terrific news and a tribute to the leadership and hard work of all of those involved in moving Baxter County Forward and Growing Corning Together,” said Mark Peterson, a former president of the Arkansas Community Development Society and current professor in the Community, Professional and Economic Development unit at the UA System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.