In July and August, I spent a few weeks performing assessment visits in Main Street programs across Arkansas. These visits brought me across the state to towns that are large and small, urban and rural. Here are some reflections from my time in Arkansas.

Jonesboro

The Downtown Jonesboro Alliance is off to a strong start, thanks to an incredibly passionate board and an inspiring set of partnerships — with the Chamber of Commerce, Jonesboro Unlimited, the City, the Visitors Bureau, and more.

The city’s Parks Director sees downtown as part of the parks system — a beautifully unique approach that supports placekeeping, beautification, and year-round vibrancy. That kind of mindset makes all the difference.

Great food, a thriving outdoor gear shop, an indie bookstore, and the unmistakable energy of a downtown with momentum — Jonesboro is truly on the rise. 

Osceola

Osceola Main Street is one of the original five communities to join the Main Street Arkansas program nearly 40 years ago. After a brief hiatus, they’ve recommitted themselves to the Four-Point Approach, and it shows.

We had a series of great conversations with a passionate board that, like so many others, is navigating the challenge of finding new volunteers to share the work and pride of revitalization. Osceola may be small, but it’s mighty — anchored by a charming historic district filled with early 1900s to 1940s architecture that deserves care and celebration.

Eureka Springs

In Eureka Springs, Arkansas, I learned how a younger, energized Main Street board has been rebooting the program over the past year. They’ve been laying a strong foundation, strengthening community connections and building their storytelling to share the impact Main Street has had on this beautiful, historic district that thrives on tourism.

I’m looking forward to seeing the impact this team will make as they continue to grow their reach and deepen their community ties.

Siloam Springs

Siloam Springs, Arkansas, is a downtown that truly surprised me yesterday with its charm. A winding creek runs right through the district, crossed by beautiful bridges and surrounded by a great mix of locally owned shops. It’s a place that feels both peaceful and full of potential.

Over the past year, Main Street Siloam Springs has faced some hard moments, and yet the organization has held together with grace and determination. That kind of steadiness — of board members, staff, and a devoted Executive Director — is what allows progress to keep moving forward.

I’m excited to see what comes next, especially a recently greenlit grant project that will improve one of the major gateways into downtown, including a stretch of Hispanic-owned businesses. Siloam Springs has a lot to be proud of.

Fort Smith

Downtown’s vibrant nightlife, colorful large-scale murals, and growing clusters of restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and entertainment venues made this visit especially exciting. Creative adaptive reuse of historic buildings adds even more energy to the district.

One of my favorite moments was spotting the original mosaic tile entry bearing the Narisi Bros. name, a reminder of a family friend’s roots here, when his family immigrated from Sicily in 1901 and became part of Fort Smith’s commercial story.

Even more encouraging was meeting with city partners and the Central Business Improvement District. Everyone spoke with the same vision: a vibrant, vital downtown that celebrates its history while supporting a growing community. Fort Smith is on the move, and it shows.

Russellville

Main Street Russellville’s walking tour was one of the most creative I’ve experienced — a progressive lunch that highlighted the unique third places and fantastic food in downtown.

While the organization is known for its strong event programming, they’re equally committed to honoring the built environment — repurposing the Old City Firehouse into a brewery and supporting American Legion Post 20, a historic WPA building, through grant writing assistance that helped secure a T‑Mobile grant for a new kitchen, an ADA-accessible bathroom, and a new roof.

Main Street Russellville has so much to be proud of, and the community they’ve built will help them expand their board and committees to make an even greater impact in the next three to five years.

Dumas

This small rural community may be facing a declining population, but they have a newly energized board ready to make big things happen. The board owns two well-maintained downtown buildings and a site that hosts the farmers market and community garden — assets they’re eager to use to spark innovation and community pride. The train still runs parallel to Main Street, a reminder of the town’s deep connection to its history and economy.

The energy in Dumas is real — and I can’t wait to see how Main Street Dumas turns their vision into reality.

Pine Bluff

Pine Bluff is a community that has faced challenges. Seeing the population loss and the neglect of so many once-beautiful buildings on Main Street, including a historic hotel and theater, was heartbreaking. But during my day with Pine Bluff Downtown Development, I saw a different story emerging. The City, Main Street, Economic Development Department, Mayor’s Office, and Urban Renewal Agency are coming together with new energy and a shared vision: rebuilding downtown through housing, incremental development, and entrepreneurship. 

With a new Main Street executive director leading with the Main Street Approach and the organization forging partnerships across the community, I believe Pine Bluff has the grit, creativity, and collaboration needed to write its next chapter.

Field Services at Main Street America

Are you interested in learning more about how Main Street America supports local programs? From organizational planning support and economic development strategy to district assessment services, we can help make your community’s vision a reality. Learn more >