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Date |
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2/12/2020 |
Press Release |
Harrison Selected for UCA Community Catalyst Program |
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PLAY THE VIDEO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bob Largent
PHONE: 870-741-2659
EMAIL: blargent@harrison-chamber.com
AND
CONTACT: Shelby Fiegel, Director, UCA Center for Community and Economic Development
PHONE: 501-450-5269
EMAIL: sfeigel@uca.edu
ENTERGY AND UCA EXPAND COMMUNITY CATALYST PROGRAM TO HARRISON CONWAY and HARRISON —The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) has partnered with Entergy Arkansas (Entergy) to assist five Arkansas communities with grassroots citizen engagement and technical assistance training through the Community Catalyst program. In addition to the selected communities of Wynne, Searcy, Magnolia, and Monticello, Arkansas, CCED will be working with Harrison, Arkansas in summer 2020.
The Community Catalyst program will utilize a process called Strategic Doing. Strategic Doing is an innovative community development tool that, unlike traditional strategic planning, focuses on immediate, impactful small wins and goals to create transformation in communities. Strategic Doing enables people to form collaborations quickly, guide them toward measurable outcomes and make adjustments along the way. CCED and Entergy will also partner with the Mississippi State University John C. Stennis Institute of Government to kickstart the Strategic Doing process in each community.
In addition to facilitating a Strategic Doing process in each community, Harrison will receive follow up assistance from CCED and a $1,000 mini-grant to complete a community development project.
Harrison was selected for the Community Catalyst program because of the potential impact that this program can have in the community to kickstart and sustain community action and engagement. Harrison and Boone County have unique strengths that will be utilized and amplified by the Strategic Doing process.
Shelby Fiegel, director of the Center for Community and Economic Development, said, “Harrison and Boone County have engaged leadership and a network of citizen leaders that will be able to use the resources provided through the Catalyst program to take them to the next level. Harrison has unique assets that we will assist them in capitalizing on through this process. We look forward to working with their leaders!”
Bob Largent, president/CEO of the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce, said, “The Harrison-Boone County community is excited to participate with UCA and Entergy in the Community Catalyst program. We see this opportunity as a ‘jump-start’ for our economic development refocus and intend to use the program’s resources to enhance our efforts in Taking Care of Business.”
To learn more about the Community Catalyst program, please go to www.uca.edu/cced/community-catalyst.
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About CCED The Center for Community and Economic Development’s mission is to have a positive impact on communities by equipping leaders with economic tools and resources, building consensus to achieve community goals and bringing UCA resources and communities together. CCED envisions communities across Arkansas and the country with robust economies, a flourishing quality of life and diverse and engaged citizen leaders. CCED provides customized training and technical assistance to communities and their leaders and is part of UCA's Division of Outreach and Community Engagement.
About CDI
The Community Development Institute, established in 1987 at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas, trains community and economic development professionals from Arkansas and surrounding states. The complete CDI experience is a three-year training program, with five days of training per year. Participants move through the program curriculum in cohorts and are exposed to a comprehensive, applied approach to the field of community and economic development.
About the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce promotes the economic and business well-being of the greater Harrison and Boone County, Arkansas area. The investor-driven Chamber also recognizes, values and promotes the outstanding quality of life locally that encourages people to live, work, invest and retire in the area. For more information, please visit www.harrison-chamber.com.
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