The University of Arkansas System professor who helped the Mountain Home community launch its Baxter County Forward Blueprint and Action Plan earlier this year has been recognized nationally.
Mark Peterson, director for the Community and Economic Development Department, has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Cooperative Extension, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) for the Southern Region award for visionary leadership.
Specifically, Peterson has been recognized for his efforts to build vibrant, sustainable communities and regions through community leadership education programming and mentoring.
The Baxter County Forward Blueprint is an economic development plan several months in the making. It is a collaborative effort between Baxter County community leaders and the Economic Development Department at the U of A’s System Division of Agriculture.
Baxter County Forward was developed through the Breakthrough Solutions program, which the Division of Agriculture uses to help communities throughout the state identify and capitalize on their unique assets, and enjoy long-term success by generating and attracting resources.
At the time of the launch of the Baxter County Forward Blueprint, the UofA noted like most areas of Arkansas, Baxter County is predominantly rural. While the area’s natural beauty and outdoor recreation resources attract visitors throughout the year, urbanization and other forces are drawing its residents away.
In 2018, Baxter County Forward conducted a survey asking respondents throughout the community to prioritize critical issues and opportunities within the county. The top three issues included drug abuse and crime, higher wage job recruitment and youth and family activities. Based on the top 10 priorities, Baxter County Forward formed seven action teams to address issues ranging from business and industry, drugs, education, tourism and more; each team developed both short- and long-term goals and strategies for achieving them.
At the time of the plans unveiling, Peterson said the public launch represents an important, early milestone in Baxter County’s efforts to revitalize its rural economies.
Last month, the Baxter County Forward initiative was recognized with the 2019 Innovative Community Development Award from the Arkansas Community Development Society for communities with a population 10,000 to 50,000.
The Arkansas Community Development Society is an educational nonprofit organization whose purpose is to advance community development and the community development profession.
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