Fayetteville, AR (November 24, 2025) – Urban Land Institute Northwest Arkansas (ULI NWA) is proud to announce the launch of Plan Local, a regional initiative designed to help communities plan for growth with intention, collaboration, and long-term vision.

Building on the success of the Small Cities Initiative, Plan Local expands ULI NWA’s capacity to serve more communities each year through technical assistance, peer learning, and leadership development. The program will support up to four communities annually, combining professional expertise with local insight to create actionable plans that strengthen identity and guide sustainable growth across Northwest Arkansas.

“Plan Local builds on what we’ve learned through our work with communities across Northwest Arkansas,” said Megan Brown, Director of Operations for ULI Northwest Arkansas. “It brings people together around shared goals and provides the resources, expertise, and partnerships needed to plan for growth that is both intentional and lasting.”

The program expands the foundation built by the original Small Cities Initiative, which has already helped Cave Springs, Pea Ridge, and Centerton to strengthen local planning capacity. Plan Local will focus on three key pillars to support the region.

• Planning Partnership – Connects selected communities with planning experts, ULI members, and local partners to create actionable land-use plans that guide future growth and investment. Following participation in a Technical Assistance Panel, each community moves through a Request for Qualifications process to select a consultant firm that will work alongside local leaders to craft a plan grounded in collaboration, community input, and shared values. Municipalities and unincorporated communities located in Benton or Washington counties that have fewer than 30,000 residents are eligible to apply. Applications are open now for 2026.
• Roundtable Series – Brings together city and county staff in areas of planning, engineering, public works, and development services to strengthen regional collaboration and problem-solving. Through monthly practitioner-led sessions, participants share lessons learned, explore practical strategies, and build the collective capacity needed to manage growth across Northwest Arkansas.
• Leadership Exchange – Maintains strong ties with past Plan Local and Small Cities Initiative participants by supporting ongoing implementation and leadership development. Through semi-annual convenings and executive coaching, local leaders share progress, discuss challenges, and continue building the relationships and skills needed to guide their communities through change.

The Plan Local launch marks an exciting new phase for ULI Northwest Arkansas’s commitment to advancing responsible land use, resilient design, and thriving small cities throughout the region.

For more information about Plan Local, visit arkansas.uli.org or follow ULI Northwest Arkansas on social media.