The Imagine Central Arkansas (ICA) Jump Start Program is our region’s attempt to “jump start,” or carry out, the ICA long-range development plan through targeted investment of public and private funds within smaller areas/neighborhoods in the short-term, including the severely impacted tornado communities of Mayflower and Vilonia.  

Metroplan has received an extension of a HUD grant, with the intent to reallocate unspent resources, to develop and adopt detailed building codes/zoning regulations, provided by Gateway Planning, Inc., that will be essential for economic recovery of the two communities.

The University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) Community Design Center has been designated to develop architectural interpretations of the cities to visually show, and serve as a catalyst, how Mayflower and Vilonia could grow in the near future.

In addition, the Institute for Economic Advancement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will be developing a Disaster Preparedness Plan to benefit the entire region.

Mayflower Mayor Randy Holland and Local Disaster Recovery Manager, Devin Howland, will also join forces to lay the groundwork for a vibrant, resilient Mayflower for all residents and commercial interests.

Other organizations partially funding the local initiative are the University of Central Arkansas Community Development Institute, the Arkansas Community Foundation, and the National Association of Development Organizations.