Nashville is one of six communities selected by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to participate in the 2025-26 Retail Academy program. The other communities include Arkadelphia, Berryville, Malvern, Russellville and Walnut Ridge.
The Retail Academy program provides rural communities with online education, market research and technical assistance to help them with recruiting retail opportunities to their region. The program provides local leaders with the resources and knowledge needed to recruit and support retail and restaurant businesses in their communities.
The 2025-26 Retail Academy program begins Sept. 25 and runs through September 2026.
“We’re excited to be chosen for the Retail Academy,” said Vanessa Weeks, director of Howard County Economic Development. “With our new Community and Economic Development Plan in place, this opportunity comes at the perfect time to focus on retail strategies that will support local businesses, strengthen our community, and drive future growth.”
Building strong communities requires many different elements, including retail opportunities, to attract and retain residents, fueling local growth, according to Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “The Retail Academy program is designed to help local communities with retail attraction, offering specialized training and resources to grow their retail base. AEDC is proud to announce the latest cohort of communities to participate in the Retail Academy program and looks forward to seeing these communities attract new retail companies.”
Retail Academy was developed by Retail Strategies, a Birmingham, Ala.-based municipal consultancy firm focused on retail recruitment and downtown revitalization, and will be administered by AEDC’s Community Development Division. Specific services and resources offered during Retail Academy include customized training, peer analysis, demographic overviews, a retail marketing guide, networking opportunities, and access to online courses.
“Rural communities need intentional support in retail recruitment because it is a vital part of a holistic economic development strategy,” said Lacy Beasley, president of Retail Strategies. “AEDC understands the importance of equipping rural Arkansas towns with the tools to compete, and their support allows these six communities to participate in the Retail Academy program. We’ve seen proven success from communities that have gone through the program in past years, and we are excited to continue that momentum so Arkansas can capture more national retailers and restaurants. These investments lead directly to stronger sales tax revenue, increased property values, new jobs, and ultimately an enhanced quality of life for residents.”
