CAPDD Receives NADO 2016 Innovation Award

Contact: Joe McKinney, NADO Executive Director For Immediate Release

202.624.5947 | jmckinney@nado.org October 25, 2016

Central Arkansas Planning and Development District Receives National Association of Development Organizations 2016 Innovation Award

WASHINGTON, DC – Central Arkansas Planning and Development District based in Lonoke, AR has received a 2016 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub.

The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub is a catalyst for economic and entrepreneurial growth, workforce development, and quality of life. The Central Arkansas Planning and Development District helped fill the financing gap to complete the “Silver Mine” portion of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. The Silver Mine is one of three primary branches of the Innovation Hub, which serves as a place for co-working, education, technology and collaboration. The Innovation Hub has already supported countless individuals pursue their passion by turning those passions into viable business ideas and products that both fill market demand, and create it. Those ideas turn into businesses which not only add value to the regional economy, and enhance the tax base, but also create numerous jobs as the firms move from the conception phase into growth.

Award-winning projects were honored during NADO’s 2016 Annual Training Conference, held October 15-18 in San Antonio, Texas. The 2016 class of award recipients consists of 96 projects spanning 28 states. These projects are presented in an interactive “Story Map” developed by NADO and Esri and include project summaries, funding information, and partners. The Story Map is available online at: https://www.nado.org/innovation-awards/.

“Since 1986 through its Innovation Awards program, NADO has recognized the transformative work regional development organizations perform every day. Award-winning projects showcase best practices across the country in regional development that support prosperous communities, stronger local economies, and improved quality of life for residents,” said 2015-2016 NADO Board President Jeffrey Kiely, Executive Director of the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, located in Gallup, New Mexico.

For more information about this award-winning project, contact Conya Spencer at 501-676-2721 or conya.spencer@capdd.org.

###

Since 1967 the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) has provided advocacy, education, networking, and research for the national network of 540 regional development organizations. NADO members provide professional, programmatic, and technical assistance to over 2,300 counties and 15,000 municipalities.

Pictured are Jeffery Kiely, NADO Board President

Amanda Adaire, Program Manager, CAPDD