Applications Open for Retail Academy

Applications are now open for the next cohort of Retail Academy in Arkansas.

During this program, six communities will have the opportunity to participate in a year-long program that is designed to maximize retail opportunities in local communities. The program features a full day of in-person training in addition to customized reports for each participating community.

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.

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 the Arkansas Economic Development Commission'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.

The in-person training session will take place at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway on November 10. Three individuals from each community will participate in the in-person training.

Applications for the Retail Academy program are due by Friday, August 28 at 5pm.

Click here to apply for the program.