Regional planning
Community plans and long-range strategies shaped with local input.
A stronger region, county by county
Planning together.
Planning together.
Growing together.
Ozark Frontier Regional Planning & Development District helps local leaders, businesses, and neighbors turn good plans into lasting progress across the Arkansas River Valley and Ozark foothills.
The Arkansas Ozarks · Photo: Ozark Drones
The district at a glance
Seven counties.
Seven counties.
One shared future.
Our seven member counties bring together river towns, wooded uplands, and growing communities. We help them work across borders on the needs they share.
Explore county profiles43municipalities working across the district
Service area / ArkansasIllustrative map · not to scale
Member counties River corridor
What we do
Practical help for regional priorities.
From a first planning meeting to a completed project, our team brings technical support and people together.
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Community development
Project guidance for public spaces, facilities, and stronger downtowns.
Grants & administration
Funding research, applications, compliance, and closeout support.
Transportation
Safer connections for roads, freight, transit, walking, and cycling.
Workforce development
Training pathways and hiring connections for residents and employers.
Small-business loans
Flexible financing for eligible local enterprises and job creation.
GIS & regional data
Maps and usable information to guide local decisions.
Broadband planning
Coordinating the next mile of reliable regional access.
Infrastructure assistance
Turning water, utility, and public-facility needs into funded work.
Disaster resilience
Helping communities plan, prepare, recover, and adapt together.
By the numbers
Work that reaches beyond county lines.
- Grants administered
- $38M
- Job seekers assisted each year
- 2,400
- Business loans deployed
- $12M
- Regional projects underway
- 86
On the ground
Plans made visible.
Each project starts with a local need and moves forward with regional coordination.
Connecting the river corridor
A coordinated bridge and road-access study is giving two counties a shared path to safer travel and better freight movement.
Clean water for growing towns
Three municipalities are aligning water-system upgrades so every grant dollar goes further.
Closing the last-mile gap
A shared broadband plan is bringing providers and rural communities to the same table.
Funding & public participationOpen opportunities.
Open opportunities.
Clear next steps.
Find active calls, comment periods, and public notices for community and infrastructure partners.
Ask about fundingOpen for comment
Regional transportation plan
Review priorities for safer and better-connected travel across the district.
Applications open
Community facilities grant support
Local governments can request assistance preparing project proposals.
Request for qualifications
River corridor engineering services
Statements of qualifications are invited for an upcoming corridor study.
People & work
A region ready for what comes next.
Your next step starts here.
Explore career coaching, training options, and connections to employers who are hiring in our region.
- One-on-one career guidance
- Training and credential pathways
- Job search and interview support
Find people. Build capacity.
Our workforce team helps businesses identify talent needs and build practical hiring pipelines.
- Recruitment and candidate referrals
- Work-based learning partnerships
- Regional labor market information
Capital for local ideas
Small businesses keep this region moving.
Our revolving loan fund helps eligible small businesses bridge a financing gap, expand operations, and create lasting jobs in member counties.
Discuss financingOzark Frontier business financingProgram snapshot
$12Mdeployed in local business loans
Flexible useEquipment · growth · working capital
Who it servesEligible businesses in all 7 counties
First stepSpeak with a program advisor
Research & strategy
Good decisions start with a clear picture.
Explore the plans and data behind our shared priorities. Request a copy from the district team.
Our member counties
Local character. Regional strength.
Every county contributes a different piece of the story. Together, they shape a more connected Ozark Frontier.
Bracken
Wooded ridges and rural enterprise
Cedar Run
River towns and growing neighborhoods
Fairhaven
Historic centers and civic life
Highwater
River crossings and industry
Pine Hollow
Small communities and open land
Ridgemont
Trails, trades, and mountain foothills
Stonebend
Regional connections and commerce
District updates
News from across the region.
Regional economic development strategy update released
Read the strategy summaryBroadband expansion grant advances work in two member counties
See regional projectsRevolving loan fund welcomes fall inquiries
Explore business financingWorking together
Built on local partnership.
Member countiesMunicipal leadersWorkforce partnersCommunity lenders
Let's work together
A regional question deserves a local conversation.
Tell us what you're working on. Our team can point you to the right program, partner, or next step.
Email the districtOzark Frontier District Office
Fairhaven, Arkansas(479) 555-0146
Fairhaven, Arkansas(479) 555-0146