Searcy Earns Main Street Revitalization, Project to Be Featured Online

Jeff Montgomery, Harding University

Searcy celebrates earning a $500,000 small business revitalization project.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – One of Arkansas' iconic small towns will soon get a makeover. Searcy was chosen from thousands of nominations to receive a $500,000 revitaliation project that will be featured as a part of the online series, Small Business Revolution – Main Street later this year.

Supporters from across the state and beyond helped Searcy earn the makeover after a week-long voting process among six finalists, including communities in five other states.

Searcy will be featured as a part of the fourth season of the show, which is scheduled to air this fall on Hulu, Youtube and at smallbusinessrevolution.org.

"Searcy is our hometown and we could not be more excited about all of the attention the Small Business Revolution program has provided our community," said Reynie Rutledge, chairman, president and CEO of First Security Bancorp, based in Searcy. "It has reinvigorated our sense of pride and belonging to people in our home town and all across Arkansas. We all look forward to the future and taking part in this program to revitalize Main Street and Small Businesses."

Rutledge is graduate of the University of Arkansas and former member of the UA System Board of Trustees.

"The energy and excitement everyone here shares to do things which will make Searcy a better place to live has been truly remarkable to witness," he said. "Thanks to everyone who helped Searcy win. We really appreciate the support."

Searcy is located in White County, about 50 miles northeast of Little Rock. It has a population of 23,000 including many University of Arkansas alumni, friends and current students.

Small Business Revolution highlights Searcy online with a photo gallery, video and general information about the town.

The Small Business Revolution effort started in 2015 to "celebrate small businesses that drive our economy and bring our communities together."

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.