Inter-City Visits give us an opportunity to learn from best-in-class cities. By bringing business and community leaders together to learn from other communities, we adapt those lessons for our own success. The visits offer the opportunity to learn from class-A cities in top metros around the nation.
Past community visits and areas of focus include:
- 2023 – Huntsville, Ala.: Industry & entrepreneurship, talent attraction, and the music economy
- 2021 – Carmel & Fishers, Ind.: Entrepreneurship, startups, and private-public partnerships
- 2019 – Louisville, Ky.: Neighborhood development
- 2018 – Greenville, S.C.: Downtown & riverfront development, entrepreneurship, and arts & culture
- 2017 – Durham, N.C.: Electric Works revitalization
- 2015 – Grand Rapids & Kalamazoo, Mich.: Riverfront development
- 2014 – Des Moines, Iowa: Philanthropic engagement
- 2013 – Reverse City Visit in Fort Wayne: Experience building momentum
- 2012 – Wichita, Kansas: Downtown & riverfront development
- 2011 – Denver, Colo.: Regional economic development
- 2007 – Chattanooga, Tenn.: Riverfront development
- 2006 – Providence, R.I.: Cultural district
- 2005 – Greenville, S.C.: Downtown & riverfront development
Inter-City Visit 2025
Little Rock, Arkansas
Mark your calendar for Monday, May 5 through Wednesday, May 7! You are invited to join Greater Fort Wayne Inc.’s 2025 Inter-City Visit, an exclusive opportunity to explore Little Rock and Conway, Arkansas, and learn from their innovative community development strategies.
This year’s visit will focus on three key areas critical to Allen County’s future:
- Innovative Infill Housing – Explore Little Rock’s diverse infill housing projects, ranging from transitional tiny houses to single-family homes, spanning affordable to market-rate developments.
- Education & Workforce Development – Learn how the region—the first in the nation to participate with multiple school districts—connects its business community with K-12 education through Ford NGL (Next Generation Learning).
- Small Community Growth – Visit Conway, a thriving university town, to see innovative small-city development in action. Explore a new urbanist housing development and discover how youth sports are shaping the community.
Much like Fort Wayne, Little Rock is a growing metro area balancing economic development with livability. With a population of 268,373, it shares demographic similarities to Allen County and boasts strong educational institutions, a developing downtown, and nationally recognized accolades, including:
- #10 Metro for Young Professionals – Forbes, 2023
- #12 Move-to City in the U.S. – moveBuddha, 2024
- #25 Best Cities for 2024 – Southern Living
This packed itinerary includes:
- Panel discussions with local leaders on economic development & community progress
- Tours of innovative infill housing projects showcasing diverse approaches to development, including riverfront development
- Exclusive visit to the Clinton Presidential Library, highlighting its impact on tourism and economic development
- Business & education connections through Ford NGL initiatives
- Trip to Conway, AR, a model university town with innovative urban planning
- Dinner at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, an anchor for arts and culture
📅 Dates: Monday, May 5 – Wednesday, May 7 (Wednesday is a travel day; lodging included for May 5-6 only)
💲 Cost: $1,500 per person (includes programming, lodging May 5th & 6th, meals, & transportation within Little Rock and Conway)
💵 Deposit: A non-refundable $500 deposit is required to secure your spot by March 28 / Payment in full due by April 30
✈ Travel: Attendees are responsible for their own travel to and from Little Rock
This trip is exclusively open to:
- Summit & Visionary Investors
- GFW Inc. Board Members
- Elected Officials
- Select Community Leaders
Spots are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Join us as we gain insights and bring back ideas to strengthen Fort Wayne’s future!
Questions? Contact Olivia Dickerson at odickerson@gfwinc.com for event or registration details.
Trip Agenda
Monday, May 5, 2025
1:00 PM Check-In / Registration – Capital Hotel
1:35 PM Walk to Little Rock Regional Chamber Building
2:00 PM Welcome to Little Rock, Arkansas – Hosted by Little Rock Regional Chamber
- Jay Chesshir, President & CEO – Little Rock Regional Chamber
- Mayor Frank Scott Jr.
- County Judge Barry Hyde
2:30 PM Session 1: Housing Panel – Innovative Infill Housing in Little Rock
- Errin Stanger, Founder & CEO, Providence Park
- Kevin Howard, Director, Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs, City of Little Rock
- Lisa Ferrell, Founder & CEO, Rockwater Village
- Pace Burt, Developer – Redevelopment of VA / The Flats of SoMa
- Mike Orndoff, Owner, Michael Orndoff Construction
3:30 PM Bus Tour of Little Rock – Housing Projects
- Pettaway / SoMa
- Redevelopment of VA / The Flats of SoMa
- Artspace – Windgate Campus
- Argenta Arts District
- Rockwater Village
5:00 PM Return to Capital Hotel / Break
5:45 PM Load Bus and Depart for Dinner
6:00 PM Dinner – 42Bar and Table at Clinton Presidential Center
7:15 PM Docent and Self-Guided Walking Tour – Clinton Presidential Library
8:00 PM Meet at Bus and Depart from Library
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
7:00 AM Grab-and-Go Breakfast at Captial Hotel
7:45 AM Walk to Little Rock Regional Chamber Building
8:00 AM Session 2: Education & Workforce Development Panel – Business and Ford Next Generation Learning (NGL)
- Bobby Gosser, President & CEO – Baldwin Shell Construction Company
- Troy Wells, President & CEO – Baptist Health
- Michele Beasley, Senior Vice President – Telcoe Federal Credit Union
- Moderator Markous Jewett, Vice President – Academies of Central Arkansas, Little Rock Regional Chamber
9:30 AM Break
9:45 AM Load Bus and Depart for North little Rock High School
10:00 AM Walking Tour at North Little Rock High School
- Dr. Gregory Pilewski, Superindendant
- Dr. Nadia Saint-Louis, Principal
- Shanda Macon, Coordinator of School Innovation
- Jada Jones-Toney, Acadamy Coach
- Melisha Griffin, Academy Coach
11:15 AM Load Bus and Depart for Conway, Arkansas
12:00 PM Welcome to Conway, Arkansas
- Brad Lacy, CCE, IOM, President & CEO – Conway Area Chamber of Commerce
12:15 PM Lunch
2:00 PM Load Bus and Depart for Bus Tour
2:15 PM Bus Tour of Conway, Arkansas – Small Community Growth / Youth Sports
- Youth Sports
- Community Center
- Hendrix University Village & University Partnerships
4:15 PM Return to Capital Hotel / Break
5:45 PM Load Bus and Depart for Dinner
6:00 PM Dinner & Inter-City Visit Debrief – Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
In the News
“Bold new vision: master plan seeks to reinvigorate downtown Little Rock”
By Arkansas Money & Politics | June 13, 2024
This article details the Downtown Little Rock Master Plan, which was proposed in June 2024 to boost the city center. The plan includes expanding on the riverfront, developing green space and a wider trail system, and promoting local history and culture. These bold ideas will not only benefit the urban core, but the entire Little Rock region through better community connectivity and safer, more inviting public spaces.
“Contractor says renovation of old Little Rock VA hospital into apartments to be complete next year”
By CBS THV 11 | December 12, 2024
An old VA hospital is being converted into one- to three-bedroom apartments with price points between $1,000 and $1,600. Contractor Pace Burt shared that he expects construction will finish by early 2025. The hospital will be renamed The Flats at SOMA, and will include a pool, sauna, and a “gear garage” for tenants to rent outdoor equipment for camping, biking, and hiking.
“Providence Park breaks ground on new village for the unhoused in Central Arkansas”
By ABC 7 | May 14, 2024
Providence Park is an innovative housing project consisting of 400 tiny homes sitting on 50 acres south of Little Rock for citizens dealing with housing insecurity. Residents will have access to medical and social services right within the village. It is expected that the first 100 tiny homes will be installed in 2025.
“Conway community center expected to open this summer”
By CBS THV 11 | January 31, 2025
The city of Conway has made many investments into community sports in recent years, such as a youth baseball league hosted by the Parks & Recreation Department and promotion of the city as a venue for tournaments. In summer 2025, a community center will open with volleyball and pickleball courts, a gym, meeting rooms, and two swimming pools. The rate to play is $7 for an adult day pass, $385 for an adult annual pass, or $660 for a family-wide membership.
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