Explored Little Rock’s diverse infill housing projects, ranging from transitional tiny houses to single-family homes, spanning affordable to market-rate developments.
Inter-City Visits
2021 GFW Inc. Inter-City Visit Attendees touring Carmel, IN
Learning from
communities like ours
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, inspiring vision, change, and collaboration for a better community.
- 2025 – Little Rock & Conway, AR: Innovative Infill Housing, Education & Workforce Development, & Small Community Growth
- 2023 – Huntsville, AL: Industry & entrepreneurship, talent attraction, and the music economy
- 2021 – Carmel & Fishers, IN: Entrepreneurship, startups, and private-public partnerships
- 2019 – Louisville, KY: Neighborhood development
- 2018 – Greenville, SC: Downtown & riverfront development, entrepreneurship, and arts & culture
- 2017 – Durham, NC: Electric Works revitalization
- 2015 – Grand Rapids & Kalamazoo, MI: Riverfront development
- 2014 – Des Moines, IA: Philanthropic engagement
- 2013 – Reverse City Visit in Fort Wayne: Experience building momentum
- 2012 – Wichita, KS: Downtown & riverfront development
- 2011 – Denver, CO: Regional economic development
- 2007 – Chattanooga, TN: Riverfront development
- 2006 – Providence, RI: Cultural district
- 2005 – Greenville, SC: Downtown & riverfront development
Topics we’re exploring
Group photo of the 2025 GFW Inc. Inter-City Visit Attendees
2025 Inter-City Visit
Little Rock & Conway AR
In May 2025, Greater Fort Wayne Inc. led 50 local leaders on a three-day Inter-City Visit to Little Rock and Conway, Arkansas. This immersive experience offered firsthand insights into how peer communities are addressing challenges and seizing opportunities through innovative housing, education, and placemaking efforts. From infill development to youth engagement, the trip sparked meaningful dialogue and inspired new ideas to support growth and progress in Allen County.
The three key focuses critical to Allen County’s future included:
- Innovative infill housing strategies
- The Ford Next Generation Learning model
- Youth Sports as an economic driver
Key trip takeaways
Innovative Infill Housing
Education & Workforce Development
Learned 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
Visited Conway, a thriving university town, to see innovative small-city development in action. Explored 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
- 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
Our next destination?
The next Inter-City Visit is scheduled to take place in 2027. Contact the staff member listed below for more information.