About Us
The White River Planning and Development District, Inc. (WRPDD) is a private, non-profit organization recognized by the Arkansas Legislature in 1967 to stimulate economic and community growth within a ten county area in north central Arkansas. One of eight economic development districts in the state, WRPDD was established to efficiently utilize scarce economic resources across a multi-county region, and to provide a better standard of living through coordinated economic planning and development. WRPDD serves the counties of Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, White and Woodruff.
The primary mission of WRPDD is to assist local government through strategic planning for sustainable economic and community development and to provide assistance in obtaining and administering state and federal funding to make those plans become reality.
As a part of that mission, WRPDD also works as a community partner with existing and potential new businesses and industries toward the development of new and expanded operations in our area of Arkansas.
The realization of responsible planning and development efforts positively affect communities in the following ways:
- Reduction of unemployment and underemployment.
- Increased availability of higher paying jobs.
- Improved education opportunities.
- Increased per capita and family incomes.
- Overall improvements in quality of life.
To contact WRPDD or to view a map of our location, please use the information or contact form on our contact us page.
To find an economic development district in your area:
Governing Board
White River Planning and Development District, Inc. is governed by a thirty-three member Board of Directors consisting of local elected officials, business representatives and private citizens. Each of our ten counties is represented by three Board members. Two counties also have minority board members and one District Board member serves at large.
Board membership for 2023 is as follows:
- Judge Eric Crosby, Cleburne County
- Judge Kenneth Crow, Fulton County
- *Judge Kevin Jeffery, Independence County, Secretary
- *Judge Eric Smith, Izard County, 2nd Vice-President
- *Judge Jeff Phillips, Jackson County, 1st Vice-President
- *Judge Mark Counts, Sharp County
- *Judge Stacey Avey, Stone County, President
- *Judge Dale James, Van Buren County
- *Judge Lisa Brown, White County
- Judge Michael John Gray, Woodruff County
- Janet Hearyman, Bald Knob
- Boris Dover, Batesville
- *Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, Batesville, Treasurer
- Garry Lawrence, Cherokee Village
- Gayla Bradley, Clinton
- Mayor Richard McCormac, Clinton
- *Beverly Chapple, Cotton Plant
- Jon Abele, Hardy
- Mayor Kasey Griffin, Heber Springs
- Mayor Duane Delair, Horseshoe Bend
- Regina Burkett, McCrory
- Katy Blevins, Melbourne
- Mayor Roger Gardner, Mtn. View
- Stan Townsend, Mtn. View
- Phillip Brown, Newport
- Jerry Carlew, Newport
- Mayor Derrick Ratliffe, Newport
- Curren Everett, Salem
- *Mayor Mat Faulkner, Searcy
- Carolyn Lewis, Sturkie
- Denotes Executive Board Member
