Groundwork expands housing push statewide
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A Northwest Arkansas organization dedicated to housing attainability is expanding its reach statewide.
Why it matters: Groundwork, the housing arm of the nonprofit Northwest Arkansas Council, is looking to affect laws related to housing at the state level ahead of the 2027 legislative session, executive director Duke McLarty told Axios.
- Some policies are better done statewide rather than city by city, McLarty said.
Case in point: Cities like Fayetteville have tried to make it easier to allow modular homes, which cost less than traditional houses and are more durable than typical mobile homes.
- However, a lack of statewide regulations makes it unlikely for modular home manufacturers to come to Arkansas, he said. Policies broadly allowing for modular homes are at the top of Groundwork's priority list.
The big picture: While NWA has especially felt the pain of rising housing costs, the rest of Arkansas has also seen prices increase and has other local housing concerns.
- Some communities struggle with dilapidated homes and an aging housing stock that lacks variety, McLarty said.
- The goal is to hear from stakeholders around the state about what regulations or deregulations would benefit their housing needs.
Zoom in: The organization is also eyeing policies around land bank property — typically vacant or abandoned areas that cities with more than 2,500 people can acquire for community development, including housing.
- Proposed changes could include widening which entities — such as counties, smaller cities, nonprofits or multiple government entities together — are allowed to have land banks, McLarty said.
Flashback: During the 2025 legislative session, Groundwork helped spur a state law broadly allowing property owners to have accessory dwelling units like small separate apartments. Two lawmakers from NWA, state Rep. Nicole Clowney (D-Fayetteville) and state Sen. Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs), sponsored the bill.
The latest: Groundwork added two members to support its expansion, bringing its full-time staff to five.
- Attorney Reid Adkins, a former senior assistant attorney general, is Groundwork's new policy director, based in Little Rock.
- Payton Willhite is the community outreach manager and "will lead engagement with communities across Arkansas, ensuring local voices inform the statewide strategy," according to a news release.
What's next: Groundwork plans to kick off an eight-stop tour of the state next week to learn from residents and community leaders. The goal is to have a plan for the legislative session by October, McLarty said.