Main Street Eureka Springs selected for national program

Main Street Eureka Springs has been selected as part of the 2026 Rural Welcoming Initiative, a national program led by Welcoming America that supports rural communities in building more inclusive, connected, and thriving places.

Main Street Eureka Springs is one of 11 organizations across eight states chosen through a competitive application process. The cohort includes communities ranging from small towns in the Colorado Rockies to grassroots coalitions in New York and Tennessee, all working toward a shared goal of strengthening belonging and opportunity for all residents.

Since 2020, the Rural Welcoming Initiative has provided participating organizations with access to the Welcoming Network, peer learning opportunities, tailored technical assistance, and national convenings. As part of the program, Main Street Eureka Springs recently participated in a multi-day Rural Welcoming Gathering in Emporia, Kansas, where cohort members connected, shared strategies, and explored how welcoming practices can take shape in rural communities.

“Rural communities have been doing welcoming work long before anyone called it that,” said Briana Broberg, senior network manager at Welcoming America. “What this cohort makes possible is connection, so communities can learn from one another and build on what’s already working.”

For Main Street Eureka Springs, this work builds on an existing focus on civic engagement, community connection and strengthening the social fabric of downtown and beyond.

“Welcoming is not a single program or initiative; it’s a way of showing up as a community,” said Jackie Wolven, executive director of Main Street Eureka Springs. “This opportunity allows us to learn from peers across the country and bring new ideas home as we continue building a place where people feel connected, valued, and part of something.”

Over the coming year, Main Street Eureka Springs will participate in ongoing peer learning, receive technical support and explore how to implement welcoming strategies locally, including future community conversations and collaborative efforts.

For more information about Main Street Eureka Springs, visit https://www.mainstreeteurekasprings.org. To learn more about Welcoming America, visit http://www.welcomingamerica.org.