A City Gearing Up for Generational Growth

Projecting a  cooperative vision as it advances toward the future

 

Cabot, Arkansas, is a city teeming with momentum, defined by its proactive leadership. The blueprint for its growth isn’t theoretical; it’s underway, as Cabot lies on the cusp of transformation and generational growth.

Undoubtedly, the city’s visionary leadership and precise, practical execution are both major factors in Cabot’s growth.

Leadership’s approach to infrastructure, economic development, and quality of life is methodical and paced and hinges on aligning public policy with regional momentum.

As a result, Cabot has developed strong partnerships with state agencies and continues to advocate for more investment in essential support systems like transportation, water, and sewer.

Landmark projects like the groundbreaking veterinary campus and new hospital are being nurtured as foundational pillars of a broader strategy to elevate Cabot’s economic and educational standing.

Additionally, elevating the city’s primary corridor to Interstate status acts as a gateway to accelerated economic opportunity. These advancements show that Cabot is not just a growing city; it’s a future economic anchor for Central Arkansas.

However, before that future is realized, Cabot has made sure to establish small economic anchors for itself through small business support.

The city’s unique grant-matching program, funded by reallocating business license fees, directly empowers small businesses to expand and improve, stimulating local commerce from within.

The city’s creative use of business license revenue and proactive recruitment are shining examples of what thoughtful, local action can achieve. They show that Cabot’s leaders refuse to wait passively for development, instead choosing initiative by consistently courting new developers, restaurateurs, and retailers.

In Cabot, every decision, large or small, is an investment in the city’s future value. And while its story is already one of success, its next chapters could redefine what’s possible for a city of its size.

The groundwork is laid, and Cabot has emerged as a city grown by design, not default. It’s a place where families plant roots, businesses flourish, and generations choose to stay.

Laying the Foundations for a Higher Standard of Living

Located just northeast of Little Rock, Cabot, Arkansas, was once firmly rooted in the routines of small-town life.

However, a powerful transformation is underway, and this change is being fueled by a deliberate, inclusive, and unified strategy for community enrichment.

Over the last several years, Cabot, in partnership with key public and private stakeholders, has laid a foundation for economic vitality and long-term resilience.

Due to the strategic infrastructure projects and community-centric development that catalyzed this shift, the city’s leadership is focused on connectivity and sustainable growth.

Cabot is one of the fastest-growing housing regions in Arkansas. With so many families coming to its community, quality of life improvements are a key area of focus for this approach.

“We are currently going through a revitalization of our entire downtown,” says Director of Economic Development Alicia Payseno, referencing the 1976 tornado that effectively decimated the city’s historic downtown. “So, this administration has taken an aggressive step to rebuild our history,” Payseno concludes.

Cabot has secured numerous grants for improved streetscapes, funded a new downtown pavilion project for future festivals and social gatherings, and even recently recruited a new brewery to its downtown area.

Additionally, through its work with Metroplan and the regional Greenway initiative, Cabot is investing heavily in alternative transportation options.

This multi-use trail network enhances wellness and recreation opportunities and supports the city’s broader goals of economic diversification and tourism. “We have it running through our city, and thanks to our grants, we can create additional access to that, so that our residents and visitors can use these trails and still access all of the city’s amenities,” Payseno explains.

The backbone of these developments is undoubtedly Cabot’s infrastructure, so the city is designing its approach to meet current needs and anticipate future demands.

A highly praised step the city has taken involves the already completed Connect2First fiber optic internet project, which aimed at granting every part of the city fiber optic access to the internet, leading to unprecedented benefits.

“So, our city is now the owner of the actual fiber lines that we lease out… so now, Cabot is the first city in the region to offer fiber optics as a utility,” says Public Works Director Laura Nobles.

Water and sewer improvements are also underway, with the city taking steps to address aging infrastructure and meet future demand.

With state and federal support, including significant ARPA funding, Cabot has launched projects that will ensure consistent service to its residents and accommodate continued growth.

“We’ve also pushed for sewer lines to be accessible on the south side of town; that has been needed for years. So, several miles of sewer line have been laid down on the south side of town so residents can get off of septic systems and have access to city sewer services,” Nobles explains.

To supplement that, on the back end, according to Nobles, the Public Works and Engineering Departments have made significant strides in digitization and asset management.

These developments are focused on creating resilience, so the city is investing in what it knows will carry it for the next 20 to 30 years.

A City with Community and Commerce at its Core

Cabot’s success is not driven by infrastructure alone—it’s the synergy between economic development, education, and quality-of-life initiatives that sets the city apart.

“Cabot has always been a family community, and our schools have been a big part of it. In the past, you had to go to Little Rock to do anything. So, we’ve created an economic boom here since I became mayor with restaurants, retail development, hotels, and even new college programs coming to town. We’ve generated things so that people don’t have to leave and created a larger tax base so that we can do more for our police, firefighters, and our residents,” says Mayor Ken Kincade.

Perhaps the most transformative development in recent years is Cabot’s partnership with Lyon College.

The college’s veterinary programs are coming to Cabot, anchoring what promises to be a new educational and economic hub for the region.

“It’s going to be a game changer for us. It will have people moving to stay here that wouldn’t normally come,” Nobles explains, noting that this influx is expected to spur growth across the housing, restaurant, and retail sectors—an effect that could reverberate for decades.

This kind of strategic foresight is a hallmark of Cabot’s leadership team. A prime example is the soon-to-be-completed hospital coming to Cabot.

In 2019, Unity Health purchased 70 acres of land in Cabot, setting the stage for the city’s first hospital. This development has already attracted a $1.9 million EDA grant for supporting infrastructure.

This healthcare facility is expected to bring over 700 jobs to the city, across disciplines ranging from medical to administrative services.

Combined with faculty and administrative hires from Lyon College, Cabot is poised for a substantial increase in white-collar employment, further diversifying its local economy.

However, the college and hospital are just pieces of a larger economic puzzle. Cabot is notably clear about what industries it’s best suited for, and is prepared to support them.

Mayor Kincade and his team have been aggressive in courting new businesses through proactive outreach. By attending conferences like ICSC, the city leadership has created a strong network of developers and businesses interested in setting up shop in Cabot.

“We like to work with developers and give them the numbers they need to have. We work with real estate agents and land owners to show them the areas that would work best for them,” Mayor Kincade explains.

Additionally, leadership often shares information with this network through data-sharing tools like Placer.ai and detailed traffic counts to help present a more compelling case for investment in Cabot.

“We go out and fish, we don’t wait until the fish jump out of the water,” Mayor Kincade expresses, underscoring the city’s proactive approach to retail and commercial recruitment.

As a supportive structure, the city has also developed an innovative economic incentive program using business license fees as a grant fund.

This initiative supports local businesses with a 50/50 match for upgrades like signage, exterior improvements, and parking lots. Currently, Cabot is the only city in the State of Arkansas that does this.

And the results are very tangible: new restaurants, revitalized commercial spaces, and a stronger small business ecosystem.

A Transforming City for All Generations

As Cabot continues to attract residents and entrepreneurs alike, its local leadership remains focused on delivering value and stability to its growing community.

Among the many developments on the horizon, Cabot’s partnership with Lyon College certainly has some of the highest potential for long-term growth.

While the collaboration is predicted to, Cabot’s leaders are also acting to increase the likelihood of the college stimulating multiple industries.

These efforts involve the Arkansas Department of Transportation designating Cabot’s primary corridor as Interstate 57.

Over $300 million has been allocated for infrastructure improvements to support the transition. When completed, these improvements will position Cabot as a central hub for commerce and education in Central Arkansas.

From educational partnerships and transportation investments to thoughtful urban planning and community grants, Cabot is proving what’s possible when infrastructure and economic development work in lockstep.

With Mayor Kincade leading the way and strong backing from the city administration and residents, Cabot is not just planning for the future—it’s building it, one bold step at a time.

As Cabot continues to grow, its success will be measured not only by new buildings and businesses but also by the lasting impact of its investments.

That means more jobs, better services, and a stronger sense of place for every person who calls it home.

AT A GLANCE

Who: The City of Cabot

What: A proactive and visionary city in Central Arkansas, leveraging strategic investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and small business support to catalyze economic growth and generational prosperity.

Where: South Florida. USALocated in Arkansas, just northeast of Little Rock

Website: www.cabotar.gov