I have lived in Searcy for only five years, but in that short period of time, it has become another home to me. When I moved to Searcy in 2012, I fell in love with the community, downtown area and overall atmosphere of the town.

I was born in a small town in Ohio (go Buckeyes!) and raised in an even smaller town in Oklahoma. Living in a city almost five times larger than my Okie hometown took some adjusting. Sometimes I still get lost while driving around Searcy.

While I do realize Searcy has some limited options, I have never thought of Searcy as a dying town. Unfortunately, I have met several Searcy residents with this line of thinking.

To those who agree Searcy is “dying,” I encourage you to look at the progress Searcy has seen in the past twelve months.

In the last year alone, a new swimming complex was planned and is currently under construction, set to open July Fourth weekend. A new shopping center was announced and is scheduled to begin construction next month. Hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars will come to Searcy because of this project, not to mention it will draw several other businesses like restaurants to that area. The opening of several new stores and businesses like Planet Fitness, Dirt Cheap, Sophitique, Rent One, Searcy Physical Therapy and Venezia’s Italian Grill.

This community growth is encouraged and fostered by the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce. Last week, the staff received an update on the project when they met with two representatives from Colliers International, the firm marketing the shopping center and the outparcels. Buck Layne, president of the Searcy Chamber, gave a presentation to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) about the growth and development of Searcy at their monthly First Thursday Breakfast. Accompanying him to the meeting were Jamie Mobley, board chair, board member Pat Stegall, SREDC board member Jim House and chamber vice president Tara Cathey.

We think Searcy is on the brink of something big, and our goal is to make the state of Arkansas and the rest of the country see what we see in Searcy: not only a surviving community, but one that is thriving.

Written by Hannah Hackworth, Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce Communications and Events Coordinator.