Communities Unlimited (CU) is excited to announce that, thanks to a new grant from the Walton Family Foundation, we will expand both entrepreneurship and housing efforts in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, over the next two years.
At the heart of this work is CU’s Launch Local program, an evolution of the MEMShop model that began in Memphis, Tennessee, in 2012. Launch Local will activate vacant or underused storefronts in Pine Bluff by selecting local businesses through a competitive process and equipping them with small grants, technical assistance, and training. In partnership with The Generator — Pine Bluff’s community hub and coworking space — CU will help entrepreneurs grow their businesses while breathing new life into the city’s commercial corridors.
“Pine Bluff has incredible entrepreneurial talent and creativity, but too often business owners lack the space, resources, and support to grow,” said Cynthia Terry, CU’s Director of Entrepreneurship.
“We’re excited to bring our proven MEMShop model — now rebranded as Launch Local — into Pine Bluff and across CU’s service area, giving entrepreneurs the tools to thrive while revitalizing commercial corridors.”
On the housing front, CU will collaborate with WE CENTER / WE BUILD, a Pine Bluff–based partner, to strengthen community repair capacity. The program will train apprentices in modular housing construction and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Eight Healthy Homes Principles, which promote dry, clean, safe, well-ventilated, pest-free, contaminant-free, well-maintained, and thermally controlled living environments.
“When you look around Pine Bluff, you find a community full of people working hard to make their city better for everyone, but you will also find neighborhoods with significant housing needs,” said Audra Butler, CU’s Area Director of Rural Housing. “The support of the Walton Family Foundation will allow CU and our partner, WE CENTER, to address some of the significant housing needs in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County. Together, we will ensure our neighbors have safe and healthy homes to live in and pass down to future generations.”
This dual investment in entrepreneurship and housing is made possible by a two-year, $500,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation. By combining business activation with housing repair, CU and its partners are laying the groundwork for healthier homes, stronger entrepreneurs, and revitalized neighborhoods across Pine Bluff.
“Investing in people and ideas that drive lasting change is at the heart of this work,” said Abe Hudson, Walton Family Foundation, Program Officer for the Home Region Program.
