The City of Centerton and FUSE are working together to bring Centerton’s stormwater and floodplain systems in line with its rapid growth. As the headwaters of several watersheds, Centerton’s decisions affect neighboring communities downstream, and effective floodplain management protects residents, especially lower-income households least able to absorb flood losses. The City holds one of the highest Community Rating System (CRS) scores in Arkansas, which lowers flood insurance costs for residents. Growth, however, has brought permit backlogs, fragmented records, and heavy reliance on institutional knowledge, all of which slow reviews and raise compliance risk. In the first 90 days, the Fellow will meet with Engineering and Planning staff, consultants, and state and federal agencies, review permits, elevation certificates, and CRS records, and study peer communities. The Fellow will then organize and digitize records, set up standardized permitting and closeout workflows, build applicant guidance and management dashboards, and prepare the City for FEMA reviews and CRS recertification. In parallel, the Fellow will scope opportunities for regional detention and pursue funding, while joining field inspections and stormwater reviews. By October 2027, Centerton will have a consolidated records system, standardized permitting, staff tools, and early infrastructure planning in place, and by October 2028, sustainable management systems and at least one advanced pathway for a major stormwater improvement.
