Mayor Barbara Tolbert spoke to our club about Arlington’s participation in the America’s Best Communities’ competition. 

 

After the Oso Mudslide a task force was formed to apply for an economic grant.  At the same time the America’s Best Communities competition began.  Arlington/Darrington put together an ABC Community revitalization plan and entered into the competition.  386 communities applied, that was narrowed down to 50 quarter-finalists.  As a quarter-finalist we received $35,000 to fully develop the plan.  It was a requirement to raise an additional $15,000.  7 months later Arlington presented a budget and implementation plan to the committee.  We finished the plan in 2015 and were soon notified we were one of 15 semi-finalists in January 2016.

 

Arlington was then invited to a summit to sell the committee on why Arlington/Darrington should be a finalist.  Each community was given 15 minutes to present a 188 page report.  After the summit Arlington/Darrington was named a finalist and given $100,000 and 11 months to implement the plan. From the finalists three cities will win either $3mil, $2mil, and $1mil. The winners will have to commit to twelve months of telling their story and how they got there.

 

The economic redevelopment program that Arlington/Darrington has been working on for ABC has six goals.  Infrastructure, industrial and employment, community and workforce development, resiliency and sustainability, placemaking, and rural innovation. 

 

Here are some of the specifics of these goals:

 

Infrastructure:  Public wi-fi hotspots to allow access to all - averages 630 users per month in Arlington and 120 per month in Darrington.

 

Makerspace: A facility that will have high tech equipment and is a place to test entrepreneurial ideas. It will teach young people to be creative and support businesses in Arlington.  It will also serve the needs of rural entrepreneurs. 

 

Merchandising Consultant:  A Merchandising Consultant was hired that showed businesses how to merchandise.  The Consultant was also made available to downtown businesses to help develop a business plan for the future and assist with any issues.  Because of this there has been a net of 27 new businesses in a five block area downtown.  Sales tax receipts went up 8% over a year long period. There is hope to expand the assistance outside of just the downtown area. 

 

Tool Library:  Downtown Arlington Business Association suggested a tool library.  Tools are owned by the City that business owners could use to perform upkeep and beatification.  This is able to encourage more property maintenance and curb appeal.

 

Youth Council:  A Youth Council was Formed in order to engage young people and allow their voices to be heard.  They were given $3,000 and taken through a strategic planning process.  The youth council were technical consultants for the Boys and Girls Club teen center.

 

Workforce Training: A higher education program at Weston Hgh School was formed through Everett Community College.

 

Pop-Up and Pocket Parks:  These are creative plans for public locations that allow visitors to be more attracted to our city.  We have one in Arlington and one in Darrington.

 

Beautification:  Is being worked on primarily in the downtown corridor. 

 

Rural Tourism Workshops:  Workshops were put together to learn how to increase tourism without changing the character of our location.  From these workshops engagement teams have been formed.

 

Stilly Valley Outdoor Adventure Recreation Plan:  The recreation areas were mapped and printed.

 

Social Media Blitz:  To promote all of the wonderful things we have been doing!  

 

Memorial Bike Ride:  This bike ride was put together to commemorate the coming together of the communities of Arlington and Darrington.