The City of Cabot has been selected as a 2025 Volunteer Community of the Year Award recipient, recognizing its exceptional citizen engagement, robust community-led service initiatives, and measurable impact on local needs. The award will be presented Thursday, January 15, 2026, during the Arkansas Municipal League’s Winter Conference at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
Co-sponsored by the Governor’s Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism (Engage Arkansas) and the Arkansas Municipal League, the Volunteer Community of the Year Award honors municipalities that demonstrate strong commitment to civic engagement. Awards are presented across several categories, including Best City, Best Mid-Sized Town, Best Small Town, Most Innovative, Most Sustainable, Most Resilient, and Most Youth Engagement. Each winner receives two official roadside signs designating their community as a “2025 Volunteer Community of the Year.”
Cabot earned the Best City distinction for its outstanding volunteer-driven impact through the annual Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up, a long-standing initiative led by Cabot City Beautiful. More than 60 volunteers collaborate with city departments to serve hundreds of residents, diverting thousands of pounds of hazardous material from local landfills each year. The program’s scalability, youth participation, and environmental focus made it a model for statewide recognition.
Mayor Ken Kincade praised the community’s spirit of service.
“We are honored to receive this recognition,” Kincade said. “Cabot’s volunteers do not just show up, they lead. Their willingness to give their time, talent, and energy reflects the heart of our community. This award belongs to every resident who rolls up their sleeves to make Cabot cleaner, stronger, and more connected. We could not be more proud or more grateful.”
The award underscores the importance of community-led civic engagement—ranging from citizen committees and advisory boards to large-scale service events and sustainability initiatives. With this honor, Cabot continues its tradition of innovation, collaboration, and impactful volunteerism, and the city plans to expand its service-driven efforts in the years ahead.
About the City of Cabot
Located in Central Arkansas, Cabot balances small-town charm with growing metropolitan opportunity, supporting a thriving business community and strong quality of life. As one of Arkansas’s fastest-growing cities, Cabot blends historic revitalization with forward-focused development, attracting new businesses and residents while fostering a welcoming environment.
Learn more: www.cabotar.gov
About the Volunteer Community of the Year Award
Administered by Engage Arkansas, the Volunteer Community of the Year Award recognizes communities across the state that demonstrate outstanding civic participation and service commitment. Since its inception nearly 45 years ago, more than 130 Arkansas communities have been honored. Nominations are accepted annually from August through October.
More information: https://engagearkansas.org
