Finding Possibility in the Delta: A New Chapter in West Memphis

For Kristin Foster, relocation wasn’t about following a trend or reacting to a sudden change. It was the result of a slower, more deliberate recalibration shaped by career growth, family transitions and a desire to move to a place that felt both meaningful and sustainable.

West Memphis, Arkansas, offered that balance.

Sitting just across the Mississippi River from Memphis, West Memphis is often overlooked by those who haven’t spent time there. But for Kristin, it revealed itself as something else entirely - a community with momentum, a low cost of living and a place to build a future for herself and her family.

Her path there began years earlier, during the early days of the pandemic. “I had heard about the MakeMyMove program originally during COVID, when it really kind of sprung up and a lot of people started using it,” Kristin said. The program stayed with her, resurfacing later, when she was ready for a change.

A Career Shift That Opened the Door

Kristin works in nonpartisan civic engagement with the League of Women Voters. Much of her work has focused on expanding access and representation in parts of Arkansas that have historically been underinvested in and overlooked, including the Delta region.

The opportunity to move to West Memphis came during a period of professional transition. Kristin was stepping into a new leadership role, advancing in her career while also reconsidering where she wanted to live as her children grew older.

“I could have stayed where I was,” she said. “But I was ready for something different.”

What she was seeking wasn’t a dramatic metropolitan shift. Instead, she wanted proximity to culture, opportunity and amenities without sacrificing the ease and familiarity of a smaller community like the one she was leaving. West Memphis offered that balance, a small community of just under 24,000 residents, just minutes from one of the most culturally rich metro areas in the region.

Remembering MakeMyMove and Taking a Second Look

By the time Kristin began seriously planning her move, she was struck by the fact that communities across Arkansas were continuing to invest in attracting new residents through relocation programs.

When she revisited the MakeMyMove platform, she learned that part of the West Memphis relocation package included a $10,000 cash incentive to qualified individuals who purchase a home in the city. It is designed to help offset the often underestimated costs of relocating and homeownership.

“I was already interested in moving to the area,” Kristin said. “Seeing that the program was still in place made it feel like the right time.”

The incentive helped ease the financial pressure that often accompanies a major transition, turning what could have been a stretch into a more manageable next step.

The application process itself was straightforward, though timing required some patience. Kristin was in the middle of a job transition and initially fell just short of meeting one of the program’s requirements. With guidance from the MakeMyMove team, she adjusted her timeline slightly, delaying her home search by a couple of weeks.

“For $10,000, it was absolutely worth waiting,” she said.

In the end, that brief pause proved to be a small price to pay for long-term stability, and soon after, everything fell into place.

Becoming a First-Time Homeowner

Buying a home marked another milestone. As a first-time buyer, Kristin approached the process cautiously, unsure how competitive the market would be or how quickly she would need to act.

West Memphis, she found, offered something increasingly rare - options.

“There were quite a few homes coming on the market,” she said. “Some moved fast, which was a little intimidating but I was able to find something I really loved that was also in my budget.”

Working with Kee'aurbre McLaurin, a local realtor, helped her navigate not just listings but neighborhoods - an important factor in choosing where to land.

“I told her what I was looking for in a neighborhood,” Kristin said. “She was really honest about what would be a good fit and what wouldn’t.”

The home she ultimately purchased offered more than the right layout or price point. It sat in a quiet, established neighborhood.

“My neighbor across the street has been there for 25 years,” she said. “People take care of their homes. They care about where they live. That mattered to me.”

Relocation, however, comes with a cascade of expenses, including movers, furniture and small expenses that add up quickly. For Kristin, the $10,000 cash incentive helped soften that landing.

“I would have had to pull from savings otherwise,” she said.

Life on Both Sides of the River

One of West Memphis’s advantages is its geography. Living just over the bridge from Memphis means access to world-class amenities without the daily costs or congestion of city living.

Kristin and her family quickly began exploring what that proximity offered, including museums, a nationally recognized zoo, live music and a robust theater scene that includes both touring Broadway productions and local performances.

“We’re big theater people,” she said. “That’s been one of the most fun parts.”

At the same time, West Memphis itself provided opportunities to connect. Shortly after arriving, Kristin signed up for text alerts from the city and found herself attending holiday events, a parade and community gatherings almost immediately.

“It gave us a way to jump in right away,” she said.

One of her children, now 21, found a job at a newly opened coffee shop, offering both income and an instant social circle. Those early connections have helped the entire family feel grounded.

Seeing Growth Up Close

With one child still in high school, education was a critical consideration. Kristin admits she didn’t know exactly what to expect but has been encouraged by what she’s seen.

“We’re public school people,” she said. “And we’ve really like the public schools here.”

Her child adjusted quickly, finding the environment familiar and supportive. Beyond the classroom, Kristin noticed broader investment across the city including new school buildings, a new fire department and large-scale economic development projects taking shape.

“You can see the growth,” she said. “There’s a lot happening here.”

Major employers, including a new Google data center, have brought renewed attention and confidence to the area, signaling that West Memphis is moving forward.

Building a New Life

Professionally, Kristin is now focused on expanding civic engagement throughout the Delta, including launching a new League of Women Voters chapter in the region. The move has allowed her to advance her career while also becoming part of the community she serves.

“It’s been a great way to meet people and get involved,” she said.

Personally, she’s navigating a season of transition with one child nearing graduation and another stepping fully into adulthood. West Memphis, she says, has provided space for that change.

“It feels like a good place to be during this chapter,” she said.

“Don’t Sleep on West Memphis”

When asked what she would tell others considering the move, Kristin doesn’t hesitate.

“Don’t sleep on West Memphis,” she said.

The city’s reputation, she acknowledges, hasn’t always reflected the reality she’s experienced. But living there has changed her perspective.

For people looking to purchase a home while staying connected to a major metro, West Memphis offers something increasingly rare: a chance to build a stable, affordable life in a place that’s still writing its next chapter.

And for Kristin, that chapter is already well underway.