The ARDC Commission serves as a focal point for generating rural development policy initiatives for the state and advises on the placement of awards through the DRS Grant Programs. The ARDC consists of eleven regular voting members, who represent rural areas of the state.
All commissioners are private citizens.
Seven are appointed by the Governor from each of Arkansas' four congressional districts to serve five year terms. The remaining four members are appointed two each by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. Through recommending systematic change to the Governor, General Assembly and at the agency level, the ARDC and DRS are able to help make new and existing policies, programs, laws and other regulatory mechanisms more suitable to meet local needs. In conjunction with the ARDC, the DRS strives to get diverse groups working together in all regions of the state for the betterment of rural Arkansas.