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Friends,
Little Rock residents deserve vibrant, safe neighborhoods with opportunities for work, play and commerce, and with amenities that enhance quality of life and place. City leaders have long had a vision to re-energize the 12th Street Corridor into such a neighborhood, and this past Saturday we celebrated making that vision a reality!
The City and community partners hosted a Celebration and Block Party on 12th Street in conjunction with the grand opening of three new spaces at the 12th Street Station. Now, in addition to a police substation, the building hosts a Southern Bancorp branch, UAMS's 12th Street Community Cafe, and Philander Smith College's Community Engagement Center.
These types of partnerships were envisioned by city officials and City Manager Bruce Moore when the 44,000-square-foot building opened in 2014. The station at the intersection of 12th Street and Cedar continues to be an asset to the community, as does the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center across the street.
The addition of a full-service bank branch is a game-changer for the community, as access to financial services like bank accounts, credit and home loans are essential for building wealth. Until the Southern Bancorp branch, the 12th Street Corridor didn't have access to mainstream financial services. As a former banker, I know that building wealth starts with access to the tools to establish and improve credit.
I'm also excited to see the opening of the 12th Street Community Cafe, which will be open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., delivering quality and healthy food options. Philander Smith College's center will focus on collaborations to promote social justice, criminal justice, cyber security and community and economic development.
These positive steps toward revitalizing the 12th Street Corridor could not happen without the support of our community partners and, most importantly, the people of Little Rock. I am committed to working to find additional, impactful ways to strengthen our neighborhoods and make life better for every resident.
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Taking Guns off the Street
Our comprehensive crime reduction strategy requires all of us working together to end violence. Churches, advocacy groups and individuals across Little Rock are working in tandem with LRPD and the City, and we continue to see positive results. This week, I'm especially grateful to the Little Rock chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity for leading the second annual Gun Buy Back event last Saturday.
This year, 23 guns were exchanged for gift cards and taken off the streets. As Phi Beta Sigma President Larry Harris said: "It only takes one gun to take a life, so we are committed to this small piece of the puzzle."
The guns collected at the event will be destroyed by LRPD. We encourage gun owners to act responsibly and always store guns safely and securely. According to the ATF, more than 1 million guns were stolen nationally between 2017 and 2021.
The Gun Buy Back event was a partnership with the fraternity, State Sen. Linda Chesterfield and State Rep. Jamie Scott.
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FEMA Center to Close
We are transitioning to the long-term recovery phase of the response to the March 31 tornado, and as a result, there are a few important deadlines that impacted Little Rock residents should know.
First, the deadline for residents to place tornado debris at the curb for pickup was Sunday, June 25. Our debris removal contractors will be making a final sweep of affected neighborhoods early this week to haul away any remaining debris.
Next, the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center will close permanently on Wednesday, June 28, at 6 p.m. The Disaster Recovery Center is located at the City's West Central Community Center, 8616 Colonel Glenn Road. Residents who would like to meet face-to-face with FEMA representatives can do so at the Disaster Recovery Center until Wednesday's closure.
Finally, the deadline for affected individuals or businesses to apply for federal disaster relief is Monday, July 3. Homeowners and renters in Pulaski, Lonoke and Cross counties who sustained damage in the storm must apply for disaster aid by the deadline. To apply, visit disasterassistance.gov or call (800) 621-3362.
July 3 is also the deadline for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA loans are available to businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters. To apply for SBA assistance, visit disasterloanassistance.sba.gov .
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The Week Ahead
- The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, June 27, at 4 p.m. at The Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. At this session, the Board will set the agenda for its July 11 meeting. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock Facebook and YouTube pages. To view the agenda, click here.
- The City's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is inviting Spanish-speaking residents to a community meeting at Plaza Frida, 4001 W. 65th St., at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27. ODEI will share updates and details about upcoming programs and events, while Planning and Development Department staff will discuss the permitting process for building and remodeling.
- BUILD Academy and its Spanish-language counterpart, Emprende, are City of Little Rock small-business development programs intended to give entrepreneurs the resources and knowledge to build and sustain their businesses. Following each BUILD and Emprende program, participants take part in a pitch competition. The 2023 BUILD and Emprende pitch competition is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, at the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, 200 W. Markham St.
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As always, stay up to date with what's happening in the City on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram via @citylittlerock. You can also email me at mayorscott@littlerock.gov or call my office at 501.371.4744.
I appreciate you!
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