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Friends,
Last week, we took the initial step toward a transformational investment in the quality of life in the City of Little Rock when I met with the Board of Directors for our first sales tax working session. It's time for us to reinvest in the pillars of our City and create new opportunities for growth and prosperity in Arkansas's capital city.
My goal is to invest revenue from a new sales tax in what I call the "Four Ps,": Parks and Recreation, Public Infrastructure, Public Safety and the Port/Economic Development.
With this additional revenue, I am proposing we fund a multi-use indoor/outdoor youth sports complex at War Memorial Park and upgrades that make War Memorial our very own Central Park. Because it lacks the venues to host most youth sports events, Little Rock is on the sidelines as our neighboring cities participate in the multibillion-dollar youth sports economy.
We also want to revitalize Hindman Park, implement the Little Rock Zoo Master Plan and make needed upgrades across our parks system. Meanwhile, we have to take care of our infrastructure needs like street, sidewalks and drainage.
As we continue to reduce crime in Little Rock, we must also commit to additional resources for the Little Rock Police Department to support equipment and technology upgrades. At the same time, the Fire Department and Code Enforcement have vehicle and equipment needs.
Our Port is centrally located at the intersection of road, runway, river and rail. It's a prime location for the next super project, and it's exciting to consider the potential of thousands more new jobs and their impact on our economy.
During the Board working session, I heard constructive feedback from Directors about what our spending priorities should be for a one-cent tax increase that's expected to generate more than $600 million over the next 10 years.
We will continue to meet with the board, and, most importantly, we want to hear from Little Rock residents about what they want included in the sales tax proposals. We will host several town hall-style community meetings during the month of August to gather community input. We'll announce the dates and locations of those community meetings later this week.
I'm excited about the future of our City. It's my goal to present voters with a sales tax proposal that makes historic improvements to quality of life and place as we continue to unite, grow and transform Little Rock!
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The Little Rock Board of Directors met for its first sales tax working session Thursday, July 27.
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Little Rock Cares Grants
As you know, the City began accepting donations to its Little Rock Cares fund immediately following the March 31 tornado. Hundreds of donors from around the world opened their hearts and wallets to storm survivors, and we raised almost $600,000 specifically for Little Rock storm relief. A portion of those donations has been directed to nonprofit organizations that supported the relief effort. All other Little Rock Cares fund donations will be distributed through individual grants to impacted residents.
We've partnered with Heart of Arkansas United Way to serve as a third-party administrator for those grants. Individuals will be eligible to apply for direct assistance through an online application portal that opens Tuesday, Aug. 1. We will join Heart of Arkansas United Way to keep residents updated when the link is active, and there will be multiple opportunities during the application period for residents to receive technical assistance or ask questions.
Please know that this is not a first-come, first-served award. The third-party administrator will review applications and begin the process of awarding grants after the application period closes on Sept. 15.
We appreciate the Heart of Arkansas United Way for its work to help Little Rock tornado survivors, and I again thank the donors to Little Rock Cares who made this possible.
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Cooling Centers Open
With the heat index consistently hitting 100 degrees or more, we're encouraging residents who need a break from the unrelenting heat to spend some time at one of the City of Little Rock's Cooling Centers.
Five Little Rock community centers are now open through the rest of the week for anyone looking for a safe and comfortable place to stay cool. A climate-controlled space and water are available at each center from 9 a.m to 6 p.m.
Locations are:
- Dunbar Community Center, 1001 W. 16th St.
- East Little Rock Community Center, 2500 E. Sixth St.
- Southwest Community Center, 6401 Baseline Road
- Stephens Community Center, 3720 W. 18th St.
- West Central Community Center, 8616 Colonel Glenn Road
During this extreme weather, please check in on friends, family and neighbors, especially the elderly and small children, and limit time outdoors as much as possible.
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The Week Ahead
- The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, August 1, at 6 p.m. at The Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock Facebook and YouTube pages. To view the agenda, click here.
- The Historic District Commission meets Thursday, August 3, at 4 p.m. at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St. The Commission considers matters related to the City's historic districts.
- Midnight Basketball continues this week (Thursday and Friday) at the Jim Dailey Fitness & Aquatic Center, West Central Community Center and Southwest Community Center. Doors open at 9 p.m. and participation is free. The Midnight Basketball program is open to residents 16 and older.
- City Hall was the kick-off site today for the annual Art Porter Music Education Inc. Music Festival. This week's festival, "A Work of ART," goes through Saturday at locations in downtown Little Rock. Visit ArtPorter.org for more information.
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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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