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Friends,
It's always a privilege to celebrate the diversity of this great city and to honor the heritage and culture of our residents. We recently kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year and highlights the lasting impact and contributions made to our communities by our Hispanic and Latine brothers and sisters.
To kick off this noteworthy month, I joined Ambassador Carlos I. Giralt Cabrales of Mexico for a celebration of Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 15. Ambassador Giralt is a good friend who leads the Mexican Consulate here in Little Rock, a partner in our efforts to foster strong relationships and trade partnerships with neighboring Mexico.
As we celebrated El Grito (Mexican Independence Day), I presented Ambassador Giralt with a proclamation declaring Hispanic Heritage Month in our City.
In addition, I was excited to join thousands of other Little Rock residents for "Fiesta de Independencia" at Plaza Frida in southwest Little Rock. This annual event features Hispanic and Latine art and music, along with some of the best food you can get anywhere.
Hispanic Heritage Month is observed at this time each year because the anniversaries of independence for several Latin American countries occur during the same period. Sept. 15 is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence day on Sept. 16, and Chile's is on Sept. 18.
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Advocate of the Year
It's not a secret at City Hall that my Chief of Staff, Kendra Pruitt, is committed to excellence. Her dedication to the residents of Little Rock is unmatched, and I'm inspired daily by her servant leadership. It was an honor to me personally and to the City of Little Rock to see her selected as Minority Advocate of the Year at the Little Rock Regional Chamber's 41st annual Minority Business Awards.
Kendra was my first employee when I took office in 2019. Since that first day in her role as senior advisor to now as chief of staff, she has been a zealous champion for growing our entrepreneurial ecosystem, especially in underserved areas. She has passionately and persistently offered up her time and efforts to ensure the minority business community thrives.
Knowing that entrepreneurs help build wealth across our communities, Kendra has focused on programs that foster entrepreneurship and business growth, like BUILD Academy and its Spanish-language counterpart, Emprende. Most participants in those programs have businesses located east of I-30 and south of I-630. Kendra leads our targeted community development efforts in those areas, as well.
Kendra understands that equitable economics can help individuals out of poverty, revitalize communities and bolster our overall economy. She reminds me of that every day. Under her leadership, we've launched initiatives like OpportUNITY Little Rock.
As she connects potential with opportunity to increase wealth through entrepreneurship and employment, she's the best advocate for minority businesses I know.
Congratulations to Kendra and the other award recipients. Awards were presented as part of MED (Minority Enterprise Development) Week. Other winners were: K. Hall & Sons Produce, Legacy Award; Nelson Intelligence Solutions, Minority Business; River Mountain Eye Care, Emerging Minority Business; and Mason Doyne, Outstanding Young Professional.
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Business License Assessments Go Online
City of Little Rock business license holders should take note of an important change to assessments, starting next week.
Effective on Oct. 1, all business licensees will be required to assess online. This is for the 2024 assessment period. (Click here to assess or to learn more). This transition to online assessment is not just a more convenient option for license holders, but it aligns with our goals of making the City of Little Rock more sustainable and more efficient.
An easy-to-use kiosk will be available for use at City Hall for license holders who do not have access to the internet.
License holders should be receiving a postcard by mail with more details about the transition. In the meantime, you can call (501) 371-4547 or (501) 371-4568 with any questions.
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Canada Consul Visit
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure to meet Canadian Consul General Susan Harper, who was visiting Little Rock and stopped in at City Hall. Our neighbors to the north are important, strategic partners to the United States. It was great to get to learn more about Canada and about continued opportunities for trade and economic development.
According to the Canadian consulate, about 500 people in Pulaski County work for the 25 Canadian-owned businesses located here. Another 600 local jobs are dependent on Canadian trade. In total, Pulaski County exports $93 million annually in goods and $33 million in services to Canada. As a state, we export approximately $2.6 billion in goods and services to Canada each year.
Consul General Harper was appointed to her role in November 2022, and it's her goal to meet with key stakeholders in the five-state region she serves (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas). I appreciate the opportunity to foster further cooperation with one of the United States' key allies.
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Gift exchange with Canadian Consul General Susan Harper
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Honoring the Little Rock Nine
Today, we honor the legacy of the Little Rock 9, who integrated Central High School on Sept. 25, 1957. The City, the Little Rock Central National Historic Site, the Little Rock School District and other community organizations have a day of commemorative events scheduled for today. It was my personal privilege to declare today as "Little Rock Nine Day" in the City of Little Rock in honor of Melba Pattillo Beals, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Terrence Roberts, Minniejean Brown-Trickey, Thelma Mothershed Wair, and the late Jefferson Thomas.
To mark the anniversary, the City is joining the Oxford American and National Park Service to host a free concert with No Tears Project tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Ave.
While reservations are no longer being accepted for tickets to the event, individuals may visit the Ron Robinson Teather box office starting at 5:30 p.m. today to see about possible day-of-show ticket availability.
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The Week Ahead
- The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. at The Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. The Board will set the agenda for its next regular meeting and will hold three public hearings to consider the removal of members of the Metropolitan Housing Alliance Board of Commissioners. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock Facebook and YouTube pages.
- The Little Rock Sustainability Commission meets Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 3 p.m. at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St. The commission provides Little Rock policymakers with recommendations and advice on issues regarding sustainable practices.
- On Thursday, Sept. 28, the City of Little Rock will observe National Drive Electric Week with an event at Franklin's Charging Station, 724 S. Woodrow St. Attendees can learn about the benefits of EVs and get answers to frequently asked questions. Music and refreshments will be provided. The event goes from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- The City Beautiful Commission meets Thursday, Sept. 28, at 4 p.m. at the Hinton Center. The commission considers requests for variances from the Little Rock landscape ordinance.
- Join us at the River Market Pavilion downtown on Thursday, Sept. 28, for "Please Don't Stop the Music," a dance party featuring music from the '70s, '80s, and '90s. The event goes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and features DJ Most1ted and food trucks from across Little Rock.
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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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