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Friends,
I appreciate every resident who joined us in person or watched online last week as I delivered the 2025 State of the City address. This annual event is always an excellent opportunity to reflect and refocus on our commitment to the City of Little Rock, its residents and visitors.
This year, we will renew our focus on the core responsibilities of our municipality in order to continue the consistent, excellent service our residents deserve and demand. This "Back to the Basics" approach comes at a time of uncertainty for our nation and world. Now more than ever, it's important for us to ensure certainty through improving on the fundamentals like public safety, stronger neighborhoods, government efficiency and community engagement.
To do that, in 2025, we plan to:
- Take city government to every part of Little Rock with Mobile City Hall road trips into our neighborhoods. We will have our first Mobile City Hall later this month. Stay tuned for more details.
- Reduce police vacancies through strategic retention and recruitment efforts, and strengthening crime prevention through technology upgrades and expansion of our community violence intervention programs.
- Invest in affordable housing to meet our goal of at least 200 new housing units over the next two years, as we identify the affordable housing crisis as a public health emergency and establish a Little Rock Housing Trust Fund.
- Focus on community revitalization through Project Impact in Southwest Little Rock and Pick It Up, Little Rock, our litter initiative.
- Support quality-of-life projects like the renovation of River Market Hall downtown as we begin implementation of the Downtown Master Plan, and parks, trails and community center improvements with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.
- Improve efficiency and reliability in our sanitation pickups with SmartWaste, a pilot program that uses GPS technology and workload management software.
If you were not able to attend the State of the City address, you can watch it here.
I appreciate the Little Rock School District for hosting us at the brand-new Dr. Marian G. Lacey K-8 Academy for our address and Citywide Involvement Fair, and I appreciate all of you who will join us in the commitment to focusing on the basics as we work together to unite, grow and transform Little Rock over the coming year.
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Little Rock State of the City Address, Feb. 27, 2025
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R.O.C.K. Academy
As we renew our focus on the basics in 2025, we know community engagement is an essential part of that work. Government is not a two-way street, and we know our City grows and thrives when everyone is working together.
R.O.C.K. Academy is our way to help foster resident engagement through building additional understanding of how our city government operates. R.O.C.K. stands for Residents Obtaining Community Knowledge, and through the program we cover the nuts and bolts of city government while getting to the heart of how our policies affect residents and promote positive change.
You may be a city government ace, or you might not where to go for basic city services. Either way, we want you to consider applying for R.O.C.K. Academy.
In this dynamic, six-week program, you will discuss timely and important topics with city department directors. Participants have an opportunity to level up their engagement as they become more informed, empowered and productive residents.
Applications are open now, and we encourage you to apply to the 2025 R.O.C.K. Academy cohort. By being a part of the R.O.C.K. Academy class, you help us build a better community for all.
For more information, and to apply, visit our website.
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2025 Little Rock Marathon
This past weekend, we welcomed close to 30,000 visitors from across the country and around the world to Little Rock for the 23rd running of the Little Rock Marathon.
Marathon weekend is always a great time to celebrate Arkansas's capital city and the people that make the Little Rock Marathon one of the most successful anywhere. The marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, kid's race and fitness expo would not be possible without the tireless work and dedication of Little Rock Marathon staff, our City public safety teams and countless volunteers. I appreciate Marathon Executive Director Geneva Lamm and Race Director Mike Garrity for their years-long commitment to excellence.
Congratulations to everyone who crossed a finish line or spent their weekend cheering for those who were. And to our community and hospitality partners, thank you, too. The 2025 Little Rock Marathon brought in visitors from all 50 states and 11 foreign countries, and added $4 million in spending to our economy.
We also congratulate Aaron Soltmann of Little Rock, who was the top male finisher in the marathon with a time of 2:32.21, and Stefanie Rodell of Charleston, S.C., the top female finisher with a time of 3:10.59.
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The Week Ahead
- The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, March 4, at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall, 500 W. Markham St. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock's Facebook and YouTube pages.
- As part of a disparity study being conducting to identify any barriers faced by small businesses, local businesses, and diverse businesses when competing for City contracts, the City is hosting virtual focus groups this week. Companies that do business in the City of Little Rock are invited to join a virtual focus group to share their experiences. Register for the Tuesday, March 4, focus group, which will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., or register for the Thursday, March 6, focus group, which goes from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- The Little Rock Historic District Commission's regular monthly meeting is Thursday, March 6, at 4 p.m. The commission meets in the Board Room at City Hall.
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As always, stay up to date with what's happening in the City on Facebook, X, 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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