Tuesday marks the third anniversary of the devastating, high-end EF-3 tornado that tore through our community. We remember the resilience and strength of those impacted on March 31, 2023, with gratitude and appreciation, and we continue to do the work to build back a stronger Little Rock.

On this anniversary, we acknowledge the great progress that has already been made to recover and rebuild, while we launch additional efforts to support those whose homes were damaged or destroyed. Starting next week, our Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs will begin accepting applications for housing recovery assistance. Qualifying homeowners may use this money for reconstruction or rehabilitation of existing housing, reimbursement of disaster recovery expenses, and demolition of blighted structures, among other options. This assistance is through a $20.8 million federal disaster recovery grant received by the City.

The Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery funding will also support public service, homebuyer assistance, disaster mitigation, and infrastructure improvements. In coming weeks, the City will provide details about how residents may apply for those programs.

Meanwhile, we are set to re-open Fire Station 9 this summer to replace the station that was destroyed by the tornado. Despite the heavy damage to the station, firefighters on March 31, 2023, responded heroically, putting service above self to help their community. We are proud to be rebuilding the station at the same site, and construction of the new building is about 75 percent complete.

Our impacted parks are also seeing improvements. Reservoir Park’s new playground and restrooms are currently under construction, and a new ballfield at Reservoir is expected by the end of the year. In 2025, volunteers joined with City officials for the first public cleanup of Reservoir Park since the tornado, and also helped plant more than 1,000 trees to replace the tree canopy in hard-hit Rock Creek Park.

We appreciate community partners like Trinity Tree Project, Summit Utilities, and Central Arkansas Master Naturalists for tree replacements across impacted neighborhoods.

As we recover, we are also working to make sure residents stay safe. City Directors earlier this month authorized an application for a FEMA grant to fund a severe weather safe room at Rebsamen Tennis Center. This $7.5 million safe room could provide shelter for more than 5,000 residents. We will continue to seek out grant opportunities to fund other safe rooms.

On this anniversary and those to come, we honor the homes rebuilt, businesses reopened, and the families that have persevered. We reflect on how far we have come, and we will move forward together to face new challenges, always helping our friends and neighbors along the way.

Tuesday is Deadline for Summer Youth Employment Applications

Little Rock youth between the ages of 16 and 21 hoping to obtain a summer job through the City of Little Rock’s Summer Youth Employment Opportunity program have until Tuesday, March 31, to complete an application.

Summer Youth Employment Opportunity (SYEO) connects young people with local businesses and organizations to help our youth gain meaningful, professional work experience. This six-week, paid employment program offers a pathway toward productive employment for participants, while teaching financial stewardship and work readiness skills. Visit the City’s website for application details.

SYEO is part of the Career Climb initiative of our Department of Community Programs. Career Climb is a multifaceted partnership between the City and local businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions and other stakeholders to promote opportunities and job training through internships, apprenticeships and more.

Businesses and organizations can partner with the City to support our future generation of leaders by hosting SYEO interns. Those companies or groups interested in becoming a Career Climb worksite must complete an application, and the deadline for worksite applications is May 15. In addition to applying to be a worksite, potential supervisors must attend at least one session of orientation. Learn more here about dates, times and locations for the required orientation.

Career Climb and SYEO are great ways for our business leaders to support Little Rock youth as they develop and build the skills they need to succeed in the today’s economy.

Here’s a quick look at what’s going on this week in the City of Little Rock:

Tuesday, March 31: The Little Rock Board of Directors will set the agenda for its next regular meeting at 4 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall, 500 W. Markham St. All board meetings are open to the public, and all meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

Wednesday, April 1: The City of Little Rock Commission on Children, Youth, and Families will meet at 11:30 a.m. at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St.

Thursday, April 2: Little Rock’s Civil Service Commission meets at 8:30 a.m. at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center.

Monday, April 6: The City’s Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs will take community input at a virtual public hearing at 6 p.m. The City is seeking public comment on the five-year plan for federally funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs. Visit the City of Little Rock’s website for virtual attendance options.