Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan and Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders will soon announce a ‘unified proposal’ that aims to strengthen the economies of the two cities and help businesses thrive.
A news release issued Friday offered few details, other than the times and locations of two press conferences on Feb. 8 in Fayetteville and Fort Smith.
“This is a historic moment in the advancement of our cities,” said Jordan in the release. “I am excited about working with the second largest city in the state as we sit down together to discuss how we can further advance ourselves as cities and a region.”
We’ve yet to follow up with either administration, but it appears as though we’d best just wait until Wednesday for more information.
“We don’t want to get into anything until the actual meetings,” Sanders told Fort Smith’s The City Wire.
The Fort Smith press conference is set for 11 a.m. Feb. 8 in the Riverfront Events Building (West Side), and the Fayetteville announcement is at 3 p.m. the same day inside room 219 of Fayetteville City Hall.
Full news release:
Mayors of Fort Smith and Fayetteville Announce Plan for Increased Regional Dialog and Connection
Mayors Sandy Sanders and Lioneld Jordan invite you to press conferences that will be held on Wednesday, February 8, announcing their unified proposal for regional and economic cooperation to expand economic opportunities for the region and state.
Fort Smith and Fayetteville are the second and third largest cities in the State of Arkansas. Our shared interests can be advanced by a unified effort that begins with an informal dialogue among the leadership of both cities. Mayor Lioneld Jordan states, “This is a historic moment in the advancement of our cities, and I am excited about working with the second largest city in the state as we sit down together to discuss how we can further advance ourselves as cities and a region.” Mayor Sandy Sanders states, “The I-540 tunnel is a connector, not a divider; and this new partnership brings our two very important Arkansas cities together in ways that will strengthen our economies and help our citizens and businesses thrive.”
A press conference will first be held in Fort Smith at the RiverfrontEventsBuilding – West Side (121 Riverfront Drive) at 11:00 a.m. on February 8, 2012. A similar press conference will be held the same day in Fayetteville at 3:00 p.m. in the Fayetteville City Council Chamber, Room 219 of City Hall (113 W. Mountain Street).
Don’t get this one, guess I will have to wait and see on this one
It does seem kind of vague and generic. I don’t see how announcing a general willingness to co-operate will bring any new economic development.
How about opening up the Arkansas Missouri Railroad for services other than just day travel I.e. ability to take the train down or up and stay an evening and then catch it back. Seems like such a simple thing to adopt.
Spoiler Alert: Matching Parking Decks!!!
But all kidding aside I will always support city collaboration for economic development.