Chamber names Expo speaker
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce announces its 2026 Business Expo Breakfast speaker will be Alicia Payseno, chief executive officer of the Arkansas Hospitality Association.
The Business Expo will be held May 7 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center beginning with the breakfast at 7:30 a.m.
The speaker has more than 25 years of experience in economic development, hospitality, tourism, entrepreneurship, and government relations, according to the Chamber newsletter.
At the Arkansas Hospitality Association, Payseno leads statewide efforts to support and advocate for Arkansas’ hospitality and tourism industries through strategic partnerships, workforce development and legislative engagement.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Previously, she served as director of economic development for the city of Cabot and spent more than a decade as executive director of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce, helping drive business growth, investment and entrepreneurship.
A certified Professional Community & Economic Developer (PCED) and a 2024 Arkansas Money & Politics Trailblazing Woman honoree, Payseno is passionate about strengthening communities and creating opportunities for businesses to thrive across Arkansas, according to the release.
EXPO DETAILS
The Chamber is also accepting nominations for Business Person of the Year and Non-profit of the Year awards that will be announced at the Business Expo breakfast.
Business Expo Breakfast tickets are $25 for Chamber members, $30 for non-members or $300 for a seated table for eight people. The breakfast sponsor is Simmons Bank.
The Business Expo trade show will be held from 9-10 a.m. for VIP guests and opens to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Booth fees are $250 for members and $360 non-members.
Details: Chamber Director Jennifer Kline at jennifer@jeffersoncountyalliance.com or (870) 535-0110.
Tech commercialization event set in PB
Startup Junkie will host the Pine Bluff ARise Tech Commercialization Sprint from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 9 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Incubator, 615 S. Main St.
The session is part of ARise (Arkansas Innovators, Startups, and Entrepreneurs), a statewide program that helps people start and grow businesses, according to a news release.
The event will feature sessions on legal protections for ideas, funding pathways, and early product development. The sessions will be led by experienced startup advisors who have worked directly with founders and understand what it takes to launch and grow a company.
After the sprint, ARise will work with participants through its 1:1 consulting services, which provide personalized, one-on-one business support, according to the release. Seats will be limited to a first come, first served basis.
Details: https://luma.com/vrce42a0.
Chamber sets April luncheon
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 1 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Incubator, 615 S. Main Street. The featured speaker will be Tim Adams, director of events at Saracen Casino Resort, according to the Chamber newsletter.
Lunch will be catered by Southern Edge and costs $15 in advance.
To pay for lunch or for details, contact the Chamber at (870) 535-0110.
City obtains preservation grant
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program announced the awardees of the 2026-2027 Certified Local Government (CLG) grants.
Honorees include the city of Pine Bluff, which will receive $1,200 for training, according to a news release.
Certified Local Government grants are allocated each year from the AHPP’s federal Historic Preservation Fund appropriation. Arkansas has 21 CLG communities, and they have exclusive access to these grant funds.
The CLG program was created by Congress in 1980 and is designed to encourage local communities around the country to take proactive steps in pursuit of preserving their cultural and architectural resources. Also, CLG communities have access to technical assistance and training from the AHPP.
This year, there were 13 grant applicants.
Details here.
Community Action meeting set
The Central Delta Community Action Agency, 3000 Flash Drive, Suite 3, will host a site visit at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
During the visit, state Rep. Ken Ferguson will tour the agency and learn more about services that impact Pine Bluff residents, including programs supported through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), according to Tomekia Moore, executive director of Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association.
This visit provides an opportunity to highlight the important work being done locally to support economic stability and expand pathways to opportunity for residents across the Pine Bluff area, Moore said in a news release.
Brookshire to support food banks
Brookshire Grocery Co. is launching a new donation program in its Arkansas stores to help support local hunger relief organizations.
From March 11-17, customers in BGC stores (including Super 1 Foods) will have the opportunity to support their local food banks by either rounding up their purchase to the nearest dollar or donating $1, $5, or $10 at checkout. All funds raised will benefit Arkansas Foodbank and Harvest Regional Food Bank, according to a news release.