Chamber sets Business Expo
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its Business Expo 2024 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center on May 2. The Business Expo Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. and the program starts at 8 a.m.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director Austin Booth will be the Business Expo Breakfast keynote speaker. Booth will discuss outdoor recreation and its impact on Arkansas’ economy.
Breakfast tickets are $25 each and a table for eight is $300 each, according to a news release. Simmons Bank is the breakfast sponsor.
The Business Expo trade show at the convention center will open with a VIP Hour from 9-10 a.m. and opens to public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The booth fee is $250 for members and $360 non-members.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“This year’s theme, ‘We’re Wild About Pine Bluff,’ celebrates the beautiful landscape of the Delta region from the piney timbers to the winding water of Bayou Bartholomew, the world’s longest bayou,” according to the release.
Details: Chamber Director Jennifer Kline at jennifer@jeffersoncountyalliance.com or (870) 535-0110.
YBL plans event
The Youth Basketball League will host a Charity All Star game at 1 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Pine Bluff High School gym.
The event will feature YBL All Stars and honorees. Special recognition will be given to Jacqueline Robinson, aka “Momma Jackie,” for the vision to help start the league seven years ago, according to a news release.
Organizers are celebrating everyone who played a major part in helping with the league. It’s the last charity game they will have. The event will feature games, a poem by John Proctor, and song by Jonte Augustine. The speaker will be Lucas Armstrong, league owner.
4-H to conduct volunteer training
The Jefferson County 4-H Youth Development Program will present a training session for all current, pending, and potential adult volunteer leaders. The training will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. Feb. 17 at the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service, 500 S. Idaho St.
Topics include: 4-H club basics, club and volunteer requirements, use of the 4-H emblem and name, 4-H ZSuite enrollment, 4-H overview and opportunities, and the 2024 Jefferson County 4-H calendar of events, according to a news release.
“Adult volunteers are essential to 4-H programming,” said Pia Woods, staff chair/county extension agent. “Several current clubs need additional volunteers to assist with monthly meetings, teaching educational activities, mentorship, and preparation for 4-H competitive events. This training is designed for any adult who has an interest in organizing or assisting with a 4-H club whether they’ve initiated the 4-H volunteer clearance process or not,” she said.
To register for the training or for details, contact Pia Woods or agent Timothy Wallace at (870) 534-1033 or pwoods@uada.edu or twallace@uada.edu.
District 65 candidates to meet, greet
The Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce will host a meet and greet for state Representative District 65 candidates, the Rev. Glenn Barnes Sr. and Kanisher Caldwell. The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Business Support Incubator, 615 S. Main St.
The Chamber invites residents to attend, ask questions and learn about the candidates’ local and national positions on issues that impact the community, according to the Chamber newsletter. The candidates are vying for the seat held by state Rep. Vivian Flowers, who’s running for mayor.
City to host Healthcare Career Fair
The city of Pine Bluff’s Economic & Community Development Department is sponsoring a Healthcare Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 13 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
This career fair is for those interested in pursuing a career within the healthcare industry. The event is free and open to the public. Those seeking employment should come dressed professionally, bring their resumes, and be prepared to interact with employers who are ready to hire, according to a news release.
So far, the following employers and healthcare training providers have committed to participating: Baptist Health, CARTI Cancer Center, city of Pine Bluff Fire Department, Emergency Ambulance Services Inc. (E.A.S.I.), Healthwise Wellness, Arkansas Department of Health, Jefferson Regional Medical Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Department of Nursing, Wellpath, Southeast Arkansas College – Health Professions, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), and Pure Health LLC.
Interested healthcare employers are asked to register by emailing Cynthia Anderson at canderson@cityofpinebluff-ar.gov by Feb. 16. There is no registration fee.