Editor’s Note: “The Economic Development Side” originally appears in the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce’s weekly member e-newsletter. It is written by Rhonda Dishner, the Economic Development Alliance’s executive assistant.
Continuing a long-standing practice, the board of directors of the Economic Development Alliance agreed late last year that each member of its 2017 officer slate would serve an additional one-year term, once again comprising the Alliance’s executive committee.
Returning in their volunteer capacity as Alliance officers for 2018 are: chairman—Steven Brown, who is senior vice president for Relyance Bank; vice chairman—David Beck, the vice president and marketing director of First Arkansas Insurance; and secretary-treasurer—Mac Bellingrath, president of B3 Properties, Inc.
Now in her 11th year as Alliance president and chief executive officer, Lou Ann Nisbett manages the Alliance’s professional staff of six and oversees day-to-day operations of the Alliance.
The Economic Development Alliance first became operational on January 1, 1995. It was formed to unify community and economic development efforts in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County. Alliance administrative operations include those of its affiliated organizations: Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson County Industrial Foundation, and Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Port Authority.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Alliance’s 510 Main Street building was constructed in 1997 to facilitate the community and economic development activities of its organizations and to provide top-quality space for meetings with business prospects and clients. December 8, 2017, marked 20 years since staff first moved into that new facility in downtown Pine Bluff.
Since then, the building has been well maintained, with roofing and the replacement of old carpeting with tile flooring being the only major repairs needed. That is until recently, when the main boardroom wallcovering (from floor level to the high, peaked ceilings) began showing its age.
Regular visitors to the Alliance will immediately notice improvements made during the “slow” time of late December when the old boardroom wallpaper was removed and replaced by fresh paint in a similar color. The work was approved by the Alliance board in October but was intentionally scheduled for the final two weeks of the year when no meetings were on the calendar.
With all the chairs and tables back in their place and the timeless artwork back on the walls, the refurbished boardroom is once again looking brand new and ready for some 2018 press conferences and prospect meetings!