The Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission has hired Jimmy Cunningham Jr. as tourism development director, and it’s hard not to imagine that he will make a fine one.
If you have ever listened to a presentation by Cunningham, you know what we mean. He mixes his knowledge of a subject, as a documentarian would do, but to keep from putting people to sleep, he delivers his message in such a way that, at the end of it, well, you’re ready to stand up and holler for whatever it is that he’s pushing.
The thing is, he’s always pushing Pine Bluff. And the other thing is he always knows whereof he speaks, meaning he’s done his homework and can take questions and keep the excitement going.
One of the most exciting proposals he’s turned his hand to has been a development in the downtown area that plugs into numerous tourism “trails” that zigzag across the country. Pine Bluff, he has said, has a wealth of specific stories from the past that, presented properly, would bring in visitors from far and wide to see.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Other cities that have far fewer such stories to tell have developed – and profited from – the attractions that they have. His point – well, he makes a lot of points – is that if those cities can develop a handful of story lines, it’s a no-brainer for Pine Bluff, which has a long index of untapped attractions, to make a successful go of it.
“What an incredible opportunity this is to give back to my hometown and to expand an important part of our local economy,” Cunningham said at the time of his hiring. “Pine Bluff has so much potential because of its rich historical and cultural narratives. We have to build infrastructure around these narratives and then market them so we can draw tourists to our borders. I’m ready to help lead that charge.”
If you haven’t heard him speak, invite him to your next civic club meeting or other engagement. He will get you fired up about the future while talking about the past. And that’s just one part of his repertoire.
Congratulations, Mr. Cunningham. We look forward to the big splash you will make in your new endeavor.