Earlier this week we were happy to report the start of construction on the last phase of remodeling at Grider Field Airport. The terminal has needed the update for a long time. As work commences on this final part of renovations, it’s fitting that we take stock of events leading to this point.
Chief among the moments that bear reflection is the needless, year-long delay between final legs of the project. The stoppage can be laid most centrally at the feet of Pine Bluff city government. As we reported last August, Pine Bluff Mayor Carl Redus Jr. openly rebuffed the project. Redus advised the pleading aviation commissioners to look elsewhere before asking the city for matching funds to complete the half-finished remodeling project at the airport. “Those that bring dollars to the table have a better chance at getting dollars,” Redus said at the time.
Of course this turn brought progress to a grinding halt. As Aviation Commission Chairman Clarence Rittelmeyer responded, “Our problem is that we can’t get off first base until we get a commitment from you… This whole project, which has been going on for two or three years now, never would have started without the city’s approval.”
A few days ago the Commercial published an editorial about the new ownership of the Pines Mall. In that piece, the poor appraisal from a corporate location scout was recounted. In short, he characterized Pine Bluff as having all the indicia of a “dying town.”
Given that the pre-renovation condition of Grider Field could have been properly described as outdated, marginal and uninviting, how then can we expect any different? As we said some months back, one of the key things successful cities use as bait for corporate prospectors is modern infrastructure. To be sure there are other things, like a skilled or educated workforce, good schools, safe neighborhoods and receptive communities. Given where we rank on each of those scales, every detail is especially consequent. In the current age of instant information, first impressions are more important than ever. Imagine that a group of out-of-town investors landed their shiny corporate jet on the Grider Field tarmac, dropped the stairs and stepped out into what looked like 1960. They wouldn’t be able to get the landing gear up fast enough.
Now multiply that story across other venues, resources and impressions. This kind of gross inattention to image and assets is what led us to our present unenviable position.
We wish that progress came more easily and without so much arm-wrestling. And even if progress seems to come more naturally to other communities, we understand that that is mostly impression and that any substantive changes come only to those willing to pursue them with passion. In that regard, we tip our hat to those on the airport commission and city council for standing their ground when they saw this project slipping away. We will all be proud when the work is done — even the detractors who temporarily got in the way of what needed to be done.