TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Texarkana Chamber of Commerce's annual State of the Cities on Wednesday provided an overview of the community's status, its future and ongoing challenges.
The two-hour meeting was held at Crossties Event Venue and attended by both Texarkana mayors, the mayor of Nash, several city officials, businesses leaders and community members.
Dennis Washington, president/CEO of Texarkana Chamber of Commerce, introduced the first speaker, Mayor Allen Brown of Texarkana, Arkansas.
Brown highlighted various areas of progress over the past year, including the $6.5 million invested in capital assets and projects, various street projects, the acquisition of the former Union School for the city's Police Department and Front Street Festival Plaza renovations.
Brown also addressed the city's challenges, including road conditions, personnel shortage at Texarkana Arkansas Police Department and lights for Interstate 30.
"I know everyone is interested in our street project. We have streets in horrible conditions on both sides of the state line," Brown said.
He said roadways are repaired based on which ones were designated as the worst in a 2021 study.
Brown concluded his comments by highlighting the community togetherness during the solar eclipse celebration.
Mayor Bob Bruggeman of Texarkana, Texas began his presentation with updates on Texarkana Regional Airport's terminal construction project.
"The new airport terminal is 99% complete, and the parking lots are 40% complete," Bruggeman said.
The ribbon cutting for the new terminal is scheduled for June 28. The first flight out will be July 1.
The City Council recently passed a sports and tourism bond for $11.5 million for upgrades Swanger Sports Complex at Spring Lake Park and Grady T. Wallace Park. The projects will turf the fields at Swanger and turf and recondition the soccer fields at Grady T. Wallace.
"An upgrade will boost sports tourism and attract more tournaments, as well as accommodate local leagues to use the fields year round," Bruggeman.
A positive for the region is a low unemployment rate, according to a Texarkana, Texas, quarterly report released in March. Additionall, Sterno Corp. is transferring operations from Memphis to Texarkana, bringing about 100 jobs.
Bruggeman concluded by discussing an celebration of City Hall and the Perot Theater. He also discussed goals for the city, such as developing a citywide code of ethics and establishing four cross-department collaboration teams.
Mayor Robert Bunch of Nash opened the unified council in the city.
"We have a vision of a healthy business climate and a strong sense of community," Bunch said.
Bunch said Nash has one of the lowest property rates in Bowie County. The city has been able to transform its volunteer fire crew into a create a full-time Fire Department, add employees to the Police Department and purchase technology and equipment to increase capabilities for the fire crew and law enforcement.
Besides giving insight into municipal matters, the State of the Cities gave attendees the opportunity to network.