News & Press
Saracen Casino Resort showcases project’s impact on Pine Bluff
February 14, 2020 - City's mayor says Saracen Annex creates extra $100,000 in tax revenue each month, with promise of much more to come
PINE BLUFF, Ark. — A big milestone in the construction of Saracen Casino Resort put the spotlight on the future in Pine Bluff Wednesday.
City leaders joined members of Quapaw...
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High water in 2019 impacts river traffic; local public terminal still has banner year
February 5, 2020 - A little rain last year didn’t prevent Pine Bluff’s port public terminal from breaking a 15-year record for total tonnage moved through the facility.
Of course, in reality, “a little” translates to record-setting rainfall and high water in 2019 that halted traffic for weeks on...
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Alliance receives Select Site Certification
December 4, 2019 - The Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County joined a select group Tuesday when it received a Select Site certification from Entergy Arkansas' Office of Business and Economic Development.
"This is a big day for Jefferson County," David Beck, Chairman of the Alliance said during.... more
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Rain, rain, go away—and flood waters, too
June 6, 2019 - Too. Much. Water.
Whether falling down in torrents from the skies or surging violently down the Arkansas River, too much water has been drenching this community in recent months.
And, yes, these crises of excess water do relate to economic and community development. But in a negative way because they...
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L & R fulfills agreement with county tax board
May 28, 2019 - L&R Distributors, Inc., one of the first companies approved for local economic development sales tax incentive funds by the Economic Development Corporation of Jefferson County, has officially fulfilled the terms of its installment contract with the corporation.
While in Pine Bluff visiting local operations, the company’s...
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Local executives hear about state incentive programs
May 20, 2019 - There was an added incentive for local plant managers and manufacturing executives to go to an early morning meeting last Wednesday.
The meeting: The regular May gathering of the Jefferson County Manufacturing Council (JCMC) held at the Economic Development Alliance, which sponsors the group.
The incentive: A discussion of available...
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Go Forward Pine Bluff (GFPB)
May 7, 2019 -
A coalition of Pine Bluff civic, government and business leaders announced in November 2015 the inception of a multiyear, grassroots effort known as Go Forward Pine Bluff designed to grow the city’s tax base. After more than a year of work by over 100 participants of task forces and...
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Council hears update on multi-billion-dollar GTL project
April 4, 2019 - A good crowd of members, along with several guests, attended the March 20 meeting of the Jefferson County Manufacturing Council (JCMC) held at the Economic Development Alliance.
Although it was spring break and a few members were out of town, the scheduled program may have contributed to attendance. Many were there...
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Good news bears repeating, reprinting
May 22, 2018 - This column was activated by a phone call.
The businessman on the other end of the call was an out-of-state executive whose company is thinking about buying a commercial property in Pine Bluff. He needed confirmation that it would be a good investment but his search on the Internet wasn...
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Gluten-free rice flour plant planned in Industrial Park
July 27, 2017 - A California-based company is looking to cash-in on American’s desire to eat healthier and has picked Pine Bluff as the place to do it. Western Foods announced Wednesday that they will take over a vacant building in the Jefferson Industrial Park and establish a gluten-free rice flour and ...
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