Cover Story: Prospering Pine Bluff

PROSPERING PINE BLUFF

NON-PROFITS AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS WORKING TOGETHER TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD

by Donna Mooney

Three years ago, the citizens of Pine Bluff, Arkansas began a successful venture to reposition the city for another economic boom. With the right structure, education, and economic system in place, coupled with plans for a revived downtown, Pine Bluff will prosper. Through a series of productive town hall meetings and open forums, local residents met and addressed major concerns that were stagnating the city’s progress. As a result, this like-minded group determined that Pine Bluff ’s image, businesses, school districts and downtown could be restored. A prospering Pine Bluff means more jobs, followed by a stable economic system and a strong infrastructure.

Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander of the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff supports Pine Bluff prospering not only because of the progression of the area, but also because a better Pine Bluff could increase campus enrollment, and possibly, encourage more graduates to remain (live) in the area, increasing the applicant pool for technical and specialty jobs. A better Pine Bluff means everyone working together.

“I believe we will find that the more we come together, the more information we will have at our disposal to make progress. Each success should reinforce our commitment to continue to work together,” said Shirley Washinton, Mayor of Pine Bluff.

Brian T. Williams

Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington has reinforced the idea of Pine Bluff returning to its former glory since she was sworn into office in 2017. Washington, a UAPB alumna and retired school superintendent new to politics, accepted the reigns of mayoral duties and this massive undertaking with a can-do attitude and immediately began working with the City Council to strategize what this city needs for a vibrant future.

“In order for our city to prosper, it will require everyone to contribute and be committed to reaching a common goal,” said Washington. “Collaboration is imperative to fully develop a course of action that will reap the most benefit for our citizenry. Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

Washington added that the ultimate goal is to position Pine Bluff for growth and prosperity. “We want to see this great city rise and flourish, and in order to accomplish this, we must embrace a common vision and come to the table in a spirit of collaboration,” she said.

“I believe we will find that the more we come together, the more information we will have at our disposal to make progress. Each success should reinforce our commitment to continue to work together.”

“Our city has great potential, and I appreciate and support the efforts to get the city to flourish,” UAPB Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander said. “This is the home of the Golden Lions. As Pine Bluff progresses, it attracts more students and graduates who will take their places as entrepreneurs, lawyers, city officials, doctors and teachers.”

Alexander said he hopes those individuals will in turn invest in the community by creating business opportunities that will make a strong economic impact.

Accomplishing a goal of this magnitude demanded having people with a vested interest in the health and well-being of this little corner of Southeast Arkansas, working together. Separate in duties, but equal in importance, is a cluster of organizations (one long-standing, the rest new) striving for a better Pine Bluff.

OUT OF MANY, ONE

The movement which started in 2015 to rebuild Pine Bluff resulted in Go Forward Pine Bluff, an entity created to spearhead the improvement and major overhaul of the city’s negative image. Ryan Watley, Ph.D., a UAPB alumnus and former chemistry professor turned community activist, is the Director of the organization.

Following hard on the heels of Go Forward Pine Bluff is Pine Bluff Rising. This 501(c) (3) non-profit organization is composed of three board members – Tom Reilley of New Hampshire and owner of Highland Pellets located in Jefferson Industrial Park, Stuart Hee of Brooklyn, New York, and Caleb McMahon of Pine Bluff, the Director of Economic Development for Jefferson County.

Pine Bluff Rising is the current owner of Hotel Pines, which is located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Main Street. Plans for the hotel involve a major preservation and restoration project. According to Reilley, the Pines project is part of the organization’s strategy to revitalize the city’s workforce development by using mentorship to increase building capacity for future business ventures.

One block south of Hotel Pines on Main Street, Pine Bluff Economic Development Alliance of Jefferson County has contributed to the business success of Pine Bluff since 1994. Lou Ann Nisbett, CEcD (Certified Economic Developer), is the President and Chief Executive Officer.

The Alliance is dedicated to expanding the industrial and economic base of Pine Bluff and Jefferson County.

Every city has major highways leading to and through the industrial district that function as the transportation veins to keep business lifelines flowing. The State of Arkansas recently renamed a portion of the Delta’s regional highways to acknowledge the area’s rich music heritage. In July 2017, Act 451 went into effect, making the Arkansas Delta portion of Highway 65 designated as the Delta Rhythm & Bayous Highway.

State Representative Vivian Flowers was the lead sponsor along with cosponsors in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Flowers said Jimmy Cunningham of Pine Bluff provided the idea to address the deep rooted history and talent of Pine Bluff as it relates to music, theater, television and production.

GO FORWARD PINE BLUFF

“My motivation to do this job was that it just felt right, and I believed in my heart it was the right thing to do," said Ryan Watley, Executive Director of Go Forward Pine Bluff. "This (Go Forward) was the type of investment the city [needed] for a long time, and now is the time for us to move.”

Brian T. Williams

Ryan Watley, PhD, is the Director of Go Forward Pine Bluff. He took the helm of this newly created city organization in February 2016. Prior to accepting this position, Watley was an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He received a doctorate of chemistry degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2015 and returned to Pine Bluff for employment. “I decided to come home and bring what I’ve learned here,” he said.

How does one go from being a professor at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to being a community activist? Watley said academic research and problem solving subconsciously prepared him for the task at hand. “I was fascinated with finding unique approaches to different problems the city had,” he said. “One potential solution was to be a part of the move.”

With every new adventure comes challenges. One challenge Watley foresees is the need for everyone to work together. “Building a trust factor is one of the largest challenges to overcome, and we will do this by being transparent, communicating plans and executing what the city voted for,” Watley explained. Mayor Washington has been an active hands-on supporter.

“Mayor Washington has been wonderful in helping to execute the plans because she was a volunteer before she was voted into office as mayor.”

The public and private partnerships are growing within Go Forward with a $1.3 million grant from the Delta Regional Authority. Other initiatives include the Government Institute Workshop for those interested in public service. The Chamber of Commerce partnered with Go Forward Pine Bluff to train future candidates in the process for running a campaign for office.

Go Forward also is working with the Community Design Center of the University of Arkansas, an urban design group responsible for the downtown masterplan and vision to remodel and repurpose downtown Pine Bluff. One of the first projects, the Sculptor Project is currently in progress, and the Streetscape Project, sponsored by Community and Economic Development Office received a grant to assist with the project from Delta Regional Authority. Both projects are scheduled to begin January 1, 2019.

The Urban Renewal Agency created by Pine Bluff City Council deals with the housing blight from Hazel to Ohio Streets and from Harding Avenue to Barraque Street, an expansive area. The purpose of the agency is to demolish, repurpose, or refurbish houses.

Watley said Go Forward was not created to replace any entity, but as a tool to bring the resources and ideas together to achieve a goal. Because he is community minded, Watley is a former board member of Pine Bluff Rising. He said Go Forward will continue to work with Pine Bluff Rising given that both organizations have an emphasis on downtown Pine Bluff.

PINE BLUFF RISING

“Pine Bluff Rising has done a year’s worth of assessment in the community about what role it can help play...," said Tom Reilly, Director of Pine Bluff Rising. "We will work closely and transparently with the Delta Rhythm and Blues Alliance, Go Forward Pine Bluff, the City and Community stakeholders to align our investments with the long term benefits of all.”

Brian T. Williams

Following a year of research and community assessment, Pine Bluff Rising is moving forward with the revitalization of the Pines Hotel, making it the hub of downtown activity once more.

The renovated hotel will house a restaurant, coffee shop, meeting rooms, 144 livable rooms, and business offices. This massive undertaking began in 2017 and has a cost of $35 million with a projected completion date of fall 2020, pending capital sponsorship.

Reilley said he became interested in the well-being of the city by following city concerns through Pine Bluff Economic Development. He and the other partners decided to become a part of the solution.

“Pine Bluff Rising has done a year’s worth of assessment in the community about what role it can help play,” Reilley said. "CatalyticPB LLC, an investment holding company created by Reilley, will be the major drive for economic investment in the city."

“This company will own a number of restaurants, hotels, blues venues and real estate developments,” Reilley said. “A $60 million investment plan is under development. What is different about CatalyticPB is that it will be an inclusive community member that believes in equitable development.”

Pine Bluff Rising has contracted with Velocity Group from Bentonville, Arkansas, on intentional and sustainable development. “We will work closely and transparently with the Delta Rhythm and Blues Alliance, Go Forward Pine Bluff, the City and Community stakeholders to align our investments with the long term benefits of all.”

Challenges facing Pine Bluff Rising must be addressed in order for effective collaboration to succeed. Reilley said economic inequality and the low level of social trust in Pine Bluff has been a hindrance. He also said the biggest challenge to overcome is a lack of citizen engagement and the lack of alignment in municipal and education system governance.

JEFFERSON COUNTY ALLIANCE

Jefferson County Alliance is a non-profit organization created to help community and economic development priorities through business retention and expansion, workforce development and prospect development. Lou Ann Nisbett came to work for the Economic Development Alliance in 2006.

One on-going prospect is working to increase the international market for workforce developers and site selection. “There are others who would like to have a footprint in the U.S. and Pine Bluff is in a good location,” Nisbett said.

One of the challenges in Pine Bluff is the workforce. “We have retiring baby boomers on one hand and on the other hand millennials with work skills that are not what they should be,” Nisbett said. “We’re working with Go Forward Pine Bluff to develop a plan for employability training. We need to teach soft skills to address personal, transportation and child care issues. People don’t want to fail, they just don’t know what they should know.”

“I think there is nowhere to go but up in Pine Bluff. It’s exciting to sit back and watch," said LouAnn Nisbett, Director of the Jefferson County Alliance. "We should all be moving in the same direction...”

Jefferson County Alliance

The Alliance also is responsible for Jefferson County’s work toward receiving certification as an ACT Work Ready Community (CWRD), a two-year process. ACT Certified Work Ready Communities empower counties and states with tools for workforce development.

Alliance assistance to industries includes monitoring industry productivity and providing incentives when necessary. Pine Bluff has 55 industries in the County.

“We try to help industries merge and work together,” Nisbett said. “Our mission is to create good jobs so families can take care of themselves.”

“I think there is nowhere to go but up in Pine Bluff. It’s exciting to sit back and watch. We should all be moving in the same direction. It’s not just enough to move to Pine Bluff, but we must all help to move Pine Bluff forward.”

DELTA RHYTHM AND BAYOUS HIGHWAY

Jimmy Cunningham, CEO of the Delta Rhythm and Bayous Alliance, said the foundation is laying the groundwork for entrepreneurs to pursue tourism-based dollars. The vision is to base tourism on the heritage of Bayou Bartholomew as well as the art and music that was born from this region.

“The best kind of legislation you can pass is when you have a citizen and a native contact you with an idea of this magnitude...," said Rep. Vivian Flowers. " [Pine Bluff Native] Jimmy Cunningham was well-spoken and articulate in presenting his thoughts about the deep rooted history and explaining the talent of Pine Bluff as it pertained to music, theater and art production.”

Brian T. Williams

In March 2017, the Delta Alliance approached Arkansas state legislators with the proposed designation of U.S. Highway 65 with its current name change starting with the new fiscal year in July 2017. One advantage of the highway name change allows the creation of art and cultural districts in the state (with funding). Another advantage from this movement allows for the U.S. National Park Service to designate this entire area as a National Heritage Corridor.

Rep. Flowers and Ferguson presented this initiative to the State supported by other Representatives - LeAnne Burch of Monticello, Mike Holcomb of Pine Bluff, Mark McElroy of Tillar, Arkansas and Chris Richey of West Helena. The lead sponsor in the Senate was Eddie Cheatham of Crossett; co-sponsors were Senators Stephanie Flowers of Pine Bluff and Trent Garner of El Dorado.

“The best kind of legislation you can pass is when you have a citizen and a native contact you with an idea of this magnitude,” Flowers said. “Jimmy Cunningham was well-spoken and articulate in presenting his thoughts about the deep rooted history and explaining the talent of Pine Bluff as it pertained to music, theater and art production.”

According to Flowers, the Highway name was meant to draw in other leaders in the region, generating foundation funds and prosperity for the area.

In addition to working with the Highway project, Cunningham also worked with the Pine Bluff City Council to pass a resolution to create an art district in downtown Pine Bluff.

A WORK IN PROGRESS

Working separately but together, each organization mentioned above has determined plans and processes to make Pine Bluff a thriving and prospering place. Three years ago, the citizens of Pine Bluff began a successful venture to reposition Pine Bluff for another economic boom. With the right structure, education and economic system in place, coupled with plans for a revived downtown, Pine Bluff has the potential to prosper.

The idea of the Delta Rhythm and Bayous Highway developed from the Delta Rhythm and Bayous Alliance, a non-profit organization created for tourism-based economic development in the Delta Lowlands. The area begins at Bayou Bartholomew and U.S. Highway 65 (Pine Bluff) and extends east to include the western portion of Mississippi.