On January 12, 2017, Go Forward Pine Bluff and UALR’s Institute for Economic Advancement (IEA) will unveil their recommendations for Pine Bluff’s revitalization. The unveiling will be presented at the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff on January 12, 2017. The IEA’s recommendations are based on the results of their year-plus of research and strategy planning, commissioned by the Go Forward Pine Bluff task force (funded by the Simmons Foundation). Recommendations are city-wide in scope but include special attention to Main Street revitalization. Event details are here:
- Unveiling of PB & Main Street Revitalization Plans
- Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas
- 701 Main Street
- Pine Bluff, AR 71601
- 870-536-3375
- January 12, 2017 (Thursday evening)
- 5:30 pm
Background to UALR IEA Pine Bluff Project: Precipitated by the collapse of portions of Main Street (starting in 2014), Simmons First National Bank provided funding to the Simmons Foundation to form a task force on revitalization. That task force, Go Forward Pine Bluff (GFPB), had the mission of determining best methods to revitalize, based on research of the city’s strengths and weaknesses. GFPB defined four main areas to address: economic development, education, infrastructure/government, and quality of life. While the downtown corridor has received special focus, the entire city of Pine Bluff has been analyzed and included in the plans.
More details are in these past PB Junction posts, both of which cite/link Pine Bluff Commercial articles: Main Street’s Brain Trust and Main Street’s New Beginnings. UPDATE: Since the initial publication of this post, PB Junction added these updates: Updates on Multiple Efforts to Strengthen Pine Bluff and the earlier Multiple Efforts to Strengthen Pine Bluff.
