Job, tourism development on agenda for city board retreat

The city’s role in economic development and the future of the Fort Smith Convention Center are just two of the items on the agenda for the Saturday (Jan. 10) retreat held by the Fort Smith Board of Directors.

The retreat is open to all Fort Smith citizens.

(Links to stories from The City Wire related to possible discussion topics at the retreat can be found at the end of this report.)

Meeting specifics and agenda details are as follows:

8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (morning refreshments available at 7:45 a.m.)
Elm Grove Community Center at Martin Luther King Jr. Park

8 to 8:15 a.m.
Setting the Stage (comments from retreat facilitator Lisa Clay)

8:15 to 9:45 a.m.
Financial condition (a report on the city’s general fund, financing for water and wastewater capital projects and other revenue issues)

BREAK

10 to 11:30 a.m.
Economic development (discussion of the city’s role in regional economic development)

LUNCH

Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Quality of Place initiatives (parks, sports complex, trails and bikeways, options for financing, etc.)

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Fort Smith Convention Center operations (funding, usage, management options)

BREAK

2:45 to 3:30 p.m.
Setting priorities (establishing board priorities for next few years)

ADJOURN

———————————————

Retreat discussion topics as reported on by The City Wire

Fort Smith Convention Center funding and management: Part I

Fort Smith Convention Center funding and management: Part II

Possible reorganization of tourism, downtown Fort Smith development groups

Regional economic development — changes at the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce

Regional economic development — Top business stories of 2008

Regional economic development — Entrepreneurship development

Regional economic development — the role of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith

Regional economic development — Regional Port Authority

Quality of Place issues — Some of the good things that are happening