Delta, Little Rock leaders form new partnership

A group of Delta and Little Rock leaders announced the formation of the “Delta/Little Rock Partnership for Progress” to deepen collaboration and advocacy on issues of common interest between central and east Arkansas on health care, education, levee improvements, transportation, and related community and economic development goals.

The partnership is being announced in conjunction with the eight-state Greater Delta Region conference on Thursday (Nov. 7) and Friday (Nov. 8) in downtown Little Rock

The opening session is Thursday evening, Nov. 7 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Arkansas Capitol Rotunda. The Friday Nov. 8 morning and lunch session is 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Robinson Center Ballroom overlooking the Arkansas River.

“We all know the obvious differences that Little Rock is urban and most of it is more affluent than the rural Delta heartland, but Little Rock also has diverse, economically distressed neighborhoods that do have a lot in common with east Arkansas. It makes no sense to say that once we get three feet inside the Pulaski County line our region and our collaboration should suddenly stop,” said Delta Caucus Director Lee Powell.

The Delta/Little Rock Partnership will mostly concentrate on Arkansas, but also is part of the larger eight-state Greater Delta Region from Illinois and Missouri through Arkansas and Mississippi to New Orleans.

Speakers for the conference include Sens. Joyce Elliott and Keith Ingram; U.S. Rep. French Hill; Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin; President Clinton’s Associate Director of FEMA Kay Goss, Rex Nelson, and Mayor Shirley Washington of Pine Bluff.

The new partnership said it aims to be bipartisan and will only advocate for initiatives that have widespread support.