Texarkana, Ark. – On Thursday, Miller County Republicans and Democrats met at the Hickory Street Baptist Church for a bipartisan forum on Issue 3, the upcoming ballot initiative that would amend the Arkansas Constitution to allow cities to establish local economic‑development districts.
Local leaders explain the benefits
Two representatives from Arkansans for Strong Communities explained that they have held more than 250 informational sessions statewide to clarify what Issue 3 entails. They argue the measure would restore the ability of Arkansas municipalities to decide locally how to attract retail, housing, medical clinics and other amenities that residents want.
Gabe Holmstrom, principal for Capitol + Main in Little Rock, said the amendment would “empower cities on a local level to develop districts that create the economic development the community wants and needs to be decided locally.” He noted that 48 states already have this authority, with Arkansas and Arizona the only exceptions.
Attorney stresses job‑creation potential
Commercial‑real‑estate attorney Cliff McKinney of QGT Law Firm in Little Rock added that the lack of local development tools forces Arkansas to lose projects to neighboring states. “The biggest benefit is to give Arkansans the same opportunities that neighboring states already have,” McKinney said. He warned that the state’s current toolbox is limited to incentivizing manufacturing, leaving residents without the amenities that improve quality of life.
“The benefits to voting are this will give Arkansans the opportunity to incentivize retail, restaurants, housing, medical clinics – frankly, anything that the local community wants,” McKinney explained. “Right now our hands are very tied to the only thing we can incentivize is manufacturing, and we bring jobs in manufacturing, but then we don’t provide the amenities and the quality of life the people want for those jobs.”
Voter information
The forum reminded attendees that the deadline to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 5. Early voting begins Oct. 19, with Election Day scheduled for Nov. 3.
Both parties emphasized that Issue 3 is a non‑partisan question of local control and economic opportunity, urging voters to consider how the amendment could help their communities compete for growth and improve everyday life.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
