Bradley County Chamber of Commerce board members discussed a variety of subjects during their monthly board meeting Monday at Bradley County Economic Development Corp.
Attending the meeting were Executive Director Terrie White and directors James Wells, Ron St. John, JeNelle Lipton, Kim Forrest and Tim Kessler, Treasurer Jane Harris and ex-officio member Warren Mayor Denisa Pennington.
Wells announced that a Downtown Network grant from Main Street Arkansas had been approved. It will increase from $3,000 to up to $5,000 in the form of a reimbursement on Chamber projects. One project that was suggested was a city Christmas tree up to 16 feet tall. No action was taken on that project but White will attend Main Street Arkansas training on Sept. 17-20.
In other action:
- Pennington gave a report from Special Events Chairwoman Julie Hamilton, who could not attend the meeting. Christmas events are under consideration and Halloween events are tentatively set for Oct. 29. A September Market On Main event may be done in conjunction with the Bradley County Fair.
- The Chamber annual meeting was discussed. No date was set for the meeting but a Nominating Committee to select new board members was set up. Committee members are Chairman Ron St. John, Kim Forrest and Denisa Pennington.
- A letter was presented from Bradley County Sheriff Herschel Tillman requesting a donation to the National Child Safety Council. A program will be set up to address child safety, bullying and drug education. A motion was approved to sponsor 50 children for $187.50.
- A discussion was held about Chamber membership fees to be charged to food trucks. White will check with other Chambers of Commerce to see what they charge for food truck memberships.
- Letters will be sent out for the annual Chamber membership drive. White will also make some personal contacts.
- Mo Hussein is scheduled to open a tobacco vape and chicken dinners store in the former KFC building soon.
- A request for $20,000 annual funding was submitted to the Warren Ways and Means Committee.
- White announced Make Warren Shine was in the process of dissolving. A request for help in watering flowers on Main Street was submitted.
- County Extension Agent-Staff Chairman John Gavin and Fair Manager Curtis Blankinship sent a letter requesting support for the Bradley County Fair, which is scheduled for Sept. 12-17.
Top photo: The former KFC building in Warren.
Shocker. A great thing like Make Warren shine is dissolving. People trying invest in a community that is a shell of its former self. Thanks for the attempt MWS, you can only do so much. Good thing another smoke shop/chicken shack is on the way.
I COULD NOT BELEIVE THERE IS GOING TO BE A VAPE SHOP AND CHICKEN RESTURANT OPENING IN WARREN IN THE SAME PLACE. CHICKEN IS ON THE NUMBER ONE LIST OF FOOD CHILDREN EAT, WHO WOULD WANT THEIR CHILDREN IN SUCH A PLACE. THE ARKANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TRYING HER BEST TO GET THEM CLOSED IN ARKANSAS. I LIVE IN CONWAY WHERE THERE IS SO MANY. I AM WELL AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THEM AROUND CHILDREN.
Make Warren Shine will make its own announcement as to when it will dissolve. At the current time we have several commitments to help businesses with planters, window signage, powerwashing, awnings, exterior lights and window displays, as well as continuing to maintain flowers and flowerbed.
Make Warren Shine is in it’s fifth year revitalizing downtown Warren, thanks to several volunteers and committed merchants. As many organizations know, dedicated volunteers are hard to come by, however we have set goals and will not dissolve until our final projects are complete.
Make Warren Shine still is a non profit 501c3 organization striving to improve curb appeal in our center of town in hopes of attracting new business. We appreciate your continued support.
Warren is dissolving ant much left
Warren has had plenty of chances to grow in the past it should have had the college it should have had Walmart it should have had the lake but between the chamber of commerce and the coop it doesn’t I remember when Warren was bigger than Monticello but those groups of people would not allow it to grow heaven forbid potlatch ever shuts down that will be the end of it all !!
I with you James. We had opportunities but those were thrown out the window. Sad to know what we did have and know it’s all gone down the pot. Enjoyed our town and was proud of it. Now look it’s a little embarrassing.?
The Chamber is actively working to recruit new businesses. But you have to have someplace to put them. Just because a building is vacant , it doesn’t mean the owner is willing to sell or lease it. If you have some land close to the city limits you wish to donate we will gladly take it.
There lies the problem Leslie. These dilapidated buildings are owned by old names that either are gone from Warren or dead. These families need to relinquish or sale these buildings because letting them sit and rot does nothing for the appearance and growth of the community. Why does land need to be donated? We have an industrial park that has been there for 20 years that has tripped over its feet since it’s inception. Instead of bringing in prisons, try reaching out to someone like Amazon, Walmart(distribution centers etc), energy startups that are looking for cheap land and tax breaks to open up business. But instead leadership looks to a prison!? What is this…Dermott or Pine bluff? Is that the goal? There is a lot of charm, potential, and a cool downtown to attract someone right now in this push for land and space. The problem is Warren has too many issues with progress and messing with the establishment. Every thing Warren has passed on (Walmart, lake, the college) is due to the names getting squirmy with someone else coming in and being successful. Best of luck Warren. You’re on you’re way to be Fordyce jr if not careful.
I have reached out to several top name industries. I can’t force them here. They make their own decisions where they want to locate. Some I have reached out to said they need at least 50 – 100 acres. We do not have that. That’s where the land donation comment came from.
Fair enough. But think about the people who have the money and land in Warren. They aren’t donating anything to possibly have competition for money in town. The acreage is there just the people that have want their big fish in a small pond mentality taken from them.
Warren Arkansas only drugs and crack cocaine on each corners. The project on west end is nothing but criminals and drug dealers selling by the power house church. I never seen so many boot
Bootlegger in the project. They should collect money off the drug dealers.
We left Warren about 15 years ago. The economy was horrible and there was no way we could see raising children there knowing there are no jobs to keep our children there once they were adults. It’s all about jobs. There have to be places of employment to bring people in but on the other hand when companies look at coming to an area, they look at what is available in the area so that they can attract employees. Things like theaters, restaurants, shopping etc. those are things that Warren doesn’t have. Monticello does. So Monticello will continue to grab the attention of potential incoming companies. The only thing Warren can hope to be is a bedroom community for people to live in that prefer to live a rural life but work in Monticello.
Former, Warren citizens are scared of progress. Theaters, dreaded Walmart, college kids, decent places to eat, and decent places to shop are deterrents to the establishment. But they will have no problem going to Monticello for everything from leisure to shopping. The town is 10 years away from being a fordyce or dermott.
TheLumberjack, exactly.
AND we know certain Warren citizens that own businesses in other areas. Like a certain ex mayors that have owned liquor stores in Little Rock. Now I know some will say that they don’t want those businesses in town. But at least it would be a business, tax dollars would come in, schools and roads would benefits and there would be less drinking and driving from those that drive to Hampton, Fordyce or Kingsland!
Collect money off the drug dealers and bootleggers. I can’t believe that all this is going on. These drug sells are on state property at the project. If they bring more business in warren then it’s going to be more drugs.