Innovation is coming to Little Rock, Mayor Frank Scott Jr. promised during the 2021 State of the City address on Thursday evening.
In a slickly produced video, Scott laid out an ambitious plan to rethink and revitalize Little Rock – a plan that he calls “Rebuild the Rock,” which addresses a wide range of societal and economic development issues to attract and retain residents and build quality of life. Scott outlined his plan after highlighting the challenges faced by the city and its residents during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as well as the obstacles still remaining.
Scott said the first priority in achieving the revitalization plans will be overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. To accomplish this, he stated the city would be working to ensure that the COVID-19 vaccine is available to all communities in Little Rock, especially to minority communities, particularly Black, Hispanic and Asian communities. He urged residents to take a vaccine “when it is your turn to do so,” as well as maintaining precautionary measures, such as wearing a mask, washing hands and social distancing.
The city and its COVID-19 task force will reportedly be working to develop a comprehensive plan on vaccine distribution.
“Last year, I stood before you declaring our bold plans to lift Little Rock to high heights. Shortly after I cast that vision, the world as we knew it changed. We immediately suspended our initiative to lift Little Rock and focused squarely on navigating the COVID-19 global pandemic. To truly rebuild, we must continue our concerted efforts to combat this virus,” he said.
Moving past the pandemic, Scott said a key tenet of his vision for a new Little Rock is equity. In his vision, equity must be applied for everyone in jobs, health care, housing and all other facets of life in Little Rock.
“Equity is meeting people where they are so they can be who they are where they want to be all at the same time,” he said.
“It’s ensuring diverse voices are elevated, at the table, and their viewpoints are heard. It’s good for business, it’s good for innovation and it’s necessary to rebuild the Rock.”
As an opening measure, Scott will be hiring the city’s first chief equity officer, who is expected to be announced at a later date. This chief equity officer, Scott said, will be tasked with “getting our house in order” in city government and then expanding to the greater Little Rock area.
Scott also highlighted ward redistricting, noting the city board of directors had an opportunity to reshape the city in a positive way due to the 2020 Census results. He urged the board of directors to redistrict to create “microcosms of our diverse city” through this effort.
“We cannot have a unified city until we have a city in which all citizens, whether they’re from Southwest, Pleasant Valley, East End, John Barrow or Chenal, can thrive,” he said
“Instead of homogenous wards with arbitrary boundaries with Interstate 630, I would propose wards that reflect the overall make-up of our city.”
Building on his prior commitment to increase city support of women and minority businesses, Scott announced that the city would release the Little Rock Equity Challenge by October 1. This challenge would encourage public and private businesses to increase supplier diversity as part of a collective effort to promote business equity and lift local businesses. “Little Rock will become a place where the American Dream is alive and well for us all,” he said.
Other facets of his equity plan include a Little Rock Promise Scholarship and a business incubator.
Perhaps the most audacious part of the Rebuild the Rock plan is a rebranding for the city, with Scott saying that Little Rock would be getting a facelift in the coming months to reflect a new, dynamic city that he envisions as a catalyst for growth.
“It’s time to rebrand our city and build a unique narrative that sells Little Rock as a place for short-term business and play but also as a place to call home and build a family. I recognize for many who already live here or those who reside just outside of the city, your perceptions have been shaped in part by misinformation and decades of inequity. As we look to the future, it’s time that we rebuild hope in the hearts of those who call Little Rock home, rebuild confidence who look for Little Rock to lead, and rebuild capacity for placemaking that ensure equitable opportunities for everyone,” he said.
As part of this rebrand, the city will be getting a new logo, website, mobile app and more.
A major component of this rebrand is the creation of a new signature event. Invoking his memories of River Fest, Scott said that Little Rock needs a showcase event to demonstrate the wealth of resources the city has to offer. This showcase, he said, will be Litfest: A Return to the Rock, which he plans to launch in 2022.
The extended weekend event will featuare investor conferences and networking opportunities, as well as events promoting business and technology. It would highlight Little Rock’s art scene with live concerts from local and national artists, and spotlight the food scene in Little Rock.
“It’s time that the world knows what we have to offer,” he said.
To fund this Rebuild the Rock initiative, Scott called for a penny sales tax, which he said would allow the city to be more aggressive in its growth and help to create equitable economic development opportunities. Through this increased sales tax, Scott said Little Rock could tackle infrastructure needs, such as better roads, bikes lanes and sidewalks throughout Little Rock neighborhoods; public safety reforms, such as building fire stations in needed areas, hiring professionals to deal with sensitive mental health issues and reducing crime; housing through the creation of an Affordable Housing Fund; and other revitalization efforts.
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