TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
looping of dead-end water mains, automatic metering, State Line metering, and water and sewer relocation and improvements to the Waggoner Creek wastewater treatment plant. A five-acre tract of city-owned land on Loop 151 was surveyed, cleared, and seeded to make the site shovel-ready for future development. Over $302 million in new commercial construction was welcomed in Texarkana, Texas, with another $209 million slated in FY 23-24. An Economic Impact Study of the Texarkana Arts & Historic District was completed, finding an overall impact of $6.5 million to the local economy. A Chapter 380 incentive proposal was formulated to expand Sterno, which will relocate 100 new jobs from Memphis, Tennessee, to Texarkana, Texas, making Texarkana home to the largest Sterno plant in the United States. Lights were installed at Grady T. Wallace Soccer Field with the help of the Texarkana Soccer Association. The National Fitness Campaign Fitness Court was installed in the Spring of 2023 with help from the National Fitness Campaign/Texas Blue Cross Blue Shield and AEP SWEPCO. Southwest Center Tennis Court rehabilitation and pickle ball court installation was completed in the spring of 2023. Keep Texarkana Beautiful committee was restarted with new board members as appointed by council. The committee is focused on recycling and beautification while working on Keep Texas affiliate status and has already reactivated its 501(c)(3) status. And that’s just to name a few! If you want to learn more, you can check out our annual report online. As we have bid farewell to 2023, what makes me even more excited is what’s on the horizon for 2024. With a city council poised to lead, and a staff determined to accomplish, we have set our eyes on a few ambitious projects for the new year. Here are a few of them... • Creation of a regional business incubator/ creator space in collaboration with AR-TX REDI, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Texarkana College, University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana, and the City of Texarkana, Arkansas. • Continued work on the Courthouse Square Strategic Doing Initiative, and even more focus on the planning of a State Line Corridor redevelopment. • Planning and executing Texarkana’s first Solarbration event to extend a welcoming hand to all the visitors who will come to our city, many for the first time, to take in the solar eclipse in April 2024. Internally, the City will also work on formalizing Memorandums of Understanding with a few strategic partners in the community, introducing even more employee development opportunities, and hosting several large bass fishing tournaments to drive outdoor tourism. Reflecting on the accomplishments of the past year, it is evident our community is on a trajectory of growth and positive change. From infrastructure enhancements to vibrant community engagement, the collective efforts of our residents and city team have been nothing short of inspiring.
projects. A multi-departmental team worked on the project for over 18 months, which culminated with the unanimous voluntary consent of eleven different property owners in the area.
The voluntary annexation of an additional 84 acres along Pleasant Grove Road and Cooper Lane for future housing developments along both corridors was completed. A multi- departmental team worked on the voluntary annexation plans, development agreements, and plan review for both projects over a six-month period for city council consideration and approval. The issuance of two major certificates of obligation to include approximately $35 million in capital improvement plan projects. The Sports Promotion, Tourism and Economic Development bond issuance of $14.7 million will include major improvements at the Swanger Baseball Complex, Dobson Field, Wallace Park, and Kharr Park along with major improvements to the Perot Theatre and a proposed new business incubator space in partnership with AR-TX REDI. The Water and Sewer Revenue Bond for $21.285 million will include lead and copper line identification and replacement,
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BUSINESS & POLITICS
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