At the July 12 meeting of the Mayor’s Task Force on Economic Development, chair Sandy Martin passed around copies of a 14-question community survey aimed at filling the gaps in retail in Eureka Springs. She said the grant from Winrock International is funding analysis of the retail landscape in town in hopes of identifying opportunities, and she sees the questionnaire as a step toward expanding the local retail base.
Damon Henke, representing Main Street Eureka Springs, noted that downtown Eureka Springs is such a hodgepodge it does not fit any typical pattern, and the town needs to create a pattern that will appeal to investors.
Kimberley Clark commented that focusing just on retail is missing important ways visitors spend money. Travelers come to see the Great Passion Play and Turpentine Creek, and she claimed the bicycle people hardly visit retail shops. “When we think of how people spend money, we are limiting ourselves by sticking to just retail.”
Martin replied she could do an analysis on sites Clark mentioned, but what she wanted to emphasize was “expanding the trade zone” by bringing more retail to town to fill the needs of locals while adding to the city’s tax revenue. She said she hoped to have enough completed surveys by mid-August to get meaningful results.
Martin encouraged people to fill out the survey at eurekaspringsliveworkplay.us/surveys, 14 questions about which city a local visits to buy items like vehicle parts, furniture, sporting goods and general merchandise.
Martin said the county is growing with many residents choosing to live outside of town. Since her goal is to increase the tax base inside city limits, the key is more retail. She also wanted to know more about where travelers are from, and suggested it would be useful to collect the zip codes of customers from a few key retailers, restaurants and hotels.
If a business did move here…
Mayor Butch Berry reported that Mike Preston, director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, was in town with news about outside businesses considering a move to the area. One possibility is an agribusiness call center employing from 20 workers to begin with, but possibly many more depending on success. Another would be a company developing a solar farm here and offering 20-50 high tech jobs.
Berry pointed out the obvious concerns are whether Eureka Springs would have the housing or workforce. The group agreed that some workers would relocate in the county outside of town, but there are spots inside city limits that could be developed. Berry said the Planning Commission might need to update development requirements in City Code as that develops.
He noted there are new housing developments in town now, but they’re not affordable housing projects. However, if these new industries moved to town, employees could afford to buy homes.
Martin said she is developing a 10×10-ft. map identifying who owns every property in Eureka Springs. When completed, the map will be useful for identifying potential locations for new businesses.
There was consensus that things are looking up in the county with the three cities working together on new levels. New Chamber of Commerce President Paul Miller joined with Henke offering to assist the Task Force in recruiting new businesses.
Jacqueline Wolven, director of Main Street Eureka Springs, was hoping for green industries like solar, and Martin reminded the group the city might get a marijuana dispensary which is certainly green, and along with it could be opportunities for related products.
Next meeting will be Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m., in the Auditorium.