Looking Forward

As in the past, the Chamber today focuses on the economic improvement of the greater Little Rock area. By encouraging growth and expansion in the area the Chamber prepares for the coming century. As in the early years of the organization, the Chamber strives to improve the economic vitality of central Arkansas, creating a modern atmosphere for recreational and commercial endeavors. An example of such activity is the Chamber’s efforts to revitalize downtown. The Chamber participates in making the downtown district a thriving economic location that draws both residents and visitors alike for business and pleasure. Improvements of the riverfront district are essential to the revitalization of the downtown area. For many years the riverfront property lacked development, existing as a detriment rather than an enhancement to the area. Efforts to improve the riverfront began as early as 1913 when John Nolen, a landscape architect hired by the Little Rock Parkways Association, recommended that the city buy all waterfront property within its boundaries. Nolen suggested changing the property between the Old State House and Rector Avenue (the present location of I-30) into a riverfront drive and pedestrian walkway. The lack of funding hindered the progress of the project and the area remained occupied by squatters’ shacks. As the decades passed the riverfront property continued to be a mark against downtown because, as B. Finley Vinson states, it was “messy, grassy, and unkempt” even though the squatters’ shacks disappeared. He recalls a time when people held little interest in downtown and businesses avoided the riverfront due to its shabby reputation.

In the 1980s, after construction of the Excelsior Hotel and the State House Convention Center, the city recognized the potential economic and social benefits of a riverfront park. Therefore, in 1983 the city created River Front Park east of the Convention Center. The park failed to draw the anticipated visitors, and until the construction of the River Market at the east end of the park in 1995, more out of town guests visited River Front Park than did citizens of Little Rock.

In the early and mid 1990s funding and plans for the riverfront development continued. Many citizens remain unaware of the Chamber’s involvement in the revitalization of the River Market District. Fifty for the Future, in alliance with the Chamber, became the first to pledge $100,000 to the River Market District project. The Chamber sponsored and funded a 1993 campaign for a permanent one-half cent sales tax. When it passed, the tax contributed to the Museum of Discovery and the River Market District. In 1995 the Chamber raised $280,000 and managed the campaign election that led to the construction of the Alltel Arena and the expansion of the Little Rock Convention Center. Chamber President Paul Harvel believes many of the businesses located in the River Market District through the efforts of the organization.

In addition to its support of economic activities in the downtown area, the Chamber assisted in other community pursuits. In 1997 the main branch of the Central Arkansas Library System relocated to the renovated Fones Brothers Hardware building. Prior to this the Chamber aided the campaign for the tax increase leading to this by offering the use of its facilities and phone lines that resulted in the conversion of the Chamber’s boardroom into the election campaign headquarters.

Projects such as the Museum of Discovery, the River Market, and the Main Branch of the Central Arkansas Library system prompted increased interest in the river front district. This interest led to the area’s selection as one of six sites in Pulaski County that a presidential library site committee submitted to President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. The presidential library site committee, chaired by Jerry Maulden, was Chamber staffed. In the end, the Clintons chose the recommended site just east of the River Market in downtown Little Rock.

Just as the actions in years and decades past have shaped the Little Rock area of today, the Chamber realizes that the activities of today provide the framework for tomorrow. In an effort to improve the prospects of tomorrow the Chamber is preparing to build its new headquarters in the downtown area. It purchased a site not far from where the Presidential Library will stand. Thanks to the donations from the Riggs Family and Southwestern Bell, the Chamber is well on the way to raising the funds needed to build the new Chamber Center, which will be one of the most advanced chamber buildings in the United States. The new multi-million dollar state-of-the-art building, situated on the corner of Markham and Scott Streets, will serve as the “gateway” to Little Rock. The new facility will be more visitor friendly and technologically superior than the present location. Janet Jones comments, “our new Chamber Center is really going to be a physical representation of the new spirit and of a new openness in the Chamber.” Large video screens will adorn the lobby, and full teleconferencing rooms will be available for businesses to use. Trees and a “park-like” atmosphere inviting visitors to use the facility will complement the two-story building. With the new building, the Chamber hopes to increase the number of visitors by over fifty percent. The Chamber also hopes that the stylish, impressive building will increase the pride of the citizens in the Chamber, city, and state—and that the state of the art Chamber Center will serve as an example of Little Rock’s economic and social vitality.

One hundred and thirty years ago the Chamber set out to improve the economic opportunities in Little Rock. Realizing the connections between the economy, transportation, military and governmental affairs, and social issues broadened the Chamber’s circle of activities as well as increased its global perspective. Its strong vision of a prosperous future propelled Little Rock through the twentieth century. It is this same vigilance and vision that will continue to inspire the activities of the Chamber in the coming millenium.