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Leaders point to priority areas in Benton |
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Monday, 11 February 2008 |
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Mayor’s Business Summit provides input on progress 
Various business and community leaders met in Benton to identify areas that they believe will improve Saline County’s seat and largest city.
About 70 people attended the Mayor’s Business Sum-mit on Friday to participate in roundtable discussions.
“They are here to tell us what they think we need in the city and how to achieve it,” Mayor Rick Holland said. “We are promoting ideas and aspirations of business people.”
The group identified five issues and now is the time to address these issues, said Marsha Guffey, community development director for the city of Benton.
A similar meeting was held summer 2006.
“This is round two,” Guffey said. “We want to hear from the community and what the issues are. The point of this was to get input from local businessmen and women on what the city needs to be doing for them.”
The ideas of two years ago became part of the city’s comprehensive plan, Guffey said.
Areas this group cited include affordable housing, schools, young families, infrastructure, economic development and parks image.
These kind of gatherings are good in terms of economic development, state Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, said. Broadway is co-director of the Saline County Economic Development Corp.
Major employers look at these issues, which can be beyond the city’s control, Broadway said. “What this does for the city is identify issues industries have.”
He said it’s important for businesses not only to stay here but to expand here. And to help recruit new industries, it’s better to understand current industries. The SCEDC has been working to attract different types of industries to available properties in the county, he noted.
The groups said growth across the Saline River is important and construction of an events center and better attention to parks are key.
Matt Brumley, president of the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce, said, “We have to give people a reason to stop here” and the local economy will receive a boost.
For young families, groups said affordable daycare and starter homes are needed.
Attention to public schools is vital, several noted.
“If the school goes down, the community will, too,” said state Rep. Lamont Cornwell, D-Benton, in promoting a proposed millage increase for the Benton School District.
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