In what began as a discussion about the need for a full-time director, members of the Central Business Improvement District (CBID) Commission agreed during a Thursday (Aug. 21) meeting to first coordinate with Main Street Fort Smith on “opportunities” to share resources.
Commissioner Stuart Ghan began the discussion about the need for some type of full-time support by saying “there’s more day-to-day business than what we can handle (meeting) once a month.” Commission Chair Bill Hanna agreed saying there is a need “to get some momentum going” and “with a director, we can ramp up that momentum and get us going down a fast track.”
The CBID has had directors, but they were employed by the city, an arrangement CBID members are not keen to pursue.
The CBID, a semi autonomous governing body, has in recent years become more active in efforts to enhance downtown Fort Smith and work with groups engaged in promoting and developing the downtown area. The CBID agreed to levy a supplemental annual assessment of up to 10 mils on real property within CBID boundaries — primarily in downtown Fort Smith almost four years ago. The assessment funds, roughly $220,000 received in October 2023 and roughly the same in October 2024, were earmarked to support a downtown safety and security program, and a “green and clean” project.
Part of the push for a full-time CBID director comes from the desire by commission members to be more active in recruiting businesses to the downtown and creating other opportunities to bring more commerce to the downtown. One of those ideas includes creating a space that could be a small business incubator or a space in which different types of businesses could operate. One idea mentioned Thursday would be a space similar, albeit on a smaller scale, to the Tulsa Road Market development in that city.
Commissioner Matthew Holland suggested they look at other business improvement districts to learn more about possible organizational structure options.
The discussion also included a desire to not duplicate ongoing downtown improvement efforts by Main Street Fort Smith. Amanda Hagar, who attended the CBID meeting, said she heard some possible duplication in the discussion but also several “opportunities” for the two groups to support each other.
Commissioner Phil White suggested the commission work with Hagar to discuss respective goals, resources and capabilities before making decisions on a director or other ideas to promote the downtown.
“Instead of her just hearing what we think, we also need to hear what she thinks,” White said, adding that the CBID has financial resources and Hagar has the ability to pursue grants and execute programs.
“We could be a lot of their answers to their missing links,” White said about the programs Hagar is pursuing. Hanna concurred, noting “maybe that’s a nice first step” to work with Main Street Fort Smith and then possibly build upon that.
After the meeting, Hagar said she looks forward to discussing collaborative ideas with the CBID and believes both parties can benefit.
According to its website, Main Street Fort Smith “is a nonprofit committed to creating vibrant spaces in downtown Fort Smith through business development, arts and culture, special events, and the promotion of attractive amenities to accelerate development of diverse commerce.”