Op-Ed
I went to a meeting about Issue 3 in Malvern ready to oppose it. I left seeing a possibility for our community that I had not considered. As a firefighter, I have heard stories from colleagues in other states about incentives that brought a company to town, only for that company to leave when the incentives ran out. When the jobs and revenue disappeared, the community was left with a hole in its budget. Cuts to services, staffing or employee benefits could follow. I did not want to invite that risk into the city I serve.
I listened closely at the meeting, waiting to hear the proposal that would confirm my concerns. Instead, the presenters described an approach in which a developer would have to open and operate a project before receiving support tied to the new tax revenue it generated. That was different from the deals I had worried about. It made me think about what another economic development tool might mean for Malvern.
Our community knows what it is like to lose a major employer. When Reynolds Metals’ Jones Mill operation closed, it left a lasting gap in the local economy. Since then, I have heard people say that Malvern and Hot Spring County have what we need to grow. We have invested in infrastructure. We have rail access, Interstate 30, major highways and land available for development. Access to the Ouachita River and nearby attractions also supports a growing tourism economy. Yet attracting the right projects remains a challenge.
After the meeting, I did more research. Other states use versions of this kind of economic development tool, and I found examples of Texas communities much like ours pursuing projects with it. Those examples do not guarantee that a project will come to Malvern. They did persuade me that we should consider giving our communities the option.
What matters most to me is local control and a clear agreement. Local leaders should decide whether a proposed project fits their community, ask hard questions and set terms that protect the public interest. Residents should have a meaningful opportunity to weigh in. In my view, any incentive should depend on the new revenue a project actually produces, so a community does not have to take money from its existing budget to make a speculative promise.
Why does a fire chief care so much about economic development? Because when a city grows, the demand for public safety grows with it. The Malvern Fire Department takes pride in doing a great deal with limited resources. I want us to be ready to serve a stronger, growing city. Thoughtful development could help expand the resources available for public services over time, without asking residents to fund every improvement on their own or relying solely on competitive grants.
A yes vote on Issue 3 would not choose a project for Malvern or any other Arkansas community. It would give local governments and economic development leaders another option to consider, with the responsibility to use it wisely. I began this conversation as a hard no. After listening, asking questions and looking into it for myself, I am voting yes.
