Mayor Jackson's Final State of City Address

HARRISON, AR. - Mayor Jerry Jackson recently delivered his final State of the City address to a capacity crowd at the Signature Bank Community Room. Since Jackson is not seeking reelection, the presentation served as a retrospective of the city's growth and accomplishments over his eight-year tenure.

A significant portion of the address focused on economic development. Jackson provided an update on Provalus, a tech support company contracted to bring 150 jobs to the city. Although government grant requirements have delayed the company's move-in date, the Mayor confirmed that the project is still moving forward. He also emphasized the ongoing effort to make downtown Harrison a premier destination, crediting the Chamber of Commerce and other local organizations for their support.

The Mayor highlighted the overwhelming success of the Creekside Community Center, which has seen approximately 5,000 memberships and hosts a variety of sporting and cultural events. This development also led to the creation of a new fire station to improve emergency response times and "The Amp," a venue that continues to attract major musical acts. These initiatives contributed to Harrison receiving its second Trendsetter City Award for innovative community development.

Infrastructure and partnerships were also key themes. Jackson reported the completion of 18 miles of road repairs and plans to synchronize traffic signals to reduce congestion. He also announced the "Lions Den," a new public restroom and seating area developed in partnership with the Lions Club.

Looking ahead, the city will campaign for a quarter-cent tax that was previously rejected by voters. Jackson stressed that this funding is essential for maintaining police and fire services, particularly as the city manages nearly 30,000 vehicles passing through daily.

Jackson concluded by praising his department heads for their dedication and thanking the citizens of Harrison for the honor of serving as their mayor.