The city of Benton held a press conference today, Nov. 19, where city leaders unveiled four upcoming economic development projects.
“Things are happening in Benton,” Brad Jordan, the city’s economic development director, told AMP after the press conference. “We want to strike while the iron is hot. We want to increase the quality of life here and make the community thrive.”
Before the announcements, Benton Mayor David Mattingly presented a video highlighting the past 18 months of economic development in the area, which has led to $210 million in investments and 2,000 jobs. And, he said, more projects are on the way.
AMP covered the economic development in Benton and Bryant, and the recent opening of the nearby Outlets of Little Rock in our September/October issue. Read the story here.
The upcoming projects will ensure that Benton is a “driver and not a passenger in 21st century development,” Jordan said.
The four upcoming projects announced today include:
1. Palace Theater
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Built in 1919, the Palace Theater, located at 224 W. South St., will undergo renovations to become an “arts and heritage center,” said local businessman Curtis Ferguson, who has been leading the push to revamp the theater.
“If we take our past and apply it to the present, imagine what the future will be,” he said.
Renovations, which could take up to two years to complete, will include restoring the front elevation to look like the original. The just under 5,600-square-foot lower level renovations will create a teaching center and studio, display areas, a gift shop and visitor center. The nearly 4,500-square-foot upper level will create areas for a Benton/Saline County Aluminum History Display, Southwest Trail Display, lecture hall and Heritage and Gann Museum Display.
2. ACDI Headquarters
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ACDI, or Access Control Devices Inc., a 20-year-old company, which provides design cost recovery solutions for manufacturers in the printer-copier industry and currently based at Little Rock Port Authority will move its headquarters to Benton.
Matt Bennett, ACDI director of sales and operations, said the company has outgrown its current space. While he said the new facility is in its early phases, he expects it to be open by summer 2017.
ACDI currently employs about 40 people and could double the number of jobs by the time of relocation, Bennett told AMP. He said ADCI is dedicated to investing the in the community of Benton.
3. Benton Farmers Market
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A new 6,000-square-foot farmers market pavilion will be built in downtown Benton.
Jordan said the farmers market will create a sense of place downtown and feature areas of green space. He said the structure should be completed by 2017.
4. Concession Stand at Bernard Holland Park
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The concession stand at the 35-acre Bernard Holland Park will undergo a renovation and be renamed the Everett GMC Pavilion.
Susie Everett, co-founder of Everett Buick GMC in Saline County, presented a $150,000 check to Benton Parks & Recreation for the project.
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