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Our new Diamond Sports Complex and soccer complex continue to advance sports tourism in our community. Each year,
<br /> more and more visitors participate in tournaments at these complexes,and they bring new dollars to our economy as they stay in
<br /> our hotels,eat in our restaurants,and shop at our businesses.
<br /> The new Fitzhugh Park Community and Aquatics Center is an important part of our economic development strategy. It will
<br /> attract people from all over our region and stimulate our economy.While I am just as frustrated as you are by the 240 rain-day
<br /> delays in the center's construction, I promise that when it is finished it will be a project that everyone will be proud of and many will
<br /> be asking why we didn't build it years ago!
<br /> The center will provide an increased quality of place for all of our citizens by providing much needed meeting space,
<br /> affordable fitness opportunities,and aquatic fun for all ages.
<br /> The main community center building will house two rooms for meetings of 20 or less and two rooms for meetings of 100 to
<br /> 200.The two large meeting rooms will feature movable dividers to create four smaller meeting spaces.Adequate meeting space will
<br /> provide new opportunities for our citizens and local organizations to hold conferences,workshops, and events,and it will also attract
<br /> regional interest as organizations look to hold events outside their cities of origin.The catering kitchen will complement these
<br /> meetings as well as events in the multi-use gymnasium.
<br /> The gymnasium will have three basketball courts that double as six volleyball courts and will allow Batesville to host
<br /> regional and state tournaments that attract thousands of participants and spectators.There is even space dedicated for a
<br /> racquetball court. In addition,the gymnasium will accommodate many other types of events,including boat and outdoor shows and
<br /> the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce's Business Expo,which has outgrown its current space.The spacious floor will
<br /> comfortably accommodate at least 2,000 chairs to host concerts, high school graduations, banquets and other similar events.Two
<br /> movable curtains will separate the space into three sections,allowing simultaneous events. If a natural disaster strikes,the
<br /> gymnasium building will double as a community shelter that is powered by an on-site backup generator.
<br /> The main community center building will house the administrative offices for the parks and recreation department and two
<br /> large fitness spaces that will enhance our citizens'exercise opportunities.Thanks to our grant writing partner at the Batesville Area
<br /> Chamber of Commerce,the Blue&You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas awarded the city a$144,505 grant to purchase
<br /> exercise equipment for the 5,500-square foot fitness room.A large aerobics facility will accommodate exercise classes. During the
<br /> winter months,outdoor recreation becomes less available and less appealing.The community center will eliminate the weather
<br /> barrier.
<br /> Citizens can use the 1/8-mile indoor walking track to exercise even in times of the most inclement weather.Citizens of all
<br /> ages will enjoy year-round swimming and aquatic exercise in the heated indoor pool that will also serve as the location for swim
<br /> meets and sports tourism.The indoor aquatics amenities can be used for anything from winter birthday parties for our community's
<br /> youth to water therapy for our community's senior citizens.
<br /> During the summer months,our community will enjoy the zero-entry pool and splash pad with a raised whirlpool,a diving
<br /> area,two huge water slides,a four lane swimming area with a zip line,and a 440-foot lazy river with a tanning deck covered by two
<br /> inches of water.
<br /> In addition to increasing our citizens'quality of life and stimulating our tourism economy,the Fitzhugh Park Community
<br /> and Aquatics Center has and will continue to provide leverage to our local businesses and organizations in recruiting employees
<br /> and attracting new citizens to our area. Recently,quality of life was a deciding factor for a position candidate at one of our colleges.
<br /> The candidate requested to see the Fitzhugh Park Community and Aquatics Center and was so impressed,that he committed to the
<br /> position!That's one more valuable employee added to our education sector and one more citizen that will grow to love and serve
<br /> our community.Visitors and citizens alike look for quality of life when deciding to move or visit an area, but they are not the only
<br /> ones who see quality of life as a priceless asset.
<br /> For new companies to consider our community,we must offer the amenities that will help their employees and their
<br /> employees'families lead healthy, happy, and productive lives. Our community is blessed with many recreation opportunities. Our
<br /> basic infrastructure now has the excess capacity to foster economic growth and our core economy—agriculture—has been
<br /> stabilized.
<br /> We have pulled ourselves back from the brink. Now is the time for our community to embrace and support the changes
<br /> needed to develop a diversified and knowledge-based economy.
<br /> We must support innovative entrepreneurship by providing the resources that foster small business creation, and we must
<br /> recruit new industry to our area. Perhaps the most important element that will drive job creation and security is a trained and skilled
<br /> workforce that is required of the global,21s`Century economy.
<br /> Our city faces a skilled workforce deficit. Local companies report that many of their workers lack the skills that allow
<br /> company growth.We must create more workforce training opportunities for our high school graduates who prefer to go straight into the
<br /> workforce rather than pursuing a college degree.While a skilled workforce is essential,our community cannot neglect its college graduates
<br /> either.We must stop exporting this valuable asset.The 2010-2014 census numbers explain this problem well.
<br /> 14.8%of Independence County's population aged 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher,and Batesville's rate is
<br /> 21.3%while the statewide average is 20.6%. Faulkner County has a rate of 27.3%with Conway, its largest city,at 36.6%.
<br /> Craighead County has a rate of 24.8%while its largest city,Jonesboro,has 29.7%.(Source US Census 2010-2014).Not everyone is
<br /> destined to earn a four-year degree,but to attract better paying jobs our workforce must become better educated.If our college graduates
<br /> have jobs to come home to,we can more easily convince them to come back and build their futures in the same place that shaped their pasts.
<br /> All of our efforts—past,present,and future—have existed for the purpose of making a better life for the people of Batesville.When
<br /> I came to office,our future had been stalled by a lack of direction.We fought our way back,and now we have a focus that will positively affect
<br /> not only our city,but all of Independence County.IMPACT Independence County is leading our community to improve the quality of life,
<br /> quality of place,and economic opportunities for all Independence County residents.The City of Batesville fully supports the vision of
<br /> IMPACT Independence County and will work closely with its subcommittees and the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce as they
<br /> facilitate the accomplishment of this vision for our community by accessing and coordinating the resources of federal,state,and
<br /> municipal agencies; philanthropic foundations;economic development organizations;key regional leaders, legislators,and
<br /> commercial business organizations.
<br /> This vision for our community centers on four things: Economic Prosperity,Tourism, Educational Excellence,and Healthy
<br /> Living and Wellbeing.
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