Technology Park development plans

What sort of studies have been made ythat suggests technology businesses would consider Little Rock? Do they have commitments from some? More specifics are needed. Are we next in line for another Solyndra? Iam sure the Obama admin is looking for another place to create another white elephant. Sounds like pie in the sky to me.

while not having a dog in this particular fight, I believe what they're trying to do is good; attract high-tech industry, provide higher paying jobs, and keep our college-educated youth in town, earning (and spending) higher wages than are currently available. Some companies like using colleges as feeders to keep the young minds and fresh ideas coming in the front door. If the park is built too far away from access (interstate and/or rail), or doesn't have solid infrastructure (phone/fiber/cable access and steady electric/water supply) it affects who would consider coming here. Arkansas is a right-to-work state, and it's cheaper to live in than a lot of other states - it's also cheaper to run a business from here. The 'fallout' is usually higher income in the area of the park, as new amenities go in to cater to the new businesses, and those amenities usually include more jobs. If it's done right, its a win-win for the immediate area, except for those who may be displaced. As the article plainly states, Consulting firm Crafton Tull will not select the best site, only help guide the board in its final decision. That guidance would probably include the things (and more) that I stated. For instance, is the sewer system robust enough to handle the new expected load - if not, chalk up a few million more $$$ to upgrade it. If, as inferred in the comments, they build it in the middle of nowhere, the price goes way up because all the needed infrastructure has to be built - roads, rail, water, electric, communications - and that has to be paid for before anyone moves in or it doesn't get installed. That's kind of why it kind of needs to go somewhere that most or all of the necessities already exist. While admittedly inconvenient for some, I think it would be nice to expand the tax base by including some new businesses and adding some needed jobs.

happy, this technology park is someones blind vision of the future. It is a figment of their imagination that they feel will bring the area in tune with the current times. (they = city leaders) What they fail to realize is that no one wants to invest time or money in a crime infested city.

Pardon me for sounding dumb, but what is a technology park. And how will our city benefit from it ? That is a truck load of money that could be put to very good use in many other ways. 22 million WOW !

These people are morons. The city leaders want to brag on what they have coming into the city as business/industry, how they are bringing jobs and money to the economy. But this is stupid. Wanting to make someone sell their house for "fair market value" (which is at a low) and make them try to find a house they like thats in their budget and basically uprooting families, just to have a damn "Technology Park". Again, I thank God I do not live in LR/NLR.

This whole idea is a complete waste of money!!

You are absolutely right. Little Rock has so much real estate just sitting there abandoned. Follow the money and see who owns the property. You will easily predict where it will be built.

How dare they attempt to move people out of their home when their is so much undeveloped land. How dare they leave the decision to be made by people who do not live in the community that is being affected by the change. How dare they offer less than what it will take for someone to "CHANGE" who they are for something they may never need. We live in a heartless city. How can we continue to elect people who allow people lives to be affected in such an intangible economy. I am so disappointed that this is legally allowed. Why are businessmen so desperate for conflict. The technology center is not as important as those communities that will be affected by the change. It should be the decision of the community not a group of unconcerned businessmen. I think that each individual person who makes the decision to destroy these communities for the sake of the "technology" center should give up their property. Sell their home to the people who will lose theirs. Let them move their family and find a place to call home.