Small Business Roundtable

I invited several successful Fort Smith small business owners to join me for a roundtable discussion on the issues impacting our community. The group represented a wide range of businesses from across the city, from exciting new ventures to long established Fort Smith institutions.

Thank you to everyone who participated for the robust and free flowing conversation, the thoughtful ideas, and the willingness to share what is impacting your businesses and employees the most. I believe we arrived at some practical solutions to common challenges business owners in Fort Smith are facing. 

As a small business owner myself, these conversations matter to me. I value the opportunity to listen and learn directly from the people who invest here and re-invest into our community every day.

Small businesses deserve a seat at the table. They are the bellwether of our local economy, they are the first to see changes in customer behavior, and the first to spot opportunities for growth. Their voices should be part of the conversation about where our city is going.

When I am mayor, I will not be someone who only reports the economic headlines. I will be meeting with the people who are actually driving that growth.

Because the future is better when we build it together.

I recently participated in the mayoral Town Hall sessions led by Miles Crawford. It was a lively discussion where I introduced my proposed Mayor’s budget with cuts that reduce the budget to levels not seen in nearly 20 years.

We talked about addressing the erosion of trust in government and restoring confidence in our public institutions. We also discussed the importance of fiscal responsibility and how we can continue delivering strong results for Fort Smith families.

I shared lessons from my time on the Board,  both the triumphs and the challenges, and how those experiences have prepared me to lead with a focus on results.

The future is better when we build it together.