10-04-2025
Three Texarkana-area mayors talk about the state of their cities
TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)—At the annual State of the Cities breakfast, the mayors of Texarkana, Ar., Tx., and Nash all agreed that their cities are open for business.
'I think that that is something that we've really been working on hard, at least the 7 years that I've been mayor, is having something that businesses and industry are interested in,' said Texarkana, Ar. Mayor Allen Brown.
$2 million awarded to Miller Co. industrial site
Brown pointed to new housing developments, grant funding to further improve the new airport terminal into a hub for passengers and businesses, and their efforts to bring companies to the REDI Arkansas Manufacturing Center.
'Which is 1340 acres that's being marketed even today in a show in Georgia. So we have a lot of opportunity for people to want to live and work here,' said Brown.
Texas-side Mayor Bob Bruggeman spoke about downtown revitalization, including the opening of the Lofts at the Grimthe, a conversion of another historic building into housing.
Historic downtown Texarkana building in early stages of becoming apartments
Bruggeman also touted the work being done to build out the Texas A&M Texarkana campus, improvements to city sport facilities, and road projects near local schools.
'We have infrastructure in place. Quality of life is something that we look at and analyze on a on a daily basis as far as providing… for families who live here in our community or those families who are looking at perhaps moving here to Texarkana, USA,' said Texarkana, Tx. Mayor Bruggeman.
Nash, Tx. Mayor Robert Bunch highlighted the work to develop a downtown district. They are making a stretch of East New Boston Road more walkable and attractive with a new boutique hotel and a farm-to-table restaurant.
Mayor Brown also invited students from North Heights Community School, which has a micro-society that includes its own version of a city government. So, technically, North Heights Mayor Scout Watts was the fourth mayor in attendance.
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