Community Meeting

HOPE-A community meeting was held on Tuesday, March 26 at Hempstead Hall. The meeting was brought by Arkansas Economic Development Institute and the Hempstead County Economic Development Council. They gave information regarding the survey that took place throughout the past few weeks. There was a total of 698 individuals within Hempstead County who completed the survey to its entirety. Out of those who completed the survey 44% were from the city of Hope. 77% of the survey takers were aged 35 or older. The race ratio of those who took the survey were 76% were white, 15% were African Americans, and 6% were Hispanic.

One of the questions that were presented in the survey pertained to trusting the city government to make the right choices, the following percentages are those that say never; 78% African American, 66% Hispanic, and 50% white.

60% White, 31% African American, and 58% Hispanic thought that our public schools systems were lacking.

31% White, 41% African American, and 28% Hispanic believe that Hempstead County is not good for immigrants.

45% White, 37% African American, and 30% Hispanic voted that Hempstead County is not a place for families to live.

59% White, 26% African American and 15% Hispanic believe that Hempstead County was not a place senior citizens.

All races believed that the University of Arkansas Hope Texarkana Community College is a good asset to the county.

The survey is only just a section of the community and not the community as a whole. The remaining results of the survey will be released to the public at a later date.

They started by having those present to help create a Vision Statement for the Community, the vision created is to help create a plan of action and use throughout the year. They asked “If you were to receive a newspaper in five years about Hope, what would you want the Headline to read?” Some of the answers that were given, all public schools having an “A” rating, to create a boys and girls club, and to help further the tourism within the county. Then discussed how to make the visions possible.

A steering committee will meet on Monday. Applications will be accepted from April 8 through April 22. Applications will be online in both English and Spanish and you may also pick up hardcopies at City Hall.