REBUILDING, REINVESTING, AND TACKLING BLIGHT While new projects gather attention, much of the city’s progress is also rooted in quieter, block-byblock improvements. Since taking office, Woods and his administration have condemned more than 50 derelict houses that posed safety risks and dragged down neighborhood appearance.Around 30 of those have already been removed, and private developers have stepped in to acquire, clear, and rebuild on additional sites. Local investors such as the Huey brothers, Osment Construction, the McKenzies, the Slinkard Family, and others have been purchasing older or damaged properties, tearing down what cannot be saved, and constructing new homes in their place.The result is a steady reduction in blight and a noticeable lift in the overall look and feel of established neighborhoods. The December 2021 tornado, whose anniversary the city quietly notes each year, also played an unexpected role in renewal. While the storm was devastating, Trumann was fortunate: there were no fatalities and only a few injuries. Many of the homes destroyed were older properties in need of repair.The replacement of these structures with modern homes has accelerated the upgrade of several areas.The city has also rebuilt key civic facilities, including a new fire station that stands as a symbol of resilience and forward momentum. CHAMBER LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC PARTNERSHIPS Economic growth in Trumann is supported by a strong institutional framework. The Trumann Chamber of Commerce and the Trumann Industrial Development Commission, both led by Executive Director Bob Sowell, are active partners in both business retention and attraction. Along Highway 463, often considered the city’s downtown spine, private contractors are purchasing older buildings and refurbishing them, helping to 191 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 CITY OF TRUMANN, AR
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