Hot Springs Chamber spotlights workforce training, passport center expansion and business growth

Mayor Bill Burrow called the agenda meeting to order and invited Gary Trappman, president and CEO of the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Hot Springs Metro Partnership, to deliver an economic development report to the City Board.

Trappman summarized recent business recruitment and workforce efforts, saying the chamber met with retailers and restaurants in Dallas, is exploring a local satellite for Forge (a seven-week immersive technical training program) and is coordinating with a Passport Center expansion. "It's ... dollars 12,000 for the class," Trappman said of the Forge program, adding the program provides housing and is recruiting from the Hot Springs area.

The report matters because the chamber and Metro Partnership serve as the city’s lead business recruiting and workforce development partners and their activities affect local hiring, tourism and downtown investment. Trappman said the Passport Center currently occupies about 37,000 square feet and plans to add about 29,000 square feet to the facility, a change he called a major project for the partnership.

In other highlights, Trappman described outreach to manufacturers and local employers, a planned job- and student-focused website launch, ongoing draft-day employer events at Lake Hamilton, and recruitment of medical and retail hires. He noted local companies — including Bridal Luxury Pontoons near Jones Mill and a newly opened Lincoln dealership in Hot Springs — are expanding operations or reporting strong sales. Trappman also flagged community events and visits, including an upcoming visit from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis president in May and a highways event hosted in July.

During questions from the board, Director Maria Garcia asked whether rental income reported in the chamber’s financials came from the passport facility; Trappman confirmed it did. Garcia also asked about an item showing that 63% of expenses were recorded as "administration reimbursement." Trappman explained the administrative partnership pays a percentage of staff salaries and said a large portion of that line covers personnel costs. "I can give you a report on that if you'd like," he said.

Trappman and board members discussed how volunteer time and in-kind services are tracked. Trappman said some volunteer hours and in-kind marketing are not currently captured in the financial statements but that the chamber documents meeting lengths and could produce additional reports. He suggested documenting volunteer hours could help when applying for grants.

The meeting record shows no formal City Board action on the chamber update; the report was informational and will accompany the board's regular agenda items next week.