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Hot Springs Metro Partnership reports business openings, workforce grants and retail outreach
Summary
Cole McCaskill of the Hot Springs Metro Partnership told the board about recent business openings, a $6 million workforce grant for a welding facility at National Park College and retailers-development outreach at an upcoming ICSC show.
Cole McCaskill with the Hot Springs Metro Partnership briefed the Hot Springs City Board of Directors on local economic activity and outreach at the board's Jan. 14 agenda meeting.
McCaskill highlighted recent business activity, saying the chamber's holiday fundraiser raised $59,100 for Project Hope Food Bank and noting multiple retail and restaurant openings in December. He identified Origami Sake as a local company that has expanded from nine employees in May 2023 to 26 employees and now distributes to 17 states, with plans to reach 25 states in early 2025.
McCaskill also described a workforce development award: National Park College received a $6,000,000 grant to establish a welding facility, a project discussed by college staff and local economic leaders. He said Hot Springs representatives will attend the International Council of Shopping Centers Red River Deal Making Conference in Dallas to market commercial sites and meet retailers and developers.
The report also included routine civic and business engagements: National Park College trustee recognition, downtown association meetings, and industry roundtables on aerospace and manufacturing. McCaskill opened by thanking city employees who worked through recent extreme weather and credited public-safety and public-works staff for keeping services running.
The presentation was informational; no board action was recorded on the update. McCaskill closed by reminding directors of upcoming events, including the chamber banquet on Jan. 30 and the ICSC conference.
