Monticello Live

The groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of a Public Rail Access Facility in the MEDC Industrial Park was held Tuesday afternoon.

When completed the new rail spur will hook to the existing (soon to be improved) spur at Hood Packaging, and switch to a rail that will send freight cars into the Industrial Site for loading and unloading of cargo. This will likely begin with lumber.  Currently Price Lumber and occasionally Maxwell Hardwood load rail freight at the Jackson Street crossing.

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Eight local business leaders and government officials visited our elected officials in Washington D.C.Tuesday and Wednesday, to discuss our local infrastructure needs.

During their trip, members of the MEDC and 20 for the Future met with Congressman Tom Cotton, Senator Mark Pryor, and Senator John Boozman.

This photo was taken during their meeting with Senator Boozman.

As the former Centerpoint Energy property on N. Chester St. is being cleared out, with the company’s move to the Industrial Site, the property will son belong to the MEDC, in receipt of the land-swap for the gas company’s new worksite.o

The first likely tenant will be contractor’s for the city’s new water system upgrade  project.

Tommy Maxwell, vice- president of Maxwell Hardwood Flooring has submitted his resignation from the Monticello Economic Development Commission, where he served as vice-president, to accept a position on the National Hardwood Federation Board.

The Monticello City Council approved the extension of MEDC’s bid for services to the city for $268,692 (for 2013) at Tuesday nigh’ts meeting.

MEDC Report from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

The Arkansas Economic Developers, a statewide organization of economic development professionals and community leaders, presented it’s yearly awards, Tuesday, including thhe 2012 Volunteer of the Year, at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, Arkansas.

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MEDC Report to City Council from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Sen. Mark Pryor and the MEDC / 20 for the Future Delegation in Washington DC

8 business and community leaders from Monticello spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington D.C., meeting with with all 6 members of our state’s national representatives, detailing a list of local needs, in hopes of getting or continuing funding of several Monticello / Drew County projects.

Meetings were with with Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman, as well as Congressmen Tim Griffin, Mike Ross, Rick Crawford and Steve Womack.

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After several years of hard work, the “dream” of bringing the old Ridgeway Hotel back to life as a modern senior apartment complex, became a reality, in 2011.

Mandy Moss, reporter, and Joe Burgess, the "MonticelloLive Guy"

The Business of the Year Award is given to a business that strives everyday to provide outstanding community service while developing a quality product that attracts a wide range of customers. MonticelloLive is pleased and honored to accept the title of MEDC/Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year for 2011.

After purchasing MonticelloLive only 4 years ago, owner Joe Burgess has transformed a small, local website into a news site that, in the past 12 months, has had more than 2.7 million page views. In the past two months alone, MLive has also been linked on state-level news websites 3 times for its coverage of important local stories.  The business has been mentioned in Arkansas Business twice, and in Arkansas Times once

Burgess’ entertaining acceptance speech ranged from stand-up comedian to lay-preacher, as he took the opportunity to thank his sponsors, employees, and readers, but most of all, he took time to say, “I want to thank the Lord.”

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

The MEDC and the Chamber of Commerce hosted the dedication ceremonies for the Ridgeway Monticello and the Downtown Civic Center, Tues afternoon.

Ridgeway tours  led into the ceremony at the fully renovated hotel, where around 100 people attended.

The Downtown Civic Center dedication followed, and had an estimated 75 present.

Cablevisin’s “Hometown Monticello” program on Channel 19 will include a special video segment of the Ridgeway Monticello dedication event, repeating from Sunday at 5 pm, until Monday at 7 am, this weekend.

Members of Monticello’s 20 for the Future and MEDC are in Washington D.C., today. meeting with Congressman Mike Ross, Senator Mark Pryor, and Senator John Boozman.

The group includes Bennie Ryburn, Jack Lassiter of UAM, Scott Kuttenkuler of UAM, Michael Layfield (DMH CEO), Mayor Allen Maxwell, Tommy Maxwell of Maxwell Hardwood Flooring, Mike and Susan Akin,  Nita McDanie (MEDC Director), and David McDaniel of Maxwell Hardwood Flooring

Proposed funding needs to be addressed on the trip include projects for UAM, the city of Monticello,  Drew Memorial Hospital, The Ridgeway Hotel, and I-69 and I-530 construction, and the Yellow Bend Port.

Here are the specific requests for support and/or funding. (more…)

P.Q. Gardner and DeAnna Doherty

Drew County Developmentally Disabled, including Sesame School, The Other Way, and other operations in surrounding couties.

The Marketplace

Monticello Schools, Emily White

Drew Central Schools, Alan Goodding

UAMonticello, Jim Edson

James & Rene Knowles family, of Possum Valley.

Click here for the feature article that MonticelloLive posted when James & Rene were announced as the Drew County Farm Family of the Year, in July.

21 local business, education, and political leaders traveled to Washington D.C. last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and met with Arkansas’ Congressional Delegation. (more…)

MonticelloLive.com would like to thank the members of the “20 for the Future” group that went to Washington D.C. for the photos that they have provided for public posting. 

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Steel framed building with 35′ x 50′ bays, a total of 50,088 square feet under a standing seam metal roof system. A glass storefront has been installed to accommodate an interior office, or provide an attractive entry.

Decorative split-faced block has been utilized on the front and street sides of the building. Footing and foundations have been built; the floor remains to be poured thereby allowing the owner to establish specifications.

For more information contact the Monticello Economic Development Commission, P.O. Box 1890, Monticello, AR 71657 or see our web site at http://monticelloedc.org/

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