By John R. Schirmer
News-Leader staff
Developing Howard County will pay its share of a feasibility study to determine whether or not a new hotel is a possibility for Nashville.
At their May 29 meeting, DHC board members voted to reimburse the city of Nashville $3,750 for the panel’s share of the $15,000 study.
Mayor Larry Dunaway said the firm conducting the study was expected to have someone in Nashville this week to look around town and prepare a report.
“They’ll see if it’s feasible for a hotel to be built in town,” Dunaway said.
A hotel chain is looking at Nashville as a possible site for a 54-room facility with conference room and pool.
The chain’s hotel would comply with state standards for youth baseball and softball tournaments, Dunaway said.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Dunaway said.
In other discussion at the meeting, board members asked about distribution of funds from the
recently approved extension of Howard County’s one-cent sales tax.
County Judge Brent Pinkerton said the only would be allocated after the first of January 2026. “We’ll check with the state toward the end of the year” for more information, Pinkerton said.
Several entities will receive money from the sales tax, including the county, incorporated cities, Howard Memorial Hospital and DHC.
Board Chair Paul Britt said DHC will need a finance committee “with additional money coming in.”
Economic Development Director Vanessa Weeks discussed the Arkansas Community Assistance Grant Program. Applications are due by July 31.
The amount of funding available to any one project in any state fiscal year “shall not exceed $1.5 million,” according to program rules. “The amount of the grant award shall be determined by [the Arkansas Economic Development Commission] based upon eligibility criteria, Availability of funding, and program demands for funds, which may result in grant offers that are less than application requests.”
In board-related business, Deb Marshall was named secretary-treasurer. Hector Cortez and Greg Pryor attended their first board meeting.
