FORT SMITH (KFSM)- Fort Smith residents gathered for a town hall meeting Thursday (April 23) to discuss bringing more jobs and economic development to the area.
City leaders and small business owners met at the Fort Smith Library. Mercedes Lopez owns a small business.
"It's not hard, but it's not easy," Lopez said. "You have to love what you are doing, have passion."
Some Fort Smith residents said there needs to more activity downtown and would like to see more businesses and more large corporations set up in town.
Mose Marie Boyd organized the meeting and encourages people to shop and eat local.
"We were trying to bring ordinary people as well as specialist together here tonight to talk about it on a person-to-person level and make it more realistic,” she said. “Our goal was to talk about why economic development is critical in our community."
Another town hall meeting is expected to take place at the end of the summer.