FORT SMITH, Ark. — Choctaw Nation leaders toured Fort Smith today to discuss their future plans.
Fort Smith city leaders met for a luncheon at the Hardscrabble Country Club which served as a growing space for business relations. Both the Choctaw Nation and the City of Fort Smith are seeing growth for economic stimulators in the region.
"The casino, which is literally right on the border, is an important part of Fort Smith," Fort Smith city administrator Carl Geffken said.
"Even though we have our casino in Pocola, and it's in Oklahoma, we believe in growing the economy as a whole," Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton said.
The tour is a follow-up after Fort Smith's leaders visited the Choctaw Nation in Durant, Oklahoma. Both groups have growing areas and wanted to work together in guiding that growth.
"Creekmore Park, and along the riverfront with our riverfront master plan. We've been showing them the work that we have been doing in order to further grow and expand all of the amenities in the city," Geffken said.
Fort Smith's Marshal's Museum and baseball team has piqued the neighboring nation's interest. Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton says there's opportunity for both areas to work together as they'll soon be investing in their Pocola Casino.
"We always believe we want to complement a city; we don't want to come in and build restaurants that there's already restaurants there. That's just putting people out of business. We want to make sure and bring in another type of business, food and beverage, other amenities that's not already here," Chief Batton said.
Apart from amenities, both have military interests. Fort Smith has the F-35 Mission and the Choctaw Nation has its unmanned aircraft program.
"We do want and see similar outcomes and want similar items focused growth. And that's where we will have a success," Geffken said.
"Sure, are we about making dollars everybody's about doing that. But when you develop great relationships, and you provide great amenities, and you grow the community, and you grow tax base so that everything everybody can grow, and the economy grows. That's when it's a very successful project, in my opinion," Chief Batton said.
Geffken expressed that through their conversations, the city is already looking at working on a small project. They want to fix the road to the casino because "it's in terrible shape."
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