Building Civic Pride

If young families and young professionals have nothing to do on a Friday night, they won't build their future here. Civic pride is not nostalgia. It is programming, opportunity, and leadership.

I. Activate What We Already Have

DeWitt's courthouse square and public spaces are assets. The goal is to activate them with consistent, scheduled programming.

Monthly First Friday on the Square
Food truck nights
Outdoor movie series on the lawn
Summer concert series featuring local bands
Expanded fall festival programming
Holiday lighting competitions for businesses

II. Build Youth Anchors

If we build places for our youth to gather safely and productively, they will build loyalty to this town.

Phased Youth Activity Center development
Pickleball and 3v3 basketball leagues
Adult recreational softball
Esports and gaming tournaments
Skills workshops (welding, coding, ag-tech)
Community mentorship nights

III. Remove Barriers for Entrepreneurs

The city should not compete with private enterprise. It should make it easier for entrepreneurs to take responsible risks.

Façade improvement matching grants
Temporary tax abatements for qualifying downtown ventures
Streamlined permitting process
Pop-up business weekends
Micro-grant competition: 'Pitch DeWitt'

IV. Fund Responsibly

Every project must have a clear return, defined structure, and phased implementation.

Pursue outside grants first
Leverage partnerships second
Encourage private sponsorships
Use debt only if revenue-backed and sustainable

Jenkins for Mayor

Building on DeWitt's Foundation

Contact

jenjkins4dewitt2026@outlook.com

204 N Madison
DeWitt, AR 72042

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Paid for by Jenkins for Mayor Campaign. Political advertisement paid for and approved by Jon-Claude Jenkins, candidate for Mayor of DeWitt, Arkansas.

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