Impact of the Clinton Presidential Center

Today marks ten years since President Clinton decided to locate his presidential library and center in Little Rock, which was chosen over Georgetown, Yale and Fayetteville, among other places. A panel discussion made up of Little Rock City Director Dean Kumpuris, LR City Manager Bruce Moore, real estate developer Jimmy Moses and Dan O’Byrne, CEO of the LR Convention and Visitors Bureau discussed how the site was chosen over its competitors and then over the 29 other proposed sites in the central Arkansas area. Clinton School Dean Skip Rutherford moderated.

It was a worthwhile program that included a look at the development in the River Market and other parts of downtown Little Rock since the decision was made. The most interesting question from the audience was not the question itself but who it came from. Gene Pfeiffer, once involved in a land dispute with the library, asked what's taking so long for the foundation to complete the bridge across the Arkansas River.