Texarkana Arkansas A&P Commission Meeting - April 21, 2026

The Texarkana, Arkansas Advertising and Promotion (A&P) Commission held a regular meeting on April 21, 2026. The board approved funding for a professional fishing tournament, deferred several large event sponsorship requests pending formal applications, and discussed operational improvements for downtown cleanup and tax compliance.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the previous meeting's minutes.

Funding Requests and Presentations

National Professional Fishing League (NPFL)

• Paul Benson, representing the NPFL, requested $15,000. The tournament relocated from Wright Patman Lake to Lake Millwood. Mr. Benson stated the event had an estimated total economic impact of $1.3 to $1.4 million, with roughly $420,000 directly impacting the local area. Commissioner Mills praised the investment. The board approved the funding unanimously (5-0).

KM Sports Entertainment Concert Proposal

• Ben Goldsmith from KM Sports Entertainment proposed a Clint Black concert downtown on September 12, 2026. The total event budget was $190,000, with a request for $45,000 from the A&P Commission. He projected 5,500-6,000 attendees. Since no formal application was submitted, the board deferred the request, instructing Mr. Goldsmith to complete the paperwork for a potential special meeting.

Big Dam Waterpark Event Series

• Mr. Blevins of Big Dam Waterpark presented a revised proposal for eight special events costing $173,000 total. He introduced a revenue-sharing model where the city would receive all revenue over $20,000 on event days. Concerns were raised by Commissioners Jewell and Homes regarding auditing, the precedent of subsidizing a private business, and the missing formal application. The board deferred the item pending application review.

TV Station Proposal

• Dave Evans appeared on behalf of Mr. Crenshaw to postpone discussion on a TV station proposal due to medical reasons. The board agreed to schedule a workshop.

Agency Reports and General Discussion

All Brand Kind Agency Update

• Danny and Tracy of All Brand Kind updated the board on marketing efforts. They coordinated with the NPFL on promotional video shoots. They proposed a new "tourism coffee" networking event and continued development of passport programs to drive business to Arkansas-side vendors during large events.

Downtown Cleanup

• Commissioner Dotson raised the issue of litter and debris on Broad Street after weekend events. He suggested an allocation of roughly $15,000 for weekend cleanup by park staff. Commissioner Mills proposed using community service workers as an alternative. The board tabled the item to explore the legalities of a community service program.

Delinquent A&P Taxes

• The board discussed improving delinquent tax collection. The possibility of linking tax compliance to business licenses was debated. Staff indicated they are researching enforceable collection tools.

Commission Vacancy

• The resignation of Commissioner Alison Wright was announced. An application for the vacant seat was received. The board opted to invite the applicant to the next meeting for an interview before making a recommendation to the city board.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: $15,000 funding for the National Professional Fishing League (5-0).
• Approved: The revised AMP Funding Application packet.
• Deferred: KM Sports Entertainment request (pending application).
• Deferred: Big Dam Waterpark sponsorship (pending application).
• Deferred: Appointment of new commissioner (pending interview).
• Next Steps: Staff to investigate community service for downtown cleanup and enforcement tools for delinquent A&P taxes.