Funding secured for HPMEC

During the past several months the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center has been at the forefront of debate over continued funding. That funding was insured for the next two years by the Legislature last week, thanks to the work of several regional lawmakers.
(Times photo/Tim Blair)

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State Senator Robert Thompson of Paragould spearheaded the effort in the Senate, along with Senator Paul Bookout, and received backing in the house from State Representative Mike Patterson of Piggott along with Representatives Joan Cash, Ray Kidd and Butch Wilkins.

The lawmakers succeeded in getting more than $1.3 million in funding for the sites, including $1,025,000 by Act 1333 and an additional $350,000 in general revenue funding.

Funding for the sites, which is approved each two years by the legislature, had been in question for the coming biennium after some lawmakers questioned the spending during the 2007 legislative session.

The possibility of losing funding prompted supporters of the sites to launch a campaign to lobby lawmakers, and the outpouring of calls, letters and emails played a key role in getting the funding approved.

"I am just elated with the news," Piggott Mayor Gerald Morris noted. "I had made a lot of contacts with people in Little Rock trying to explain to them how important this was to us, especially as a rural community."

Morris also offered his thanks to Thompson and Patterson for their efforts.

"we knew they were down there doing their best for us. I am just elated that funding was approved."

"We had a lot of meetings with the Governor before we could work things out," Patterson said. "It took a lot of people to get this done, and I know for a while folks were wondering if it would happen. I'm just thankful for the hard work that Robert Thompson, Paul Bookout and Governor Beebe did on the effort."

ASU President Dr. Les Wyatt echoed those sentiments. "Arkansas State University is grateful for the leadership of Senator Robert Thompson with the support of Senator Paul Bookout to obtain funding in the recent General Assembly for the ASU Heritage Sites," he noted. "The Heritage Sites will continue to serve economic development interests throughout east Arkansas," Wyatt added. "We appreciate the significant support given for these initiatives."

Diana Sanders, assistant director of the museum, noted the many phone calls, letters and emails from supporters did make a difference.

"We thank you for your faithful and outspoken support," she noted. "The voice of the people was an important component in the success of our effort. We thank you and ask that you thank your senator and representatives."

Thompson offered his thanks to Bookout and the House members who helped gain approval of funding for the Heritage Sites.

The senator from Paragould also remarked on the strong support the effort received from other regional lawmakers, including Patterson.

"In the current economic environment, this amount of funding would have been very doubtful without such strong support from Representatives Mike Patterson, Joan Cash, Ray Kidd and Butch Wilkins," Thompson said.

"Their hard work and tenacity made the difference. It helped too that the Heritage Sites are such worthwhile projects. When you really believe in a project you can make a stronger case," Thompson said.

Although the current funding is just for the next two years, Patterson indicated the lawmakers are looking to the future.

"We are currently working on trying to get this funding into the permanent revenue stream," he said. "That way funding won't have to be sought each biennium."

Patterson added the local museum has not only brought people and money to the Piggott area, but also has put the city on the map, so to speak.

"It's not only a boost to the local economy, but I've gone all over the U.S. and run into the people who knew where Piggott was because they've visited the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum," he said. "It's becoming a well-known travel destination."

The appropriations approved by lawmakers will benefit all of the ASU Heritage Sites, including the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center at Piggott, the ASU museum on the campus at Jonesboro, the Southern Tenant Farmers Museum at Tyronza and the Lakeport Plantation House near Lake Village. Dr. Ruth Hawkins serves as director of the sites.