The Grand Opening of The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff's new $2.1 million Business Support Incubator was held in August 2006.
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas features 3 art galleries, a science gallery, a theatre and a studio classroom.
Jefferson Regional Medical Center (JRMC) is expanding and will soon have a new 3-story medical office building for cardiology specialists.
With a population of 55,085, Pine Bluff is Arkansas' sixth largest city and the county seat of Jefferson County. Pine Bluff is the second oldest settlement on the Arkansas River, however, today the city is the trade, entertainment, recreation and healthcare center for Southeast Arkansas. Located in the heart of the rich Arkansas River Basin farming area, the community is a leading producer of cotton, soybeans, cattle, rice, poultry, timber and catfish. However, a diverse industrial base also exists. Major employers include Tyson Foods, Evergreen Packaging, Inc., Central Moloney, Arcelor Mittal (formerly TrefilARBED) and Stant Manufacturing. Two federal installations - the Pine Bluff Arsenal and FDA's National Center for Toxicological Research - have a combined labor force of well over 1,500.
Pine Bluff also has a unique complement of transportation services. Five US highways and five state highways radiate from the city - in addition to I-530, which connects with I-30 and I-40 within 40 minutes.The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System provides dependable, year-round water transportation, and the Port of Pine Bluff's Harbor Industrial District offers a public terminal facility providing complete intermodal transloading services. Pine Bluff has a railroad history dating back more than 100 years. Union Pacific operates the major electronic classification yard directly east of the Port of Pine Bluff, and the city is also served by Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF).
Facilities of Pine Bluff's municipal airport, Grider Field, include a 6,000-ft asphalt runway with ILS and an FAA flight service station. Daily commercial airfreight and passenger services are available at the Little Rock National Airport only 42 miles away.
The community affords varied cultural and recreational activities. One focal point is the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, which provides a broad spectrum of exhibits and events. In 2001 the center received accreditation by the American Association of Museums, placing it among the nation's best. Among a variety of concerts and events, the Pine Bluff Convention Center hosts performances by the Pine Bluff Symphony Orchestra. And sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to a variety of parks, ball fields, championship golf courses and premier fishing waters.
Central to the community's role as a regional health-care center is the 471-bed Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Other hospital components include the Arkansas Cancer Institute, Jefferson Professional Center, and JRMC Heart Center. Educational facilities in Pine Bluff are provided by four public school districts; numerous parochial schools; Southeast Arkansas College, one of the fastest growing two-year colleges in the nation; and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Pine Bluff is also known for its people and is widely recognized as a caring community. Residents annually contribute thousands of volunteer hours to charitable, social service, and civic improvement organizations. Annually reaching a goal of more than $1 million, the United Way supports 25 area service agencies, most of which are headquartered in a unique new community services center financed by a $6.7 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.
For more on Pine Bluff, visit:
www.jeffersoncountyalliance.com
www.pinebluffchamber.com
www.pinebluffonline.com
www.thebioplex.com
www.UAPB.edu
www.seark.edu
www.kindermorgan.com