Businessowners Speak Out Against Bass Pro
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Bass Pro`s presence in North Little Rock is being met with opposition by businessowners.
Merchants say the store is using public funds to build the 130,000 square-foot facility at the I-30/40 exchange.
"My concern is the public financing," says Marty Wood, owner of Gene Lockwood Sportsmart.
"If Bass Pro wants to move here, God bless them. But let them pay their fair share."
A developer for Bass Pro says tax incremental financing, or TIF, is being used to develop the land where the company plans to build.
TIF is often used to develop land that has little or no value.
A spokesman says the company will pay property taxes and the only incentive it received to build in NLR is reduced rent.
Construction is slated for completion next fall.
