Searcy Spreading Out in Every Direction

A small Arkansas town finds room to grow. Searcy city leaders plan to make the city`s area larger, as the space within the city limits fill in with new businesses and homes. Searcy Mayor Belinda LaForce sas it`s been going on for the last 10 years at a steady pace. But in order to keep up with new business and near-record housing starts, they`re planning to annex the city outskirts before the city outgrows itself. Business-owner Rusty Nokes is brewing more than just coffee. "Since I did grow up here, there`s never been a lot to do in Searcy, after a late movie, there`s really nothing going on," Nokes explained. He knows by opening his new coffee house, Thanks A-Latte, he`s getting in on the ground floor. It`s one of several new businesses to open shop in Searcy, as the city itself begins to spread out. Even in the last two years, more national retailers have opened doors in Searcy, like Lowe`s and Staples. "I think it`s our location, we`re on 67/167, close to Little Rock, close to Memphis, we`re the county seat," said Buck Layne, Searcy Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Belinda LaForce says the city is planning to ask residents to annex the city outskirts in every direction to keep up with the growth. "A lot of the development I feel like is being hampered by not having access to sewer at a reasonable cost," she said. The annexation should make it easier for the city to attract more developments she said. Searcy population stands at almost 19,000 people. Annexation could put that number over 20,000. Already, new houses are going up at a near record pace. Last year, the city issued 138 new housing permits. There`ve been 60 this year so far, when the yearly average for Searcy sits around 90. "There`s new banks up and down this street, new businesses cropping up everywhere. So we feel we`re in a great position for people to get an early cup of coffee on the way to work," said Nokes. A few more examples of growth are the $30 million expansion project at the White County Medical Center and the $8 million expansion project at the Searcy Airport. LaForce says the city is still researching how much space, population and revenue they could be adding on in the annex. Once city leaders approve the ordinance, the issue goes on the November ballot.