Copyright Arkansas Online
The economy of Jacksonville, a city that relies on the spending of service members and civilian employees from Little Rock Air Force Base, has taken a hit as the government shutdown creates uncertainty for many in the community. While active military is expected to receive their Nov. 1 paycheck, though possibly at a reduced rate, federal officials say there is no money available currently for the Nov. 14 payday. Jacksonville businesses of all kinds have been affected by the downstream effects of the second-longest government shutdown in history, including Chicken Country, a restaurant that has provided the area with Southern cooking for about 50 years. "I went through the last shutdown, this one is worse," Bridget Burton, the restaurant's owner, said during an unusually slow lunchtime. "The economy is very, very slow here. People are wondering where their next meal is coming from. A large customer base for us is from the Little Rock Air Force Base and they're struggling." According to Burton, running a restaurant in Jacksonville during the government shutdown is especially difficult when compared to some other sectors of the economy. This is because eating out isn't considered essential, she said. It's often one of the first things people cut back on when economic uncertainty hits. Many civilian employees at the base who are paid using funds appropriated by Congress have been furloughed and others that are deemed mission critical are currently working without pay. Active duty service members have continued getting their checks, but a Lt. George Schroeder, a spokesperson for the base, was unable to confirm that all military personnel at the base will receive their pay at the beginning of the month. The next paycheck for the military is expected to hit on Friday, and it's unclear if all active-duty service members will be paid. "Military members and non-furloughed civilians will continue to work. We anticipate that they will ultimately be paid for their service, though that would not normally occur until an appropriation by Congress," Schroeder said. "It is difficult to predict the specific economic impact on the local community if military personnel begin missing paychecks. However, regardless of the lapse in appropriations, Little Rock Air Force Base's partnership with Jacksonville and surrounding local communities remains strong." Burton said she would not let members of her community go hungry. According to her, Chicken Country has already provided free meals to those that have been affected by the shutdown and she anticipates doing so until the situation is resolved. "We support our employees. We support our community. They will not go hungry," she said. "We will make ends meet because we have saved for November and December. So Chicken Country will not be going anywhere." Like Burton, Cindy Damron the owner of Ms. Cindy's Sewing Room, a clothing alteration store in Jacksonville, said she would continue to provide services to military personnel even if they can't pay as a result of the shutdown. "I do clothing alterations. I do it mainly for the military. I do civilian clothing, as well, but I cater to the military," Damron, the only full-time employee of the store, said. "I'm not worried about money. I know that they'll pay me sometime or another. I give them whatever they need when they need it and the bill comes later as far as I'm concerned." Having to provide services without paying affects Damron's bottom line, but the self-described patriot is more concerned with doing her part, she said. It helps that the $91,000 in equipment that she uses to conduct her work is paid for, and that she has savings to carry her through the shutdown if needed. "I don't worry about that (stuff)," said Damron, who used to provide alteration services on the base. "I don't like politics. I don't like politicians. Everything that they do just increases my prayer life." Robert Birch, the director of economic development for the city of Jacksonville, said Little Rock Air Force Base is a critical economic driver for not only Jacksonville, but all of Central Arkansas. With nearly 8,000 people working there prior to the shutdown, the Little Rock Air Force Base was the sixth-largest employer in the state as of 2023. "It really boosts the entire Central Arkansas economy. The base is spending on contractors and supplies. There are indirect jobs that come out of the base. A lot of people who work there have side hustles, and they spend money at restaurants and local businesses," Birch said. According to the Little Rock Air Force Base Economic Impact State for fiscal 2024, "The total value of Little Rock Air Force Base's economic impact is $1.38 billion." The government shutdown threatens that economic output, and according to Schroeder, almost all service members are at serious threat of missing a paycheck if the shutdown extends into mid-November, worsening the situation. Reed Thompson, co-owner of Cripple Creek Flea Market in Jacksonville, has found that people are spending much less than they did prior to the shutdown. "I know those people (from the base) are worried and watching their pennies. Hopefully this thing isn't going to last too much longer and they'll be made whole," he said. "I'll tell you, that air base, that's the No. 1 thing in Jacksonville." Thompson said a large proportion of the people who shop at his store either work at the base or are connected to someone who does. With the shutdown, people who would've come in to shop are opting to stay home or do something cheaper, according to him. "Perhaps I should be (worried about the shutdown), but I'm not," he said. "I don't think it's going to go on too much longer. One side or the other is going to have to give, and I would guess pretty soon." Birch is also hopeful that government shutdown will end soon, but he expressed some worry about the small businesses in his community that may be struggling as a result of national politics. "Small businesses are on tight margins in great times," he said. "When you start hurting your mom and pops and small local businesses because the government can't get out of it's own way, that's when they're going to finally get this thing open."
