Aldermen withhold $150,000 for group

North Little Rock aldermen are withholding a $150,000 annual appropriation to the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub Inc. until the City Council obtains more information on how many North Little Rock students are served by the nonprofit.

Legislation before the North Little Rock City Council last week to continue the city’s contribution to the Innovation Hub, 201 E. Broadway, was among several pieces of legislation involving nonprofits.

Two years ago, the Innovation Hub combined with the Art Connection and requested $150,000 for the 2015 and 2016 city budget years, which was granted each time. The Innovation Hub had been receiving $45,000 and the Art Connection $85,000. But the council asked each year to receive reports on the Art Connection’s work directly with North Little Rock students.

Joel Gordon, director for the Innovation Hub’s Makerspace, said Art Connection had been “absorbed” by the Innovation Hub, which “absolutely serves North Little Rock and students from as far away as Louisiana.” He couldn’t give a specific number of North Little Rock students in the programs.

“I want to be sure our tax dollars that our taxpayers pay go to our students,” Alderman Debi Ross said in requesting that the Innovation Hub’s allocation be held until the Feb. 27 council meeting.