Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Two more industries showing interest in locating in Prescott

There have been two more inquiries by industrial prospects concerning the Prescott Industrial Park.

John Chadwell, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, told the Nevada County Quorum Court, at its regular monthly meeting Monday, June 11, the prospects had been told of Nevada County by the Arkansas Department of Economic Development (ADED).

ADED, he said, has an alert system, whereby when prospects come to the state all communities are notified to see if they qualify and can meet the industry's needs.

Chadwell said there had been "five hits" in the last week, with this area able to meet the needs of two industries.

Along with these two prospects, Chadwell has been working with the cosmetics firm on obtaining the defunct Nevada County Hospital.

At this point, he said, it's been a process of making sure the proper people get the right paperwork and information before applying for grants.

Chadwell has visited with the ADED about this, saying, "it's progressing."

If the details can be worked out, he said, the company will locate in Prescott, as it prefers this location. "They really want to be here."

The court was also updated on the progress of the Prescott Rural Water System project.

At this time, easements are being obtained, with city employee Perry Nelson literally going door-to-door with them.

Currently, about 120 of the easements have been signed, with little resistance met, according to Chadwell. But, for the project to begin, some 400 easements must be signed.

At this point, he said, the water project is still its original size, but may have to be trimmed down, or have the entire project bid at once. Everything depends on how many signatures are procured on the easements.

He also talked about the library project, telling the court a committee had visited libraries in Fort Smith and Shreveport, La., with plans to visit others as well.

When questioned about the area's strengths and weaknesses, Chadwell said the unemployment rate is a strong point for the county.

Currently, some 850 county residents work outside Nevada County. This, he said, shows potential employers the people here are willing to go where they have to in order to work.

Prescott, he said, is also close to Interstate-30, which is a plus for prospects, and is also in the middle of the wood basket.

Along with this, the schools are good in the area. Chadwell pointed out the Prescott Industrial Park as a strength as well.

But, he said, the region would grow faster if more housing were available.

Some, he said, see the lack of a hospital as a weakness, but not when it's learned a hospital is only 15 minutes away.

Another drawback is the lack of amenities with Prescott being a small, rural community with limited population.

This, too, he said, can be overcome when prospects learn they're less than an hour away from either Texarkana or Hot Springs.

"Our weaknesses aren't what people perceive them to be," Chadwell said.

In other business, the court appropriated $7,166.90 for the indigent defense fund for 2000.

The county was sent a bill from Hempstead County for its part of the public defender program. Hempstead County pays two-thirds of the cost, with Nevada County picking up the rest of the tab.

The court also approved $8,000 for the 2001 indigent defense fund budget.

Nevada County Judge James Roy Brown told the court three of the six justice of the peace districts are too large and will have to be redistricted for the 2002 elections