Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

CCIC board told of Copeland's resignation as director

What, exactly is the future of the Clark County Industrial Council?

This question was brought up at the May meeting of the CCIC.

CCIC President Brown Hardman brought the board up to date on what has been happening with the organization.

Kevin Copeland, the former executive director, has resigned his position, accepting another job elsewhere. Copeland was the executive director for two years.

However, when he was first hired, Copeland was told the CCIC had funds to pay for the position for about two years unless a permanent source of funding could be found. It wasn't.

Hardman said financial projections were done last month, and showed if the CCIC continued operating as it had been it would be broke. "We must operate without our financial parameters."

The executive director's position, Hardman said, would have been eliminated as of May 31, but Copeland's new job began May 12.

Along with resigning as the executive director of the CCIC, Copeland also tendered his resignation as director of the Southwest Arkansas Technical Learning Center.

"It happened abruptly," Hardman said, "and not the way I wanted. But he has a family to support and did a good job. He worked hard and I always knew he was working. We'll miss him."

Hardman said the CCIC is not bankrupt, but is going to have a hard time being competitive without permanent funding. Other communities in surrounding counties have tax monies available for their economic development offices.

"The question is, where do we go from here," he said.

Blake Bell, finance chairman for the CCIC, said after articles in the daily paper he wanted to get input from key financial leaders, but didn't get a lot of response.

Bell said he talked to four people, two didn't want to talk. Of those who didn't want to talk, one didn't return his call, and the other laughed him off the phone.

Bell presented the responses from the two who did talk with him, though he wouldn't give their names.

The first person, he said, gave a lot of "good ideas", suggesting the CCIC consolidate with the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the 2025 Commission. This, he said, would eliminate duplication of effort in some areas, especially with office equipment and personnel.

The person, Bell said, commented on how the money is being pulled in too many directions during a time when money is short.

In addition, public opinion, according to Bell's source, is the same group is always working on projects and new blood is needed.

The source, he said, said people believe this core group is working for personal gain and to keep their power bases.

According to Bell, the source said this is a bad time to try and pass a tax to permanently fund the CCIC because the economic climate is terrible, but the source also said he opposed individual funding.

Individual funding was explained as banks providing the bulk of the operating capitol for the CCIC, while small businesses seldom donate.

The second source said a sales tax is needed to fund the CCIC and anything less would be temporary and not get the job done.

This source, Bell said, knows how economic development offices work in other areas, and suggested a strong public awareness campaign for the CCIC.

However, Bell said, this source also suggested a change in the "vocal" personnel, saying fresh faces are needed.

Bell said the sources told him the CCIC needs new faces on its board of directors.

Hardman said the CCIC has worked hard to be a county-wide organization, and is represented by a cross-section of the populace.

Clark County, he said, is an Arkansas County of Excellence, the second in the state, and consolidation would destroy the team concept the CCIC has.

"The reason the CCIC is successful is it's mission statement," he said. The CCIC's mission statement is to create an environment of safe, high paying jobs for the people of the county.

Hardman said the CCIC's board is a diverse group and the CCIC has worked hard to bring new people on board.

According to Bell, no one suggested any member of the board step down, but, rather the board could use more help.

The loss of Copeland, Hardman said, means the CCIC is a completely volunteer organization.

The CCIC, he added, receives $20,000 a from the City of Arkadelphia, and a like amount from the Clark County Quorum Court. The banks have been contributing $5,000 a year, while membership brings in between $3,000 and $5,000 annually.

This, he said, gives the CCIC an operating budget of about $55,000 a year.

Dick Rudolph said economic development needs funding and the CCIC needs a concerted effort with everyone understanding when money is raised, it's for the benefit of everyone in Clark County.