Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Planning committee speaks to Rotarians

Euodis Goza and Carrie Roberson spoke at the Rotary Club meeting Thursday, April 3, giving an update on current developments in the Clark County Strategic Plan.

He said that the money from economic development funds will not go to the hands of retailers; but rather toward building an infrastructure to help retailers set up businesses. For instance, the development funds will help fix problems in the way of setting up businesses, such as sewage problems.

He said that, within the next year, Clark County residents will be seeing some changes in the county. He said the Strategic Planning advisory committee, which has a good representation from Gurdon, have spoken with the presidents of both universities in Arkadelphia.

Goza spoke about the tourist attractions in Gurdon, the Gurdon Light and the International Order of Hoo Hoo. He noted that there are currently no advertisements for the attractions, but there is a need for promoting both. He suggested that a group develop a t-shirt design for both attractions and sell the shirts.

He also suggested creating a non-profit organization dedicated to building affordable habitat homes for low-income families.

Goza said he has solicited funds for Gurdon; but what it needs is a committed leader to follow through with putting those funds to work.

From an economic development standpoint Goza said, well be doing everything we can. Any industry that comes through, well send them this way.

He then introduced Carrie Roberson, from Southern Financial Partners.

She said Southern Financial is open to hearing requests for financial support and that the group will consider granting money for anything that is in the Strategic Plan.

One development she spoke of that is in the works for the end of 2008 is a day care center, which is Strategic Goal Two, Action Step D.

The 7,500 square foot day care center will be built on Hwy. 67 near the Clark County Industrial Park. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a $690,000 grant to construct the 24 hour, seven day a week childcare center to offer a full range of childcare services including infant care, preschool and after-school care.

According to the Plan, the project is expected to create 46 jobs. With over 1,000 employees working in the industrial park, the Plan states that childcare services are challenging for the parents who do not work Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The center is supposed to provide a safe and quality option for the families who work within the park as well as families who need non-traditional childcare options. The center is also supposed to incorporate the curriculum of Yale Universitys Schools of the 21st Century program, which is currently active at Arkadelphia and Gurdon Public Schools.

The center will operate under a newly formed Clark County Educational Foundation whose main focus is to advance the educational opportunities within the county.

Roberson said the center will care for children from birth to 12 years old. She said the center will probably start out as a 12-hour center, but should work its way to a 24-hour center.

She said the care will be made affordable for parents, as it will be government subsidized; but to what extent she said she did not know. There will be a limited number of vouchers for qualifying children, she said, but they hope to have enough for many.

It is in the Plan for school buses to transport students from there to the school and vice versa.

She said the center will be a learning facility rather than a daycare center.