Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon native responds to mayor's comments on Harvel

One Gurdon civic and community leader says that a proposed economic development plan is in the best interest of the entire county despite the fact that there has been local opposition.

Billy Tarpley, director of development at Henderson State University and native of Gurdon, said the fact that the plan is an "alliance" indicates that the area is a united front.

Paul Harvel, CEO of Economic Development Corporation of Clark County, spoke to a near-capacity crowd at Ouachita Baptist University on Monday, May 19, about the up-and-coming plans for the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance.

In an interview following that address, Gurdon Mayor Clayton Franklin told The Gurdon Times he disagreed with several points of Harvel's plans.

The following are Tarpley's answers to questions previously posed to Franklin.

HARVEL: "Despite the fact that you have a sales tax, you'll be an absolute failure without teamwork."

GURDON TIMES: Do you agree with Harvel's statement about team effort?

BILLY TARPLEY: "Absolutely. With all the communities in the county working together we will present a united effort to attract business and industry to our area, and that makes us all stronger. Just as Georgia Pacific and Scroll Technologies attract employees from several surrounding counties, prospective large employers are interested in a regional workforce, not just a local workforce. Economic development for our area will result from a cooperative effort by every Clark County citizen working together. That's the power of teamwork.

HARVEL: "(Industries and developers nationwide) don't look at the name of the town, they look at the market. Regional markets must be defined."

GT: Do you agree with Harvel's statement? And do you think it is fair that they use Arkadelphia rather than Gurdon?

TARPLEY: "Actually, the name is the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance. I like to emphasize the word 'alliance' because it suggests that the region is functioning with one voice. As to the use of the name 'Arkadelphia,' every successful marketing effort has a memorable 'hook,' something that captures the attention of the consumer and is identifiable. In the target markets of Dallas, Memphis and the remainder of Arkansas, the name 'Arkadelphia' is more recognizable than 'Clark County' because of Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University, not to mention DeGray Lake. The question of fairness will be answered by results. Gurdon needs to be concerned about growth, not turf issues."

HARVEL: "You've got to market and sell the universities. This is a university county. That is your market. There's not enough money in our budget to re-brand the region. People in Dallas who send their kids to Ouachita, they know where Arkadelphia is."

GT: Do you agree that the universities should be marketed?

TARPLEY: "Why not use the universities as a selling point for locating in Clark County? They are two of our greatest strengths. Both universities feature extraordinary opportunities for cultural and social events that add to quality of life. The fact that we have two outstanding universities in our county makes us unique, and it should be emphasized."

GT: Harvel never mentions Gurdon in this county plan. Do you feel that Gurdon has been left in the cold?

TARPLEY: "The only people who can leave Gurdon in the cold is us. Gurdon is definitely a part of the county plan, but no one is going to do for our town what we can and should do for ourselves. We must roll up our sleeves and prove that we are willing to join this regional effort in order to receive the benefit. The time for jealousies between Gurdon and Arkadelphia are gone. We need growth that comes from mature involvement in this economic development process. This is a golden opportunity to make something great happen in Gurdon, and it deserves our best effort."

(Harvel showed the crowd a "livability" film advertising the things to do in the area)

GT: Again, there was nothing about Gurdon in the "livability" film. Any comments?

TARPLEY: "To the best of my knowledge, the film Mr. Harvel showed was an example only of what a recruiting film 'might' look like, not a final product. In fact, he hasn't even come on board full time yet. He has graciously used his vacation time from his current job to put together ideas for our economic development effort. The film he showed was a sample. As to livability, let's ask ourselves what we are doing to make our town look progressive and inviting. Industrial prospects often send a team of representatives into an area prior to an official visit to see how the area looks and how the citizens live. What do they see when they drive through Gurdon? We should put our best foot forward to make an excellent impression."

GT: With Gurdon being the "Bedroom of Clark County," do you think it's fair to taxpayers in Gurdon to support Arkadelphia - even if it is just a word?

TARPLEY: "Although I have never heard Gurdon called the 'bedroom of Clark County,' I am mindful of the fact that Gurdon citizens already support Arkadelphia's economy by purchasing items at Wal-Mart and other Arkadelphia businesses that could be purchased here in town, so this is nothing new. Instead of worrying about whether Arkadelphia will benefit from economic development, our leaders and citizens must ask ourselves what we can do to prepare for growth in our city. There is much to be done in Gurdon, and no one will do it for us if we are not willing to help ourselves."

GT: How do you feel about Franklin's comments?

TARPLEY: "Like many Gurdon citizens, I very much appreciate Clayton Franklin's work as mayor. He is a capable leader and is intensely loyal to our city. But I don't share his viewpoint of our county economic development process. The fact that the word 'Arkadelphia' is used in the name of the economic development alliance is not a sinister attempt to relegate Gurdon, Amity, or Caddo Valley to a second class status. It is a marketing twist that has been used successfully many times in other areas, including Little Rock. The negative 'us vs. them' mentality has to stop. We absolutely must work cooperatively to enjoy success for our area. Paul Harvel was recruited for this job by the Economic Development Commission of Clark County. He knows more about economic development than the rest of us put together. In fact, he has been honored nationally for his work in this area. Let's trust his judgment, and support the Alliance for the good of Clark County and Gurdon."