Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

CCIC Gets Annual Update

At the final meeting, of 1998, for the Clark County Industrial Council (CCIC), members were given a report on what had occurred for the year.

CCIC President Brown Hardman said the organization is still operating on a wing and a prayer by not paying an executive director.

However, he said, the CCIC needs a director, but must have at least 500 members in order to support the fiscal requirements involved.

At this time, he informed the gathering, most of the CCIC's work is still related to the tornadoes of March 1, 1997.

In addition, the new satellite park is ready for occupation. Hardman said the CCIC applied for a grant to help get infrastructure in the park, but was turned down by the legislative committee handling it.

B.F. Goodrich, he said, has finally announced their being in the county's industrial park at Gum Springs.

Hardman also told the council's governing body 80 to 85 percent of the CCIC's effort at this time is devoted to working with existing industries.

At this time, the CCIC is working to develop a workforce training center in the area and is trying to find a location and money for it.

Hardman turned the meeting over to Richard Wilson, director of the 2025 Commission.

Wilson said Arkadelphia and Clark County have a great story to tell, one no one else could attempt.

The entity, he said, began as a task force, but State Rep. Percy Malone sponsored legislation making it a commission in 1997 after the tornadoes destroyed almost 60 percent of downtown Arkadelphia.

The commission works with city and county government on the rebuilding process.

Since March 1, 1997, Wilson said, more than $6 million in grant money has come to Clark County and Arkadelphia.

Arkadelphia, he said, is the first community in the nation where the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stayed for the long haul and is helping with the rebuilding process.

At this time there are two initiatives being worked on in the region one to rebuild neighborhoods and the other for downtown businesses.

Wilson said Arkadelphia has received $200,000 in federal grant money for technical assistance as far as the design and development phase of rebuilding the downtown area.

And, he continued, with the equity buy down program, families are showing a willingness to build new homes in what was a tornado ravaged section of town. He said more than 40 new houses are expected to be built this year under the program.

He said the area expects to add 277 new jobs per year over the next five years, with the median income rising to an average of $40,000 annually.