Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

First State Bank Donates Land To CCIC For Park

Clark County's Industrial Council now has a little more land to work with.

John French, president of the First State Bank of Gurdon, deeded FSB's portion of 110 acres adjoining the Clark County Industrial Park to the CCIC recently.

Brown Hardman, CCIC president, said this is but another example of people in Clark County helping one another, and working together so all can be successful.

State Rep. Percy Malone also lauded French's move as he gave a history on the land in question.

The 110 acres are owned by the various county banks and adjoin the industrial park on Highway 67.

With the transference of the deed to the CCIC, he said, more of the park is owned by the public.

Originally, though, the CCIC had enough money to put a package together with the cities and county to finance an industrial park. However, the group didn't have the finances to buy out the banks.

The banks, three in Arkadelphia, two in Gurdon and one in Amity, have offered, Malone said, to donate the land if a prospect is interested in the area, though the CCIC has the option to buy the land.

Once the CCIC is able to acquire the rest of the property, Malone said, tax money can then be used to improve the infrastructure and make it more attractive to prospective industries.

At this time, about 70 percent of the land in the industrial park is fully developed, with 40- 50 acres still undeveloped.

Malone said it is significant if the area is to grow to have a fully developed industrial park.