Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Industry Announcement Expected

A resolution was recently passed by the Clark County Quorum Court designating an enterprise zone for a new industry.

According to State Rep. Percy Malone, the company does not want its name released to the public as yet, but is making plans on locating in the Clark County Industrial Park.

Malone passed this information along to the members of the Clark County Industrial Council, Thursday, March 26.

He said the company wants to make the announcement elsewhere first, but does intend to make its presence known in the Clark County area. "I hope the announcement comes soon," he said.

Malone also discussed establishing a training facility at the industrial park to insure area industry has plenty of properly trained workers available.

He suggested the CCIC form a committee to begin looking into creating such a center because there are not enough qualified workers in the nation to meet the needs of industry, especially with industrial expansion.

Malone said if he's reelected he will work with the Arkansas General Assembly to find funding for the project.

"Something needs to be in place where workers can take classes in the evenings and weekends," he said, "to teach the skills needed for today's industry.

"There's probably nothing more important we can do for industry than provide trained workers. This is important for the expansion of existing industries."

Along with being an aid to industry, such a facility would result in the workers being able to make more money because of having better skills.

As it stands, Malone is in line to be the chairman of the House Joint Budget Committee when the legislature meets in 1999.

He also talked about what the 2025 Commission has done since the March 1, 1997, tornado demolished much of downtown Arkadelphia.

The equity buy down program should help locate families in the stricken area, he told the CCIC board, as those who choose to live in these regions will be able to receive grants to help with the purchase of their homes.

Under the program, he said, when a home in the affected area is bought the purchaser can get what amounts to a second mortgage at no interest. If they live in the home for seven years, the loan becomes a grant and doesn't have to be paid back.

This program was approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Malone said it couldn't have come at a better time for the area as a housing shortage exists and industry is looking for more workers.

He said the grant/mortgage will be for up to $20,000 or 30 percent of the purchase price of the house. The details should be completely worked out in a couple of weeks and people will then be able to apply for the assistance.

The area received a $50,000 grant from the Main Street USA program for facade improvement in the downtown area. Buildings, Malone said, are being restored to their original look, which is in keeping with the concept of the early 1900's.

In addition, he said, the city received a grant for $1 million for a civic center complex. The Arkadelphia Board of Directors is now looking at possible locations for the facility.

"It will be a wonderful addition," Malone told the CCIC board. "It could spur more economic interest in downtown Arkadelphia."

Since the tornado hit last March, Malone said, some $15 million has been spent on Arkadelphia.

A grant deadline for renovation of the railroad depot expired, but because of the tornado, Malone was able to get it extended.

The grant, $30,000 from the Intermodel Surface Transportation Enhancement Act (ISTEA), is to be used to upgrade the depot.

Malone is also working on getting a compressed natural gas pumping station for a trolley service to Ouachita Baptist University, Henderson State University and the downtown Arkadelphia area, along with some residential areas.

A fleet of trolley cars, he said, would be easily converted to using natural gas, which burns cleaner than the petroleum based gasoline and is less expensive.

The project is fully funded, he said, and should be a big plus for the people of the region.

As Malone finished, CCIC President Brown Hardman returned to the topic of a training center. He said such a center is being explored by people in the northern part of the state at this time.

Malone said there would be three components to the project. The first would be to get the money to buy the land and construct a building. The next step would be getting money to pay instructors.

The final phase would be to get industry leaders involved in helping to establish the criteria needed for training and possibly furnishing some of the equipment students would need to be trained to operate.

In other business, the CCIC was told the human resource committee will host a leadership development workshop on May 5.

The workshop will be free to participating businesses and industries, with Dr. Larry Moore, from Tennessee, the featured speaker.