Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County's Industrial Leaders Praised For Their Accomplishments

Clark County's business and industry patted itself on the back, in the figurative sense, Wednesday, May 25.

An industrial appreciation luncheon was held to let the local business and industry in the county know it was wanted.

The festivities began with Brown Hardman, president of the Clark County Industrial Council, letting all know they were appreciated. "Industry," he said, "this is for you. We all worked hard to get you here and will work hard to keep you."

Peter Lawson, executive director of the CCIC, praised all for their efforts and success. He said the success has been due to everyone working together.

This, he continued, has translated into a low unemployment rate, jobs for the residents and a better life for those living in Clark County.

In the past year, he said, existing industry created more than 600 new jobs. "We're (the CCIC) here to help you continue this success in the future."

Discussing Arkansas Industry Month, he said buttons were distributed to workers with 40 businesses giving them discounts on goods or services.

"We had a good response," Lawson said of the AIM program. "This was the first year for it and we hope it become an annual event."

State Rep. Percy Malone followed showing charts on how the county went from having 16 percent unemployment 10 years ago to its current 2.9 percent rate.

He said housing starts are up in Arkadelphia, with the population also showing signs of increasing.

In fact, Malone said all aspects of life in the county have gotten better. The county's turnback funds have increased and the mean income went from $15,000 annually to $24,000 per year.

Malone gave the credit for some of the county's success to Del Boyette, director of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission. This organization will undergo a name change as of July 1, 1997, becoming the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Malone said Boyette has been one of the most progressive individuals getting industry to locate in Arkansas he's ever known, and takes a personal interest in projects in Clark County.

Boyette, however, credited the CCIC for the county's success in attracting business and industry.

He said there were many locally who worked hard to turn things around from the double-digit unemployment to the almost non-existent jobless rate.

Getting a sales tax passed for infrastructure improvement, he said, was a major step forward for the area as it showed prospects the county's leaders were not only interested in being progressive, but also wanted the existing industry to stay.

This sales tax, he said, allowed industry to move to the county, and the numbers say it all.

Gov. Mike Huckabee declared the month of May Arkansas Industry Month in the state, Boyette said, to show industry how well it is thought of.

The appreciation, he said is due because 80 percent of all new jobs in Arkansas are created from existing industry.

The AIDC, he said, was created to work on keeping industry in Arkansas while working to attract new industries to the state. According to Boyette, 106 people in the AIDC are involved in trying to attract new industry to the state.

But, he said, the agency's primary focus is to work with industry already in Arkansas, seeing what it needs to continue to be successful and meeting these needs.

Boyette pointed out for every 100 manufacturing jobs created there are 64 service related jobs created. "This shows the significance industry has in a community."

He praised Clark County saying nowhere in Arkansas has done a better job of turning things around than this area.

The industrial leaders were informed the AIDC is there for them to call when needed, or just when they have questions. "Existing industry is the life blood of the state," Boyette said. "We will work hard to make sure you stay in Arkansas."

For the last 25 years, he said, Arkansas has led the nation in manufacturing job growth. It has also led surrounding states in the percentage of manufacturing job growth.

Boyette said the AIDC is offering some new training programs to help address the need for building institutional infrastructure to meet the industrial workforce needs. He praised the Arkansas General Assembly for its efforts during the 81st session earlier this year.

Malone said the CCIC is working to get a building in the industrial park to train workers for existing industry.

The idea, he said, is for industries to help pitch in and help by working to train workers at one time for tomorrow's high tech jobs. This will be done in a classroom type setting to avoid duplication of effort and cut training costs.

However, Malone said, there is no mechanism in place for funding such a program at this time.

Boyette said such a facility exists in Jonesboro and does nothing but upgrade the skills of the workforce there. "This program," he said, "is driven by industry and needs to be tailored to the community. Their's is done in a consortium format and paid for by industry with some state money. It's a unique concept."