Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Gov. Asa Hutchinson launched the AEDC’s Competitive Communities Initiative evaluation program Monday.

The new program, which will be led by the ADEC’s four-person community development team and four utility partners, is designed to identify how a community can be more competitive in landing economic development projects.

The program focuses on four pillars: each participating community’s economic development organization, economic development funding, workforce narrative and product readiness.

To receive a Competitive Community designation, a community must demonstrate that it has a strong economic development organization; have enough funding to offer incentive or pay for any infrastructure a business might require; and show that it can provide the workers business might require.

The AEDC has partnered with Southwestern Electric Power Co. Entergy Arkansas, Electric Cooperative of Arkansas and OGE to host this program.

A Competitive Community designation will also include communities in more of the state’s responses to requests for information and provide communities more help from AEDC and utility partners.

Four communities—Hope, Newport, Van Buren and Helena-West Helena— are involved in a pilot version of the program but have not yet designated Competitive Communities.

Hempstead County Judge and Hempstead County Economic Development Board member Haskell Morse states: Hope and Hempstead County, being 1 of 4 in the State as part of this pilot program, is another good example of how Hope and Hempstead County are working together to improve the quality of life in Hempstead County.”

Mayor and Hempstead County Economic Development Board member Steve Montgomery also made a comment: “Competitive Community Initiative will give Hope a competitive edge in recruiting industry to Hope and Hempstead County. Excited that Hope was one of the four(4) pilot communities giving Hope a head start over the rest of the state. Thankful for the collaboration of the city, county, HCEDC, Chamber and UAHT as well as our legislative representatives in going through the process that will greatly enhance our recruiting of industry and more importantly jobs.”

District 3 State Representative Danny Watson comment: “Everybody rowing together in the same direction is absolutely critical in achieving a Competitive Community Designation. Hope and Hempstead County will strive to live up to the billing after being select as on of the pilot communities to truly represent the mission of AEDC to not only compete for but to land the economic development projects available.”