Business Weekly E-Newsletter
March 17-21, 2008
Marketing Efforts, Leadership Arkansas and Board Meeting
Scheduled For Next Week in Fort Smith
Marketing efforts in the Fort Smith region begin on Monday, March 24. Local volunteers have been working with State Chamber/AIA staff to set up meetings over a five-day period with prospective members as well as current members.
On March 27-28, the Fort Smith Leadership Arkansas Session covering economic development and manufacturing will be held. The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the State Chamber/AIA will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the Holiday Inn City Center in Fort Smith. Prior to their meeting, board members are invited to join members of the Leadership Class on a tour of the Hiram Walker – Pernod Ricard USA facility.
After the board meeting, directors will join members of Leadership Arkansas Class II for a reception and dinner at the Town Club. The reception at 5:30 p.m. will offer excellent networking opportunities with members of the class and fellow directors. It will be followed by the Leadership Arkansas Class II dinner. Prospective and current members in the Fort Smith area will be invited to attend the 5:30 reception as well as the Leadership dinner, where Jim Walcott, president of Weldon Williams & Lick Inc. will be the guest speaker.
Leadership Arkansas Class II is sponsored by Southern Bancorp. Sponsors to date for the Fort Smith session include Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Arkansas Tech University, AT&T, CenterPoint Energy, First National Bank of Fort Smith, Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, Golden Living, Hiram Walker – Pernod Ricard USA, Northwest Arkansas Community College, OG+E, Rheem, UA-Fort Smith, Van Buren Chamber of Commerce and Warner Smith & Harris, PLC.
All State Chamber/AIA members are invited to attend. If you plan to attend the regional board meeting or you plan to spend the night and need a room, please contact Susie Marks at smarks@arkansasstatechamber.com or 501-210-4206. We have a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn City Center for Thursday evening.
Congressional Dinner Will Highlight Annual Washington Fly-In
Participants in the State Chamber/AIA’s 49th Annual Washington Fly-In and Congressional Dinner can plan on a busy night on Monday, April 28, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va.
The evening begins with a 6 p.m. reception and continues into the dinner hour at 7 p.m., with both events featuring ample chances for productive contact with members of our congressional delegation and their staffs. The fun and tradition – along with excellent networking opportunities – continue after dinner in the Hospitality Suite, once again hosted by the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce Executives.
We will also visit with our senators and representatives and their staffs at their offices and at district dinners, luncheons and breakfasts April 27-29.
The Crystal Gateway is serving as our headquarters, and for your convenience the State Chamber/AIA has booked rooms at the hotel. Registration forms have been mailed, so if you have not filled out yours yet, please do so and return it to us.
Click here for our Web site calendar and to access hotel and contact information for the event. The registration form is also on our Web site.
Leadership Arkansas Plans Four Final Sessions
In addition to the Economic Development and Manufacturing Leadership Arkansas Session on March 27-28 in Fort Smith, the Jonesboro/Paragould session on May 22-23 will focus on education and the Northeast Arkansas economy, the Fayetteville/Springdale session on June 26-27 will cover infrastructure challenges and the Northwest Arkansas economy, and the Graduation Session in Springdale on June 27 will focus on the members of Class II.
These remaining Leadership Arkansas sessions represent outstanding investment opportunities in which companies and organizations can participate. Leadership Arkansas takes a statewide view of the economic and political challenges that face our state, offering leadership opportunities that expand the impact of community leaders. It builds a sense of community by identifying and training individuals with the passion and commitment to become personally engaged in issues, programs and activities aimed at building a better Arkansas.
By helping sponsor one of the remaining activities – sessions in Fort Smith, Jonesboro/Paragould and Northwest Arkansas as well as the graduation – companies and organizations have the chance to personally meet and get to know these individuals who will be leading Arkansas in the future. Our sponsorship goal is $20,000 for each of these four events.
Partner sponsorships at $1,000 include an invitation to a reception and dinner with Leadership Arkansas class members, signage at the event and inclusion in the promotional and printed materials for the session. Presenting sponsorships at $2,500 include all of the above plus an opportunity to present during the session and an opportunity to place a company brochure or message in the participants’ notebooks.
For further information on Leadership Arkansas, contact Susie Marks at 501-210-4206 or e-mail her at smarks@arkansasstatechamber.com.
Participate in Political Process by Contributing to State Chamber/AIA PACs
With the candidate filing period ended, the State Chamber/AIA is in the process of evaluating prospective candidates and reviewing the possible legislative races. One way you can participate is by contributing to our Political Action Committees.
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce PAC and the Associated Industries of Arkansas PAC were founded to elect business-minded candidates who will fully support Arkansas’s business community in the state legislature. Your help is critical. Your contributions will go toward electing a pro-business General Assembly that will continually enhance the economic climate in Arkansas.
A “person” may contribute up to $5,000 per calendar year to each PAC. “Person” includes any individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, syndicate, business trust, company, corporation, association, committee, or any other organization or group of persons acting in concert. The name and address of each “person” who contributes more than $500 to a PAC must be reported to the Secretary of State.
Checks should be made payable to either the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce PAC or the Associated Industries of Arkansas PAC and mailed to P.O. Box 3645, Little Rock, AR 72203.
You can also help by providing information on pro-business candidates and your knowledge of all potential candidates in your district. Please send this information to Kenny Hall, our executive vice president, by e-mail at khall@arkansasstatechamber.com.
UA Study Estimates Fayetteville Shale’s Economic Impact at $17.9 Billion
The University of Arkansas Walton College for Business and Economic Research estimates that the Fayetteville Shale Play could have an overall economic impact of $17.9 billion over the next five years, creating more than 11,000 new jobs, adding $1.8 billion in new taxes into the state and generating approximately $150 million in local sales and property taxes.
The estimates are significantly above those reached from an initial study done by the U of A in 2006, which projected the impact to be $5.5 billion from 2005 through 2008.
Last Wednesday, March 12, Governor Mike Beebe unveiled a proposal he negotiated with representatives of the natural gas industry, to raise the severance tax rate on natural gas to 5 percent of market value, with some temporary reductions. The current rate of one-tenth of 1 cent per 1,000 cubic feet has been in place since 1957 and is among the lowest rates in the nation.
Beebe wants to call a Special Session of the Arkansas Legislature to enact the proposal. Doing so would require a three-fourths vote in both the House and Senate.
Following his announcement of the severance tax proposal, the Executive Committee of the State Chamber/AIA congratulated Beebe and the natural gas industry for coming up with the proposal and said it will support the plan and encourage its passage, which would dedicate income brought in to an on-going state roads program.
NAM Calls New Ozone Standard ‘Wrong Move at Wrong Time’
The tighter ozone standard announced last week by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will lead to higher costs throughout the economy with little or no health benefit for Americans, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).
“The costs are too high and the benefits too unclear to impose this new burden on America’s manufacturers and employees,” said NAM President & CEO John Engler, commenting on the new national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ozone. “Anyone interested in preserving high-paying U.S. jobs in manufacturing and keeping a lid on energy prices should be disappointed by today’s ruling. Considering America’s current domestic economic challenges, this is the wrong move at the wrong time.
“Air quality is improving across America,” he said. “Manufacturers and states have spent enormous resources developing plans to meet the existing ozone standard, which is still being implemented and would have been attained in many states by 2013. Changing the rules now is equivalent to moving the goalposts during the middle of the game. EPA’s own studies show that ozone levels have dropped by 21 percent since 1980 and continue to decline.”
EPA Administrator Steve Johnson issued a more stringent ozone standard March 12, lowering the current standard of 84 parts per billion (ppb) to a more stringent standard of 75 ppb. NAM and other industry groups, including the State Chamber/AIA, advocated for the current standard, whereas most environmental groups lobbied for a standard between 70 and 60 ppb.
“Moving to a more stringent standard could have a devastating effect on manufacturing employment,” Engler said. “The new standard will make it much more difficult to build new and expand existing refineries in the U.S., leading to higher gasoline prices and more dependence on foreign sources of fuel.
“Stricter environmental controls for companies in non-attainment areas will require billions of dollars in compliance costs,” he said. “U.S. manufacturers already pay more than $77 billion each year for environmental regulations. The new ozone rule will add significantly to this cost burden. The tighter standard is not based on sound science and will hurt U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and job growth.”
AEDC to Host Public Hearings on Grant Programs
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) will host public hearings to receive comments from Arkansans about how to allocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the next fiscal year beginning in July 2008.
CDBG grants for smaller communities have traditionally been used for senior citizen centers, public health facilities, childcare centers, fire protection, community facilities, economic development projects, and water and wastewater projects.
The hearings will be conducted at five sites:
Little Rock
Central Arkansas Public Library Darragh Center
100 Rock Street
Monday, March 24, 10 a.m.
Eureka Springs
Eureka Inn Best Western
101 Van Buren Street
Tuesday, March 25, 10 a.m.
Paragould
Community Center
3404 Linwood Dr. (Highway 49)
Wednesday, March 26, 10 a.m.
Crossett
Crossett Economic Development Foundation
125 Main Street
Monday, March 31, 10 a.m.
Washington
Historic Washington State Park
1914 School Auditorium
700 N.E. Conway Street
Tuesday, April 1, 10 a.m.
The comment period will extend for 30 days beginning on March 17, 2008, and ending on April 16, 2008. Public comments will be considered in the final draft of the Consolidated Plan, which will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on May 1, 2008. To be considered in the final plan, written comments must be received during the 30-day public comment period. Written comments may be addressed to:
Consolidated Plan Annual Update, Grants Management Division
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
One Capitol Mall
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
The deadline to submit comments to the Economic Development Commission at the above address is 4:30 p.m. on April 16, 2008.
For further information, contact Basil Julian, 501-682-1211 or e-mail bjulian@ArkansasEDC.com.
UALR’s Institute for Economic Advancement Names New Executive Director
Jim Youngquist was recently named executive director of UALR’s Institute for Economic Advancement (IEA). Prior to coming to UALR, Youngquist was the interim director of the Fanning Institute at the University of Georgia. He also coordinated and directed UGA’s SouthEast Regional Directors Institute providing consultation, applied research, and other technical services related to regional strategic planning and community development.
Youngquist will be responsible for interfacing UALR with critical needs of the state and its communities through strategic collaboration with legislators, state agencies, and government and private sector leaders.
The IEA is the applied research and extension arm of the UALR College of Business. It supports statewide economic development activities through research, information, service, training, and education by serving businesses, all levels of government, labor organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit agencies, and the public. More information on the IEA’s services and resources can be found at www.aiea.ualr.edu/.
Tourism Booming in Arkansas
More than 30.9 million people visited Arkansas in 2007, spending $5.4 billion, according to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism during the recent Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Rogers.
Parks and Tourism also said that Los Angeles-based Economic Research Associates and Canadian-based Longwoods International have been hired to conduct strategy and consumer research for six months to reassess the state’s efforts to promote Arkansas.
Arkansas Unemployment Rate Increases Slightly
Arkansas's unemployment rate rose one-tenth of 1 percent point in January to 5.6 percent, while the national rate fell slightly to 4.9 percent.
Welcome to Our New Members
Thanks to the following companies and organizations that have recently joined the State Chamber/AIA:
Brownlee Construction Consultants
Complete Payroll Services
Cricket Communications
Data Path
Human Resources Professional Search
Kevin Hunt, Inc.
LaQuinta Inn Little Rock at Rodney Parham Road
Lenders Title Company
Parkhurst Brothers Publishers Inc.
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Thanks to Our Pinnacle Members
We wish to express special thanks to all of our Pinnacle investors, the respected companies that support the State Chamber/AIA at the highest annual investment levels. We appreciate all that they do for us.
APEX
Alltel Corporation
Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
SUMMIT
Chesapeake Energy, Inc.
Cox Communications
Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods
Tyson Foods, Inc.
PEAK
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Arvest Bank
AT&T Arkansas
CenterPoint Energy Southern Gas
Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas
FedEx Freight - East
Georgia-Pacific Corporation
Harps Food Stores, Inc.
Kraft Foods
Oaklawn Jockey Club
Pathfinder Exploration LLC
Petrohawk Energy Corporation
SemGroup LP
Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Southland Park Gaming & Racing
Southwestern Energy Company
State Farm Insurance
Weyerhaeuser Company
Windstream Corporation
XTO Energy, Inc.
CROWN
Acxiom Corporation
AEP Southwestern Electric Power
Albemarle Corporation
Alta Resources LLC
American Greetings Corporation
American Insurance Association
Arkansas Employees Federal Credit Union
Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation
Arkansas Western Gas Company
Bank of the Ozarks
Deltic Timber Corporation
Dynegy
Entegra Power Group LLC
Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Arkansas, Inc.
Forest Oil Corporation
Glad Manufacturing/A Clorox Company
Golden Ventures
International Paper Company
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Lion Oil Company
Metropolitan National Bank
Murphy Oil Corporation
Nabholz Construction Corporation
Nucor-Yamato Steel
OG+E
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
Philander Smith College
Pinnacle Foods Group LLC
Potlatch Forest Products Corporation
Pulaski Technical College
Rheem Air Conditioning Division
Riceland Foods, Inc.
Signature Bank of Arkansas
Simmons First National Corporation
Stephens, Inc.
Storm Cat Energy
Suez Energy North America
The Clorox Company
The Trane Company
US Bank
Waste Management
Wright Lindsey & Jennings
Calendar of Events
March 24 – 28 Fort Smith Week
Membership Sales Blitz and Visitation
March 27 – 28 Leadership Arkansas Class II Session
Economic Development and Manufacturing
Holiday Inn City Center, Fort Smith
March 27 State Chamber/AIA Board Meeting
4 p.m., Holiday Inn City Center, Fort Smith
April 27 – 29 Annual Washington Fly-In and Congressional Dinner
District Dinners, Lunches and Breakfasts
Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
April 28 State Chamber/AIA Board Meeting
Crystal Gateway Marriott
Arlington, Virginia
May 22 – 23 Leadership Arkansas Class II Session
Education and Northeast Arkansas Economy
Jonesboro/Paragould
June 3 Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon
11:45 a.m., Embassy Suites Hotel
Little Rock
June 26 – 27 Leadership Arkansas Class II Session
Northwest Arkansas Economy/Infrastructure Challenges
Fayetteville/Springdale
June 27 Leadership Arkansas Class II Graduation
Presented by Harps Food Stores, Inc.
