Jonesboro business leaders appointed to Arkansas Economic Development Council

A pair of Jonesboro residents recently became the newest members of a state economic development group with several items on the agenda, one of the members said Monday.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Friday (Jan. 29) appointed Al Heringer and Deana Osment, both of Jonesboro, to serve on the Arkansas Economic Development Council. According to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission website, the council has 16 members who are appointed by the governor to four-year terms. Lee Webb Jr., president of Fort Smith area-based Bellwether Industries, serves as council chairman.

Each of Arkansas’ four congressional districts have three members and four members are selected at large.

Osment is the Northeast Arkansas division president for Centennial Bank, and Heringer is the president of Star Transportation in Jonesboro.

For Heringer, the goal is simple. He would like to “bring betterment to the whole,” whether it is Northeast Arkansas or the entire state. Heringer said Northeast Arkansas has benefited from several things.

“It is a boom town area that has come into its own,” Heringer, whose company delivers petroleum to businesses in eight states, said of Northeast Arkansas.

Heringer said industrial growth in the region has been phenomenal, with companies like Big River Steel moving into the area.

“It is a hell of an employer,” Heringer said of the regional impact of the steel producer that will create about 525 jobs at the Osceola mill.

Indeed, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the Jonesboro metro area has recovered from the Great Recession. The number of employed in the region was an estimated 60,425 in November 2015 (the latest data available), up 10.8% compared to November 2010 employment of 54,504, and up 9.8% over November 2005 employment of 55,033. The November jobless rate in the Jonesboro metro was 3.9%. If it is not revised, it will be the first time the rate has fallen below 4% since October 2000.

Also, several road projects in the region are moving ahead as planned, Heringer said. Heringer said the region has benefitted from having Alec Farmer serving on the Arkansas Highway Commission. Farmer was appointed last year by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to serve on the commission.

“Because of Alec, we will now be connected to Little Rock (U.S. 67 and Arkansas 226) in a few years,” Heringer said.

As for other issues, Heringer said the area’s agricultural industry has taken a hit in the last couple of years. However, he said the college and medical hub in Jonesboro has done well.

The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville graduate said industries, in particular, technological businesses, will likely enhance the economy over the next several years. As for workforce training, Heringer said the issue is a big one for the state now and for many years to come.

“To recruit, you need already-trained talent,” Heringer said.

Talk Business & Politics was unsuccessful in several efforts to contact Osment.