ADED Chief Talks Up Promoting Regionalism
by March 4, 2002 12:00 am 57 views
Jim Pickens, director of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, spoke to a group of University of Arkansas and technology industry leaders Feb. 21 at the UA’s Genesis Technology Incubator in Fayetteville.
He told the crowd that the ADED is working with the UA, Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office and various state agencies to develop statewide partnerships that will help recruit high-wage, high-tech jobs to Arkansas. The goal is to stop the “brain drain” of the state’s best and brightest students who traditionally leave for better opportunities elsewhere.
The problem is that neighboring states such as Texas already offer tax breaks to lure companies to high-tech hubs such as Austin.
Since the Arkansas General Assembly doesn’t meet again until 2003, tax breaks for high-tech companies can’t be enacted until then. In the meantime, Pickens said his office will aggressively pursue federal and philanthropic grants for firms and push for recruitment efforts centered on “regionalism.”