Fort Smith Chamber Raises $4.1 Million
by February 14, 2005 12:00 am 71 views
The Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce said it raised $4.1 million for its regional economic development campaign.
The Chamber announced the total on Feb. 8, saying it had nearly doubled its original fund-raising goal of $2.2 million. The campaign, “Together … Jobs for the River Valley,” raised money from the regional business community.
Campaign chairman Rod Coleman said the achievement was a “true test to the business community.”
Fort Smith also recently ranked No. 10 on a list of 324 urban areas participating in the ACCRA’s Cost of Living Index for the fourth-quarter of 2004.
The develoment campaign seeks to increase area employment by 1,000 net jobs and provide an annual payroll increase of at least $30.68 million by July 1, 2008. The initiative also aims to realize half a billion dollars in new capital investment by this same date, as well as the retention of at least 500 existing jobs.
The campaign has hired Austin, Texas, company TIP Strategies Inc. to develop a marketing plan and economic development roadmap for the Arkansas River Valley. TIP is scheduled to deliver its recommendations by May.