Regional chamber directors optimistic in soft economy

story by Robert Parson

The economy may be wobbly these days, but directors with several area chambers of commerce are still optimistic.

The positive thinking appears to be the result of many of these chambers operating in communities not directly tied to the battered manufacturing sector. Those that do have a stronger industrial base haven’t had the same level of job losses as some of the larger, more urbanized communities. However, some people living in outlying communities work at manufacturing operations in Fort Smith and Van Buren.

Arkansas’ manufacturing sector lost 17,300 jobs in the 12-month period between April 2008-April 2009. Manufacturing employment in the Fort Smith metro area dipped 9.4% in the past 12 months. Regional manufacturing jobs totaled an estimated 23,100 in March, down from 25,500 in March 2008.

PARIS
Paris Chamber Executive Director Linda Hixson said there have been some jobs that have been lost at some of the manufacturing facilities related to the automotive or aerospace industries, but believes the area is insulated somewhat because Logan County is mostly rural.

“Most of those out of work are doing other things to raise money, such as mowing lawns,” she said.

She also said the tourism industry remains strong, although there has been subtle change in the types of visitors to coming to Mt. Magazine. Hotel and motel occupancy rates remain high.

“We’re seeing more people from communities closer to the area taking short two or three day breaks instead of longer vacations,” Hixson said.

Hixson said there are many “Mom and Pop” businesses in the community that are able to “scale down and hang on” through the weak economy.

GREENWOOD
Greenwood has a similar outlook.

Chamber Chair Rozanne Sterling said although the city is primarily a bedroom community for Fort Smith, it has a thriving business sector. Sterling said morale is at “pretty good” levels even with the tough economic times. She said there have been some recent business groundbreakings and there are very few vacant spaces in the downtown area.

ALMA
Like Greenwood, Alma is also a bedroom community, with many of its residents commuting to work in Fort Smith or Van Buren. Chamber Director Anita Gibson said real estate agencies are reporting that houses are selling well and the “restaurants are always busy.” She said there are seven banks in Alma, “so there must be money somewhere.”

BOONEVILLE
Booneville is bouncing back from the fire in March 2008 that destroyed the Cargill Foods facility, taking about 800 jobs with it. Chamber Executive Director Vanessa Wyrick said Cargill is nearly finished with cleaning the property, and the city is looking forward to the possibility of new development on that land.

American Spirit Wear, an athletic clothing manufacturing, is bringing 25 to 30 jobs to Booneville. Rockline Industries, a manufacturer of coffee filters and wet wipes, expects to hire 200 people over a five-year period, but has announced they have already hired 100 employees. 

Wyrick said one method they use to gauge economic growth is sales tax receipts. She said even though those receipts are down slightly from a year ago, sales tax revenue for all of 2008 was higher than it was in 2007.

Robert Parson can be reached at [email protected]