Beebe places two from area on state economic development panel

The Fort Smith area has been known for not having many of its citizens appointed to key Arkansas boards and commissions.

That reputation took a fortunate hit Friday (Feb. 19) when Gov. Mike Beebe appointed Lee Webb Jr. and reappointed Chester Koprovic as members of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Webb replaced Northwest Arkansas businessman Bill Schwyhart. Beebe also reappointed Bruce Burrow of Jonesboro; appointed Graham Catlett of Little Rock to replace David Haak; and appointed Gene Hill of Camden to replace Dr. Ben Elrod. All AEDC appointments and reappointments announced Friday expire Jan. 14, 2014.

The decision by Beebe results in the Fort Smith area having three residents on the important 16-member commission. Paul Harvel, president of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, also a commission member.

The AEDC is critical to recruiting and retaining jobs through its basket of incentive programs, including infrastructure development monies. Graphic Packaging, Mars Petcare, Mitsubishi Power Systems, Umarex and Oxane are just a few recent examples of new jobs brought to the area as a result of AEDC support and support from the Governor’s office.

Koprovic was first appointed by Gov. Mike Huckabee. There were concerns that a Republican appointee would not be reappointed by Beebe, a Democrat. But Harvel, who was appointed by Beebe, and the Fort Smith regional business community lobbied for Koprovic’s reappointment.

Koprovic is board chairman of Boyd Metals, B&C of Fort Smith and Kopco Inc. Boyd Metals is a metal service company with offices and operations in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. B&C and Kopco are metal fabrication and welding operations in Fort Smith.

Webb is chairman of the Sebastian County Democratic Party, member of the Sebastian County Quorum Court (JP 4), and co-owner of Economy Trailer in south Fort Smith. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from the University of Arkansas. He lives between Fort Smith and Greenwood, and with wife Amanda, has three kids.

“I’ve always been interested in economy development and made a phone call to the Governor and told him about that interest. That was about eight months ago,” Webb said Friday. “I’m ready to go to work on it and see what we can get done. There are boards and commissions where people want to work and some they don’t, and what I hear is that this is a board that goes to work.”

Webb had lunch Friday with Chester Koprovic to learn more about the AEDC.

“He was giving me the ins and outs of what is going on,” Webb explained, adding that his focus will be on boosting the regional economy and working to find funds for Interstate 49.

“I know that (highway funding) is not their primary (AEDC) job, but I think we can help with that,” Webb said.

AEDC staff receive direction and guidance from the AEDC Commissioners, according to the AEDC Web site. The commission consists of 16 members appointed to four-year terms by the governor. These appointments are made with the advice and consent of the state Senate. At least three members are from each of Arkansas’ four congressional districts and four members are appointed at large.

Link here for more information on AEDC commission members.