Rex Nelson: Solutions For A Two-state Arkansas

Essayist Rex Nelson has two takes on the plight of the Delta, territory he’s familiar with from his days heading the Delta Regional Authority.

Nelson notes what we told you earlier this week that 34 of the 36 counties that lost population in Arkansas occurred in the First and Fourth Congressional Districts, which occupy the heart of the Delta. This population migration indicates that eastern and southern Arkansas will lose even more political influence in the coming decade as it copes with its economic decline.

In his post – "Two States of Arkansas" – Nelson explains that the Delta, especially southeast Arkansas, needs to capitalize on tourism opportunities as a piece of the puzzle to pulling itself out of its tailspin.

Tourism, of course, is not the answer.

It’s simply one piece in a much larger puzzle as people try to improve the quality of life in south and east Arkansas. The biggest piece of that puzzle remains the improvement of public education.

Still, it’s apparent that what the good folks in east and south Arkansas have been doing in recent decades isn’t working from an economic development standpoint.

It’s high time to try some different approaches.

Nelson had suggested a plethora of ideas from working groups that have been studying the Delta’s plight in an earlier essay, "A Plan for Southeast Arkansas." He warns that an old way of thinking won’t solve the region’s problems.

One of the things I constantly preached during my years with the Delta Regional Authority was that we had to get out of the old economic development mode that “bigger is better.”

As far as population counts are concerned, southeast Arkansas isn’t going to suddenly get bigger.

But there’s no reason it can’t become better, eventually stemming the population losses that now reach back almost 60 years.

I encourage you to read both of the highlighted posts from Nelson’s great web site, Rex Nelson Southern Fried.com.

I also steer you to an economic experiment in Georgia that has been wildly successful for a similarly challenged region of the country. Colquitt, Georgia reinvented itself years ago through a project known as "Swamp Gravy."

In short, the community took its plantation and agrarian history and turned it into a tourism-theatrical mecca. Swamp Gravy has evolved into a year-round series of folk plays, a story-telling museum, mural project and more.  It has also contributed to the emotional and economic healing of the community.

You can read more about it here and here.