Jonesboro Starts New Economic Development Process

An economic development plan will help the city of Jonesboro create a roadmap for the future, the president and CEO of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce said Tuesday.

Mark Young said the six-month process, which will include an online survey and using existing research, will provide city officials with information on where the city stands on a host of issues.

Austin, Texas-based Avalanche Consulting will help the chamber with processing the data developed from the survey.

The survey can be found here.

Young said the study will measure at least 16 different issues, ranging from education and careers to livability and infrastructure.

It also will ask residents to provide information on what kind of industry they would like to see in Jonesboro, as well as cost of living issues and identifying the strengths and weaknesses in the town.

Individuals have until May 1 to complete the online survey, Young said.

The overall project is being funded privately by the Jonesboro Economic Development Corporation and Jonesboro Unlimited.

Talking about a strength, Young said the city has been successful in recent years attracting businesses, especially along Arkansas 18.

The highway, which links Jonesboro to Blytheville, has a so-called “Food Corridor” with several major food companies in the area.

Among them are Frito-Lay – which recently announced a $45.7 million expansion at its Jonesboro factory – as well as Butterball, Post and Nestle.

At least 30 jobs are expected to be created with the Frito-Lay expansion, while the company will add almost 80,000 square feet to its facility.

A company official said the expansion will involve “high technology distribution equipment” with the expansion scheduled to be completed by 2018.

Young said the survey will also help gather thoughts and opinions on where the focus should be, while existing research will provide a point of reference.

“We will be able to identify the economic tools we have and use those tools to maximize our success,” Young said of the survey.

While not speculating on what the survey may find, Young said Jonesboro has “been very fortunate” in having certain infrastructure in place.

Young cited Arkansas State University, the ASU-Newport campus in Jonesboro and Jonesboro City Water and Light as positives that the city has at its disposal.

“We have been competitive in the overall business cost,” Young said. “It is something we have excelled in.”

City officials are also working on a series of infrastructure projects all over town. A meeting was held Monday night to discuss extending Parker Road in southwest Jonesboro, all the way to Washington Avenue just off U.S. 63.

Other plans include building an overpass at the intersection of Highland Drive and Nettleton Avenue (two roads that link the Food Corridor with the rest of Jonesboro); and expanding Caraway Road to five lanes from the U.S. 63 overpass to LaTourette Street.

Typically, Jonesboro also serves as the regional engine for economic growth in the area.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Craighead County had the lowest unemployment rate in the region in February 2015 with a 5.1 % rate.

The number was over 1% lower than the closest county (Greene at 6.3 %) and nearly half of the highest percentage in the region (Jackson County at 10%).