Jobs, farm prices and drama on this 2016 wish list

The new year brings new hope to all and every year it is always fun for me to review what’s happened in the year coming to a close and preview what’s on the horizon.

As we enter our 17th year with Talk Business & Politics, we’ve never had a bigger 12 months of activity. From our merger with The City Wire to our new staff additions and expansion of products, it’s been a banner year for our readers, viewers and listeners. Calendar year 2016 looks to be even bigger.

Here are a few wishes I hope come true in 2016.

More manufacturing jobs
The state’s manufacturing sector has struggled to add jobs despite reshoring efforts and initiatives. The state was a runner-up for the JLTV superproject, which certainly would have sparked manufacturing job growth in south Arkansas. Let’s hope we win a few of the big ones in 2016.

Startup success
The state’s startup community has never been more connected and had as much momentum as it has in 2015. In every corner of the state, entrepreneurs have more programming, resources, funding and networking opportunities to be successful than at any time I’ve ever seen. Here’s wishing for more growth – and success – in this arena.

Commodities rebound
Arkansas’ number one industry, agriculture, could use a lift. Commodity prices in so many areas have row crop farmers struggling to hold on. Arkansas needs farming to remain strong and an uptick in everything from cotton to corn to rice to soybeans and beyond would be beneficial for my farming friends.

Oil and natural gas prices to improve
I’m actually fine with lower oil prices – apologies to Murphy Oil – but I do like the low price of a tank of gas. It’s been good for consumers and it’s been a nice mental positive for me when I fill up. I like lower utility bills also, which means I’m all right with low natural gas prices in that respect. However, I’d give up some of my creature comforts for higher prices in these two realms, especially natural gas. The Fayetteville Shale boom has busted and in order to see a rebirth of the industry that helped keep Arkansas out of the economic doldrums of the Great Recession, I’m wishing for higher gas prices in order to help the industry avoid layoffs, shutdowns, and inactivity.

More highway construction
Yes, I’d like to see more of it. Why? The orange barrels are a nuisance, but we need the investment in our roads and infrastructure. More importantly, if you look deeper into the construction jobs that have been carrying a lot of workload for the state’s strong employment growth, you’ll see road construction has been very influential. We need road jobs.

Fewer GOP Presidential candidates
The current field of 12, 15, 17, 40 candidates – whatever it is – hurts my head.

No dark money
A guy can hope. Maybe it will stay out of the Supreme Court and Senate races. Probably, not, but wishful thinking on my part.

Special session drama
Gov. Mike Beebe always had the deal worked out when he went into a special session, which made them pretty boring and efficient. As Gov. Asa Hutchinson centers on healthcare, highways and perhaps other business, let’s hope he’s a poor vote counter and leaves his special sessions open-ended. It would be terrible politics, but it would make for much more adventurous reporting at the state Capitol.

Best wishes in 2016!