AEDC staffer to join Fort Smith chamber as COO

Tim Allen, a project manager with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, will soon join the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce in an organizational move that will see Chamber President Paul Harvel focus more on economic development.

Allen, a native of Shreveport, La., has been with the AEDC for more than 11 years helping with economic development projects in the Fort Smith region and Northwest Arkansas. Part of that work has included helping with projects in the Fort Smith area, to include the location of Experian in Van Buren, and expansion of the Gerber and Hiram Walker plants in Fort Smith, Harvel said.

Allen will have the title of chief operating officer and will help lead many of the chamber committee functions. He is scheduled to begin at the chamber on Nov. 1.

The work will include supporting the chamber’s new business and retention program, working with expansion of existing business and industry and representing the chamber on regional transportation issues.

“He’s going to be involved in working with a lot of chamber committees, education, governmental affairs and everything we do there. He’ll be a great asset for us and I can’t wait to get him here,” Harvel explained. “

Harvel, a veteran in Arkansas’ chamber and economic development circles, was hired April 2009 as the Fort Smith chamber president. Harvel served as president and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce for two years, and served more than 20 years as the president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. He also has served as a commissioner on the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

With Allen joining the staff, Harvel plans to focus more on recruitment of new business and industry to the Fort Smith region.

“That (recruitment) will be my focus, and I’ll tell you that’s really where I need to be focused,” Harvel said.

That focus is needed because the Fort Smith region has been one of the hardest metro areas in the state hit by the recession and the subsequent jobless recovery. Job cuts and losses at Whirlpool, Trane, Federal Coach, Southern Steel & Wire and other area manufacturers have caused the region’s metro rate to remain above 7.5% since January 2009 — reaching as high as 9.3% during January 2010. The jobless rate was 7.9% during August.

Prior to the AEDC, Allen spent 17 years working in marketing and sales for Centerpoint Energy. He attended Arkansas State University, but did not complete his degree. However, he did graduate from University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute and is certified as a Professional Community Economic Developer.

Allen has been married for 30 years to his wife, Debbie, and they have two children — a 29-year-old daughter and 24-year-old son — who are on the nursing career path.

Allen said Wednesday he is looking forward to working full time in a region he has helped support.

“Obviously, I have a relationship with the leaders and industry there,” Allen said. “This is really a great opportunity for me and I’m excited, on the personal level and the professional level.”

As to the economic concerns of the region, Allen said he sees those as an “opportunity and a challenge.” He said his relationship with the AEDC and first-hand knowledge of its culture and programs will help in his Fort Smith duties, especially with support of existing business and industry.

“You know, two-thirds of job growth comes from that existing business and industry, so we’ve got to take care of those folks,” Allen explained. “It’s not going to be easy. I’m not saying that. It’s not easy in any part of the country right now. … But I see Fort Smith as an area that is really going to boom when the infrastructure with I-49 and the river comes together … and when this (economy) begins to grow again.”