Franklin County groups focus on ‘actionable’ items

Fort SmithLocal NewsNews on the Wire

by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) February 19, 2010 10:37 am 71 views 

story information submitted by officials with the Arkansas Tech University-Ozark campus

Approximately 42 people met Feb. 12 in the Conference Center at Arkansas Tech University’s Ozark Campus to collaborate with one another to identify “actionable” items to improve Franklin County and the area economy.

Dr. Jim Feldt, of the Institute for Economic Advancement with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, facilitated the half-day workshop.

This facilitated session allowed for brainstorming within five categories related to regional economic development:
• Grow Your Own;
• Regional Approach;
• Quality of Place;
• Workforce and Education; and,
• Other.

Most significantly, the session’s work concluded with three major efforts that were rated as priorities and for which a “lead dog” or team volunteered to implement. The three efforts are: pursue regional tourism strategies; work collaboratively with regional chambers of commerce; and produce an educated and skilled labor force through increased communication and collaboration between employers and educational entities. 

Franklin County’s Arkansas Works Committee was formed in the fall of 2008, after the Governor’s “Arkansas Works” Conference. The committee, composed of business, government, community, and educational leaders in Franklin County, has been meeting regularly to achieve outcomes developed in a report that the committee submitted to the Governor’s Office in February 2009. The purpose of the Feb. 12 workshop was to expand on the items outlined in the 2009 report and include more stakeholders in Franklin County’s Arkansas Works Committee.

Key organizers of the Feb. 12 workshop included Jeff Stubblefield, Charleston Public Schools; Bill  Gossage, Ozark Public Schools; Bruce Sikes, ATU-Ozark; Ray Mitcham, Economic Development; Tony Wilson, Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative; Chad Harberer, Ozark Public Schools; and Alice Wood, Simmons First Bank.

The next committee meeting is scheduled for 8 a.m., March 12, in ATU-Ozark’s Student Services and Conference Center. Anyone who would like to contribute to the county’s community and economic development is welcome to attend.

For a complete document of the workshop’s outcomes, please e-mail [email protected]