Tag: AEDC

AEDC director talks China, rice; cautious about NAFTA negotiations

Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Mike Preston said Gov. Asa Hutchinson and President Donald Trump’s administration deserve credit for the breakthrough with the reopening of U.S.-China rice and beef…

Chinese company to open textile plant in east Arkansas, create up to 800 jobs (Updated)

Editor’s note: This story is completely updated with this report from Wesley Brown. –––––––––––––––– Making good on a seven-month old promise to bring a major employer to the Arkansas Delta,…

State training programs for blue-collar workers could be pared under Trump budget

A key program that is part of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s workforce initiative to retrain and retool Arkansas’ blue collar-focused labor pool for a more technology-oriented economy could be at risk…

Gov. Hutchinson names new members of Arkansas Economic Development Commission

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday (Feb. 14) announced the following appointments. Ann Hudson, Forrest City, to the Board of Trustees of East Arkansas Community College. Appointment expires Dec. 31, 2022….

Tax cuts complete, Gov. Hutchinson’s economic development, efficiency measures advance in Senate

Now that his tax cut proposals are in hand, Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday (Feb. 6) advanced several measures that are part of his overall economic development and government efficiency…

Gov. Hutchinson announces jobs in El Dorado, plans for new sawmill in South Arkansas

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday visited El Dorado to join local leadership and economic development officials for job announcements that will bring dozens of new jobs to the South Arkansas…

Daisy Outdoor to expand Rogers headquarters, add jobs

Daisy Outdoor Products will expand its Rogers facility and add about two dozen jobs in the next two years, company leaders announced on Wednesday (Jan. 18) alongside Gov. Asa Hutchinson…

Fidel Castro is dead. What’s next?

Editor’s note: Mike Preston is executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Opinions, commentary and other essays posted in this space are wholly the view of the author(s). –––––––––––––––––––…

Improving ‘bucket of incentives’ a legislative goal of AEDC director

Editor’s note: This is the final of three stories about economic development policy plans for the upcoming 2017 Arkansas Legislative Session. Link here for the first story, and link here…

AEDC to seek more money for Quick Action Closing Fund, says it’s ‘vital tool’ for economic growth

Editor’s note: This is the second of three stories about economic development policy plans for the upcoming 2017 Arkansas Legislative Session. Link here for the first story. –––––––––––––––– It is…

Gov. Hutchinson, AEDC director laying groundwork for aggressive job growth plan for 2017 session

Editor’s note: This is the first of three stories about economic development policy plans for the upcoming 2017 Arkansas Legislative Session. –––––––––––––––– As the state’s globe-trotting, chief job recruiter, Gov….

Gov. Hutchinson, AEDC Chief Mike Preston to make second trade trip to China

Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) Director Mike Preston will make their second trade visit to China in 2016 when they head back to the Far East…

Arkansas Economic Development Commission hopes to facilitate international outreach

Cuba needs rice and chicken. German companies have a keen interest in conducting business in the southern U.S., and Henan Province in China is known for food processing and rice…

ATRS ‘deal flow’ pipeline, investments benefit Arkansas companies, job prospects

Editor’s note: This is the first of two stories about the activities and financial position of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. ––––––––––––––––– As Arkansas communities deal with economic development opportunities,…

AEDC visits Paragould, director praises area economic development teams

Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Mike Preston said Thursday (May 12) that the growth in Northeast Arkansas has been keyed by the work in both Jonesboro and Paragould. Preston,…

GW Communications to open first Arkansas office, to hire 28 in Paragould

Paragould Mayor Mike Gaskill said Thursday (April 28) that a move into the city by GW Communications will help keep young people living and working in the town. Gaskill was…

May 1 deadline for $1.3 billion Sun Paper ‘superproject’ likely to be extended until summer

An upcoming May 1 deadline to find a site location for a $1.3 billion superproject that China’s largest privately-held timber company hopes to build in south Arkansas is expected to…

InvestArk program: Source of highway funds, or effective jobs tool?

Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) has floated the idea of cutting the state’s largest economic development incentive program as a funding source for highways, but the idea is being resisted by…

Governor: Arkansas Works still progressing as Arkansas to ‘push the envelope’; new state branding effort unveiled

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday (Feb. 4) that his main proposed changes to the private option remain intact after his recent discussions with federal Department of Health and Human Services…

Jonesboro business leaders appointed to Arkansas Economic Development Council

A pair of Jonesboro residents recently became the newest members of a state economic development group with several items on the agenda, one of the members said Monday. Gov. Asa…