By John R. Schirmer
News-Leader staff
Developing Howard County will invite public input on economic and industrial development early in 2025.
At the panel’s Thursday, Oct. 24, meeting, chairperson Paul Britt asked Director Vanessa Weeks to set up a workshop to discuss the results from a community survey conducted in late August and early September.
Once the survey information has been considered, the board plans to create focus groups which will start meeting in January.
Logan Benson from the Arkansas Economic Development Institute discussed the formation of the focus groups in a Zoom session with the board last week.
He reviewed preliminary survey results at a community meeting earlier this month and added information during his session.
Benson suggested the following groups: Attracting jobs, improving community pride, improving housing and providing education on the county’s tax structure.
A major concern was “litter and other things that show a lack of pride in the community,” Benson said. “We want to make people care more. When somebody comes in, we convince them how amazing Howard County is.”
Britt told about a small Louisiana community he occasionally travels through, calling it “immaculate. It’s a beautiful little community. If you have a city that’s well maintained, residents take that pride in their property as well.”
Ex officio board member Gary Dan Futrell said it’s “all about the culture of the community.”
Britt said out-of-town donors to the Howard County Children’s Center recently wanted to see where they money went, so they went on a tour of the town and saw the center’s facilities.
“There was one area that looked bad,” he said.
After Benson’s presentation, Britt suggested inviting financial donors to Developing Howard County to attend a workshop on the survey results. Benson will be asked to attend as well, along with Dr. Steve Cole, UA-Cossatot chancellor who was instrumental in the formation of Developing Howard County.
“We’ll review the survey results and look at focus groups,” Britt said. He plans to hold the workshop in November.
In other discussion, Weeks said there was a site visit recently at Husqvarna. The visitors “wanted to see if the facility will work for them. They asked about the average housing cost here and average wages.”
The visit went well, according to Weeks.
Board members will discuss bylaws changes at their November meeting. Any changes would require a unanimous vote.
New members include Stephanie Harrison and Nick Brooks. They replace Andi Reeves Green and Luis Maya Sr.
Board members looked at increased sales tax revenue in Little River and Sevier counties after residents voted the counties wet.
The issue likely will be discussed at the planned workshop.
