Editor’s Note: “The Economic Development Side” originally appears in the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce’s weekly member e-newsletter. It is written by Rhonda Dishner, the Economic Development Alliance’s executive assistant.
Take it from someone who knows. Writing a weekly column can be challenging. Demanding even. Because weeks really do fly by and self-imposed deadlines come around quickly.
Keeping the copy about something specific — like Alliance economic development activities — makes it even more difficult.
Not that there’s not always subject matter to be discussed, but some things can’t be talked about. Yet. Or right now.
And that fleetingly brings to mind the old crime-mystery line (para-phrased), which is sometimes used jokingly in economic development:
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. In the case of economic development reality, though, it’s really more like: we signed a non-disclosure agreement, so we can’t tell you. Yet. Or right now.
In the meantime, this column reports on Alliance involvement in meetings and conferences and events that are focused on making the community better. It’s a worthy goal that has been gaining supporters for quite some time. Read the newspapers and you’ll see. Better still, pick a community betterment cause and join it.
An absence of reportable economic development-related meetings, conferences and events can mean some head-scratching, calendar-page flipping, and praying for column inspiration. This writer does all three. And is doing so at this moment in time. While wondering how writers of daily columns pull it off.
By necessity this was a bye week, editorially speaking. We have more routine subject material for next week. Thanks for stopping by.