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.
A “Who’s Who” of the state’s professional economic developers were in Little Rock last Monday and Tuesday for the 2016 Annual Conference of Arkansas Economic Developers (AED).
This year’s conference, at the Marriott, was a joint meeting with Arkansas Chamber of Commerce Executives, so attendees also included “community cheerleaders” from cities all around the state. They were joined by utility company representatives, advertising executives, venture capitalists and just about everyone involved in marketing the state to advance economic prosperity. (Maybe not everyone, but it was a large turnout.)
Lou Ann Nisbett and Caleb McMahon of the Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County are both members of AED and attended the conference. With McMahon on staff for just three months, Nisbett took the opportunity to introduce him to a host of the statewide colleagues with whom he’ll be working and communicating concerning projects. In addition to meeting scores of the state’s economic developers — and trying to put names to faces — McMahon said he learned a lot about development activities in the state and what other communities are doing. Nisbett was particularly interested in hearing about changes in how state training funds will be awarded.
Conference speakers included site-location consultants, railroad officials and top executives of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Keynote speaker Charlie Cook, editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report and columnist for the National Journal, provided a 2016 general election forecast.
Highlighting Tuesday’s program was AED’s Annual Awards Luncheon when the membership names its outstanding economic developer and also presents lifetime leadership awards. Sherry McDonnell, one of this year’s lifetime recipients, retired from Entergy Arkansas earlier this year after 37 years of service. Mostly recently Entergy’s community development program manager, McDonnell facilitated numerous meetings and focus groups in Jefferson County during her career.
It was noted that AED members will play a role this Fall in hosting the prestigious Site Selectors Guild Fall Forum, which will be held October 24-26 in Little Rock.