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Economic Development Corporation of Clark County Link

Executive Director Search:

Arkadelphia, Arkansas:  The Clark County Economic Development Corporation is seeking an Executive Director. Applicant must be a proven leader in economic development, with a demonstrated knowledge of business recruitment and retention, governmental affairs and public finance. Ten years of Economic Development experience is required, five of which must be in an executive capacity.  A bachelor’s degree or higher is preferred.  Economic Development certification credentials are required.  Clark County is uniquely positioned for economic growth.  Ideally situated on Interstate 30, the County is home to over 20,000 residents, abundant natural resources, two nationally recognized universities (Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University), a regional hospital, a large lake (Lake Degray) and portions of two major rivers (the Ouachita and Caddo).  The Corporation is funded by a dedicated sales tax generating over $1,000,000 per year.  Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of three references to the Clark County Economic Development Corporation, Executive Director Search Committee, P.O. Box 1184, Arkadelphia, AR  71923. Applications may also be submitted by e-mail to clarkcountyed@gmail.com. Consideration of applications by the search committee will begin on October 31, 2007.  For further information, applicants may contact Conner Eldridge at 870.246.8070. (click here for full job description)

Clark County Strategic Plan Endorsements

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe

United States Senator Blanche Lincoln

United State Representative Mike Ross

Percy Malone, Arkansas, Senate District 26

Johnnie Roebuck, Arkansas House of Representatives, District 20

Randy Stewart, Arkansas House of Representative, District 23

Public Organizations:

  Arkansas Economic Development Commission

  Arkadelphia Housing Authority

  Arkansas Small Business Development Center-HSU

  Clark County

  City of Amity

  City of Arkadelphia

  City of Caddo Valley

  City of Gum Springs

  City of Gurdon

  City of Okolona

  University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service of Clark

    County

  Workforce Arkansas-Clark County

  US Army Corps of Engineers-DeGray Lake

 

Non-Profit and Civic Organizations:

  Arkadelphia Lions Club

  Arkadelphia Rotary Club

  Arkadelphia Rotary Sunrise Club

  American Red Cross

  C. Louis Cabe Foundation

  Clark County Democratic Party

  Clark County Industrial Council 

  Community Family Enrichment Center

  Gurdon Rotary Club

  La Primera Inglesia Bautista

  Mary C. Cabe Foundation 

  Men United

  National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

  Olds Foundation

  Republicans for Clark County

  Ross Foundation
  South Arkansas Community Development

  Southern Financial Partners

  Southern Good Faith Fund

  United Way of Clark County

  The Sunshine Service Club

  The Arkadelphia Women’s Development Council

 

Academic Organizations:

  Alpha Xi Delta-Henderson State University

  Arkadelphia Public Schools

  Ben M. Elrod Center for Family and Community

  Centerpoint Public Schools

  Chi Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc

  Dawson Educational Cooperative

  Gurdon Public Schools

  Henderson State University

  Joint Education Consortium

  Ouachita Baptist University

  Schools of the 21st Century

  Southwest Arkansas Technology Learning Center

Business Organizations:

  Alcoa

  Arkadelphia Clinic for Children and Young Adults

  Arkadelphia Medical Clinic

  Arkadelphia Truck and Tire

  Automobills

  Arnold, Batson, Turner & Turner, P.A.

  Baptist Medical Center of Arkadelphia

  Bunn Real Estate and Property Management

  Bunn Builders

  Carlos Zumudio, Danfoss Industries

  Century 21-Manchester Real Estate

  Chambers Bank-Amity

  Coldwell Banker Tatman Realty

  Community Counseling Services, Inc

  Clark County Abstract Company

  Clark County Appraisal Company

  Clary Chiropractic

  Daily Siftings Herald

  Dr. Chester Clark D.D.S.

  Dr. James Hankins, D.D.S.

  Echols, Thompson, Conine & Davis, Ltd.

  Elk Horn Bank

  Elton &  Joan Buck, Inc.

  First State Bank of Gurdon

  Harrington Construction

  Harrington Properties

  Henry Morgan, Attorney at Law

  Hunter-Wasson

  Iron Mountain Lodge and Marina

  Kingwood Forestry

  Margo Green, Arkadelphia Human Development Center   Superintendent

  McMillan, McCorkle, Curry & Bennington, P.A.

  Morgan-Hill, Inc.

  Petit Jean Poultry

  Pioneer Abstract Company

  Ranchino Research

  Reeder Realty

  Regions Bank

  Print Mania

  Schuck Chiropractic

  Sears, Arkadelphia

  Shields Wood Products, Inc.

  Siplast

  South Central Electric Cooperative

  Southern Bancorp

  Southern Financial Partners

  Southern Property Corporation

  Summit Bank

  The Gurdon Times

  The Standard

  Twin Rivers Architecture, P.A.

  Taylor, Rodgers, and Turner

  United Country Hometown Realtors

  US Bank

  W.P. Malone, Inc.

  WallStreet in the Woods, Inc.

  Wright, Berry, Hughes and Moore

Personal Endorsements

  Alan and Debbie Sing

  Bobby and Judy Jones

  Brooke Gregory, Southern Bancorp

  Carey and Carrie Roberson

  Dorinda Suitor, Utilities Manager, City of Arkadelphia

  Dr. Alan Wright, Henderson State University

  Dr. Virginia Anderson, Director of Career & Technical Education,APS

  Dan and Betty Jo Grant

  Wesley, Debbie and Jennifer Kluck

  Euodias Goza, Southern Bancorp

  John French, Southern Property Corporation

  Maralyn Sommer, Henderson State University

  Millard and Theda Aud

  Phil Baldwin, Southern Bancorp

  Ross and Mary Whipple

  Conner and Mary Elizabeth Eldridge

  Phillip and Shelley Loe

  Rick Brumley, Arkadelphia Parks and Recreation

  Y. Paul Huo, Dean School of Business, HSU

  Ben and Betty Elrod

  Dave and Brenda Hawkes

  Wes and Lisa Sullivan

  Ron and Judy Harrison

  Keith and Gina Daniell

  Tom and Nina Calhoon

  Bill and Gayle Wright

  James and Linda Calhoun

  Jamie and Emily Calhoun

Clark County Strategic Planning (CCSP) is a planning initiative for Clark County, Arkansas to address the future development of the area in the next 10 years.

CCSP Vision Statement

Clark County in 2017:

Clark County is recognized throughout Arkansas and surrounding states as a dynamic center of higher education, the forest products industry, technology manufacturing,  outdoor recreation & tourism and retirement living.  Clark County is a stimulating and fun community for residents of all ages from birth through retirement, with attractive neighborhoods, premier health care, rich cultural and intellectual opportunities and exceptionally low crime, supported by prepared leadership that anticipates change and plans for the future.  Citizens of the county enjoy a wide variety of shopping and restaurant venues.  Adults and children alike enjoy indoor and outdoor public sports centers and complexes.   Clark County’s educational institutions, because of their excellence in teaching and research, provide future leaders for Arkansas and the region.   Ample job opportunities are available for all including college educated citizens. The county has become a magnet for office activities serving Southwest Arkansas, supported by landscaped office parks, and is an emerging center for research in alternative fuels and natural resources.     

Clark County in 2017 - Vision Story:

Businesses flock to Clark County to take advantage of the vibrant business environment, and Clark County has a healthy and diverse economy.  Technology and manufacturing companies have grown and thrived in the county, aided and actively supported by government and the industrial commission.  Call and insurance claims centers have been attracted to capitalize on the region’s pool of part-time college workers.  The county has become an important national center for research, development and commercialization of ethanol from cellulose and other renewable energy technologies.  The new riverfront complex has become an important regional retail sector with upscale antique shops, restaurants and night life that attracts residents from surrounding counties.  The airport has expanded to include regional jet service and aircraft maintenance activities.  The Gum Springs exit has become an important regional trucking center that includes truck stops, maintenance and dispatching centers.  The skilled workers needed at these businesses in its base of technology and manufacturing businesses can be trained or retrained at a state-of-the-art Vo-Tech training center combined with a countywide educational and career center.

The natural features of Clark County have been developed and the beauty of nature is preserved for all to enjoy.  The county has achieved its aims and become an important statewide outdoor recreation center.  Tourists are attracted to an interconnected complex of outdoor attractions including hiking trails along the Ouachita and Caddo Rivers, a memorable nature center and an award winning botanical garden.  Retirement developers have recognized these assets and attracted large numbers of active-adult retirees to amenity rich subdivisions they have constructed for this market.  Retirees have stimulated the demand for medical services and Clark County has enhanced its medical presence with more specialists, community clinics and school based health care.  Part of the appeal of Clark County stems from its novel and award winning Comprehensive Retirement Servicing Center.

The universities in Clark County are vibrant sources of the arts and culture and produce graduates with degrees in high demand that choose to stay and apply their gifts to the many opportunities available to them in Clark County.  Clark County’s universities have enhanced their role in the local economy with dramatic increases in enrollment stemming from more graduate programs, larger technical programs in nursing, aviation, computer science and engineering and a scholarship program that pays the tuition of any Clark County high school graduate enrolling in one of the two universities.  Universities have added research functions to their campuses and this has created more opportunities for professional employment in Clark County.

Tourists and visitors from across the U.S. and around the world come to Clark County to see the local sights and take part in a variety of recreational opportunities, particularly outdoor recreation and sports.  The diverse economic growth in Clark County has led to more emphasis on appearance and cleanliness and stimulated the construction of new facilities.  Visitor information centers are located in each of the major cities, and new interchanges on I-30 have been developed to service the traffic needs of the larger population.  A 1000 person convention center is hosting statewide meetings and attracting significant pools of new visitors.  Residents now have access to state-of-the-art childcare facilities and children have enhanced recreation activities.

Young families and children of all ages flock to Clark County to thrive in the balanced, renewing and fulfilling quality of life.  The older sections of the towns have been revitalized, and new high quality mixed-use planned developments that are environmentally friendly continue to be constructed.  Local housing, in clean and attractive neighborhoods, is available for the wide spectrum of employment in the County from starter homes for working class families to upscale developments for retirees.  The upscale nature of new developments in Clark County has reinforced the need to maintain the cleanliness and natural beauty of community streets and neighborhoods, and residents feel safe and secure in these neighborhoods and throughout the County.  The primary and secondary education system is a leader in the State and produces graduates with competitive skills that meet the key needs of technology-based employers. State-of-the-art medical facilities provide the latest in medical technology and have virtually eliminated the need to travel elsewhere for medical care.  A wide variety of recreational and cultural facilities and activities have established the County as an entertainment center for the region.  Clark residents have responded in such a positive way that the County is recognized in national publications as among the best places to live, work or retire.