Southwest Arkansas’ Jay Bunyard named vice-chairman of Arkansas Economic Development Commission

Jay Bunyard, President and CEO of Southwest Arkansas Radio and Bunyard Broadcasting of De Queen was elected vice-chairman of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission for 2024 during the February meeting of the commission at the AEDC offices in Little Rock.

John Newcomb of Osceola was elected chairman of the commission. Johnny Mitchum of Little Rock was elected chairman of the Bond Guaranty Committee and Anne Marie Dillard Jazic of Little Rock will lead the Executive Committee of the AEDC this year.

Bunyard served as chairman of the Bond Guaranty Committee for the AEDC last year.

The Bond Guaranty Committee makes low-rate financing available to potential new industries as well as to existing industries looking to expand their operations.

Bunyard was appointed to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission in 2018 by Governor Asas Hutchinson after serving 12 years on the State Parks, Recreation and Travel Commission. Bunyard is serving his second four-year term on the AEDC. His current term expires at the end of 2025.

Bunyard is now in line to serve as the Commission’s chairman in 2025.