Developing Howard County’s Annual Meeting Scheduled for October 22

During its monthly meeting, the Developing Howard County (DHC) board reviewed plans for its upcoming annual meeting and discussed several economic development initiatives and opportunities for the county.

The DHC annual meeting is scheduled for October 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mine Creek Events Center on Main Street in Nashville. The meeting is open to the public.

Clint O’Neil, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) in Little Rock, will be the guest speaker.

DHC Executive Director Vanessa Weeks reported on several recent events she attended, including the State of Lithium Summit in Texarkana in July. Weeks explained that Howard County is considered part of the area’s lithium supply chain and said more than 400 people attended the summit.

Weeks also attended the State of the Chamber event in Camden and participated in a leadership tour of downtown Glenwood. The tour included 15 participants and was led by Stephanie White, mayor of Keo, Arkansas. White is working to network with other community leaders as part of an effort to help rebuild and strengthen small towns across Arkansas.

Weeks also told the board that the OKay site is currently a “hot commodity” and announced plans to apply for an AEDC Site Development Grant to assist with development of the former Tyson Feed Mill site.

Dana Poindexter, regional manager for Southwest Arkansas with the AEDC, told the board approximately $25 million has been set aside for the current grant cycle.

The board approved Weeks to represent DHC at the USA Expansion Summit in Mexico in September and the SelectUSA Mexico Summit in October. Weeks and Veronica Ozura, executive director of the Sevier County Economic Development Commission, are scheduled to give a presentation at the USA Expansion Summit next month.

Weeks also reported that applications for the county’s opportunity zones have been submitted to the state.