State economic group plans national campaign

FRANK WALLIS Bulletin Staff Writer

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission is preparing to launch a national marketing campaign in March that will give the business world a look at the state's economic diversity with a view toward growth in manufacturing, technology and green industry sectors.

Maria Haley, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), visited Mountain Home on Tuesday to update local business leaders on the agency's new Targeted Industry Program that will be rolled out to the public on CNN (Cable News Network) in March.

Haley said for the first time the AEDC is offering sound research and credible rationale in its courtship of industrial-development prospects. That's infinitely important, she said, in market sectors that are becoming increasingly niche-oriented and narrowly defined.

Part of the process of becoming credible involves identifying existing industry and Arkansas resources and understanding how those resources are relevant to business and industry that may come to the state. In terms of existing industry and people resources, the state has a lot on the ball. More here.