Arkansas- Texas Regional Economic Development
COMPETITIVE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE DESIGNATION On April 13, 2022, Governor Asa Hutchinson and Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston announced Texarkana as the eighth community in Arkansas to receive the Competitive Community Initiative designation. According to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Competitive Communities Initiative evaluation program was developed to support communities as they become more attractive for investment and jobs. The evaluation provides a third-party assessment and recommendations for improving community competitiveness, leading to the potential for more investments, jobs, and economic growth. The website www.areadevelopment.com states that pre-qualified certified sites can be a big incentive for companies, especially those looking to expedite opening a facility. Working with a “shovel-ready” certified site can save significant time in a development schedule. Additionally, certification provides a standardized tool by which both development professionals and business prospects can review prospective sites for compatibility with their needs. A certified site must go through a rigorous pre-qualification process, and standards can vary depending on the individual state or individual economic development agency. Certified sites meet an extensive list of readiness criteria and have documentation proving each item on the list. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission focuses on four pillars of community development: Economic Development Organization, Economic Development Funding, Workforce Narrative, and Product Readiness. The Competitive Communities Initiative works to identify areas of opportunity within the pillars of community development. The initiative aims to ensure that all communities in the state are fully prepared to compete for jobs and investment successfully. Communities, such as Texarkana, that successfully achieve the Competitive Communities Initiative designation benefit from: • Valuable engagement with key community and business development partners • Community recognition by the Governor • Recognition by AEDC via website, social media, and the AEDC newsletter • Recognition by Utility Partner(s) • Included in more RFI submissions • Opportunity for more investments, jobs, and economic growth Source: arkansasedc.com/about
Inc. (AR-TX REDI) CEO Rob Sitterley was named one of North America’s Top 50
Economic Developers for 2022 by Consultant Connect. “Economic development is a team sport, and I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful community all working seamlessly with one another to attract new industry,” Rob Sitterly said. When asked about his favorite characteristic of his community, Rob stated, “The people. There is a culture and vibe in the Texarkana region that is like nowhere else I have ever been. In a world rife with lip service, I am proud to live in a place where people live by their word. It is what drew me to this community.”
Rob Sitterley, Arkansas- Texas Regional Economic Development Inc. (AR-TEX REDI) CEO
26 | Texarkana Community Directory | Fall 2022 26 | Texarkana Community Directory | Fall 2022
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