January 28, 2010

EDCCC Board Undergoes Training Session

EDCCC Board Training

The board of the Economic Development Corporation of Clark County (the “EDCCC”) attended mandatory board training on January 26, 2010, at the Garrison Center on the Henderson State University campus. Del Boyette of Boyette Strategic Advisors conducted the program.

Pursuant to the EDCCC’s contract with the Quorum Court, the board members are required to attend economic development training once a year, and this program satisfied that requirement.

Boyette’s two-hour presentation focused on the Site Selection Process and Community Preparedness. He gave an overview of the process used by businesses and their consultants when they are choosing a community in which to locate. Given Boyette’s years of experience as an economic development consultant, and his tenure as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, he was able to provide a number of real life examples to illustrate the site selection process from start to finish.

Boyette also discussed the various incentives that localities and states offer companies to locate or expand in their area, which can include cash or bonds, retention incentives, green building incentives, or local incentives (including tax abatement, cash, and cash grants).

“From an incentives perspective, Arkansas is an attractive state,” Boyette said.  “Local incentives packages are an expectation by companies today,” he continued, and “Clark County is ready as far as that goes” given the EDCCC’s adoption of an incentives policy in 2009.

Boyette emphasized the importance of communities separating themselves from the competition when trying to attract new projects. As for separating yourself from the competition, he gave examples of beautifying intersections and renaming older industrial parks to emphasize progressiveness and teamwork.

 

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