Conner Eldridge

There are many strong points of this community that make it an excellent place for a business to be headquartered.  In addition to the energy provided by the two colleges, our unique combination of a highly educated work force and diverse natural resources foster a great climate for business.  The cost of entry here, including the land, facilities and other costs, is conducive to supporting capital investment more so than other areas of the nation and the state.  When looking to create or relocate a business, you should look at the start-up costs, the local workforce, and the company's overall viability within the community.  I think Arkadelphia and Clark County pass those criteria with flying colors.  That is what has attracted the strong businesses we have and what will continue to attract businesses in the future.

The business climate in Clark County is very robust, healthy and strong.  That's shown in the fact that we have two banks that are in the top twenty in the state based on asset size.   Our business community also covers a wide range of industries, including finance, manufacturing, natural resources, and pharmaceuticals. Danfoss Scroll Technology, a manufacturer of air compressors, and All Care, a large pharmacy consort, are excellent examples of the strong businesses that have chosen to locate here.

Through the strategic plan that brought a cross-section of the community together toward a common goal, we've pursued advancement in seven different areas that together encompass every aspect of quality of life, including economic development. The county has united behind a broad based plan to improve life for all of our residents. In this plan, our county expressed a unified desire to grow and improve, which is exciting for all of us and exciting for businesses considering locating in Clark County.

From a financial standpoint, our community offers a very strong financial resource.  At Summit Bank, which has $1 billion in assets, we offer a wide range of financial services to meet the needs of customers of all sizes- from large corporations to small businesses and families.

I'm excited about the amenities that we as a county can share as we create jobs and increase our population.  If you look at where we are going over the next 10 years, you can already see that our community-wide planning efforts are beginning to bear real fruit.  We have the assets to support solid growth today, and I look forward to the positive effect that growth will have on our county.