The article below originally appeared and was produced by www.deltarevisited.com
Newport and Jackson County are pleased to welcome a new Practicum Team from the Clinton School of Public Service to the area. The Team is composed of Joyce Akidi from Kampala Uganda, Alex Lanis from Ada, Oklahoma and Shanell Ransom from Columbia, South Carolina. Joyce, Alex and Shanell bring a great experience to the local project having worked on projects in Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, Uganda, Haiti and Brazil.
The Clinton School Team will be working with a local steering committee on the development of a county-wide alumni database. The database will contain contact, educational and occupational information for people who have graduated from a high school in Jackson County or from ASU-Newport. In addition to developing the platform for the database and the mechanism through which to gather information, the Team will be assisting the local committee in developing privacy measures and usage guidelines that will govern the use of the database in the future.
One of the primary uses of the database will be to connect alumni from the area with job opportunities that might interest them. The hope is that by informing alumni of jobs in Jackson County that are in their field, it might encourage hometown people to move back to Newport and Jackson County. Another use for the database will be to inform former residents of opportunities to support their hometown. These opportunities could come through major fundraising efforts on large project, or through seeking their help to contact a broader range of political representatives concerning projects being sought by the community. Finally, the database can be used to share information about the positive developments in Jackson County so that the alumni of the area can be ambassadors for the community wherever they live.
The team was introduced at the Newport Business Resource Center on September 16, 2014 and they started their work with the steering committee. The final project plan and report will be due to the community and the Clinton School in April. For more information on this project and other developments in Newport and Jackson County, feel free to contact the Newport
Economic Development Commission at (870) 523-1009.
Newport, Arkansas, A city that keeps “Rolling on the River”
Having lived close to Newport, Arkansas for nearly 30 years, I have always had a fondness in my heart for this Delta town. Maybe it is because it reminds me so much of my hometown Lake Village. Newport is on the White River, Lake Village on Lake Chicot and close to the Mississippi. Being a history buff, I love the history of Newport and Jackson County. Maybe its the agricultural base that also reminds me of Lake Village. The fondness may be due to the countless times I passed through Newport on the way to see my in-laws in the Missouri Bootheel. or it could be, the folks in Newport are just good “folk“. I tend to think it is all the above.
But, Newport has not suffered the same fate as many Delta towns. It has managed to prosper and grow. Newport even has a major arts festival each year to promote the region’s artists. Go figure. There always seems to be something going on in Newport. Recently I had the chance to visit with Jon Chadwell, Director of the Newport Economic Development Commission, and Julie Allen, Director of the Newport Chamber of Commerce. Here are a few of the highlights of that visit.
LB: Give us a little history of the Newport Economic Development Commission (NEDC)
Chadwell: The city of Newport voted a 1/2c sales tax for economic development in 2002. It had a 10 year sunset clause. When the extension came up in 2012, it passed with an overwhelming 76% Yes vote. We were proud of that. We have another 10 years to work.
LB: Many agricultural based areas haven’t seen tax revenue growth in years. What is the contribution of Newport’s 1/2c?
Chadwell: We have really been fortunate. We have seen the 1/2c sales tax grow from $425,000 to $750,00. For a town of Newport’s size it allows us to do a lot of things.
As a reminder, in the late 1990s Newport lost approximately 1200 manufacturing jobs. With the help of the 1/2c sales tax and NEDC, most of those jobs are back. It has not been easy, but we have managed to get there. We could not have done it without the tax.
LB: How is the commission set up?
Chadwell: The NEDC is made up of 9 members who are appointed by the Mayor and City Council. They have total control of the 1/2c.
LB: What are the main focus areas for NEDC.
Chadwell: First, we have a little different philosophy about economic development. We are big on working with existing industry and retail businesses. While recruiting new industry and retail is good, we believe we need to nurture and support our existing base.
We are constantly providing resources, financial incentives and other links to help our existing businesses grow. In many cases we offer our existing businesses the same incentives as we do to prospects. That works well for us.
LB: I noticed a lot of work going on in downtown. Is NEDC involved in that?
Chadwell: To some degree. Most of what you see currently is new sidewalks and some cosmetic areas for downtown. We helped with some grant funds and planning resources and things like that. We also have a downtown revitalization program that has small matching grants for businesses that want to locate downtown, or existing businesses that want to improve their buildings. NEDC can make exterior grants available. We also have Commercial Development Grants.
LB: Tell us more about your office facility.
Chadwell: We own this building. It is a bank building that went through several buyouts and mergers. Working with the chamber we have made it a resource center where our small businesses can hold meetings, training seminars, and things of that nature. We have a kitchen upstairs adjoining our meeting rooms. It is an invaluable tool for the NEDC and local businesses.
LB: There is also a tourist attraction upstairs?
Chadwell: For sure, the Highway 67 Rock N Roll Hall of Fame Museum is upstairs.
We get folks from all over (the world) stopping in to visit.
LB: Julie, you have been patient so far. Where does the Newport Chamber of Commerce come in with all of this?
Allen: The Chamber works hand in hand with the NEDC. It helps being in the same building. I guess the best way to express our mission is outreach and improving the quality of life in Newport. We reach out to our current businesses and communicate with them. We want to know what’s going on, the good and the bad. We are always trying to find ways to help. If good things are happening, we want to share it. Then, we are big on tourism, actively working on ways to draw visitors and new residents.
LB: For a town this size, Newport has a couple big festivals.
Allen: We have things going on constantly but our two biggest festivals are Portfest and Depot Days. Portfest is held the first weekend in June each year and pulls in thousands to Jackson Port State Park. It is a two day festival with good headlining entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights. Depot Days is the last Saturday of September and celebrates downtown Newport and the Rock N Roll Highway with lots of food and great music. While Depot Days is not a big as Portfest, it is growing. It is really a fun day downtown.
LB: I would consider the Newport Chamber one of the most active for a town this size. Is that a fair assessment?
Allen: I never really thought about it. We are fortunate. We have a great community with a lot of good folks that love it here and want to see it grow. We have a great facility to work out of and a ton of resources available to us. Newport is a great place to live an work and although being Chamber Director is my job, it is a great place to promote. It is truly satisfying to see it grow. I can’t say enough about the volunteers in the community.
We couldn’t do it with out them. They work tirelessly on every project. I think Jon will agree, it is a great group to work with.
Chadwell: I totally agree. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of volunteer hours go into these festivals, the art show each February, plus all the other activities and events. We always have a band of volunteers ready to help. Sure makes our jobs a lot easier.
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