From the Governor: By Hon. Mike Beebe

Selling Arkansas beyond our borders is important to our economic future

After an economic-development and trade mission to Europe in early October, I felt a renewed optimism for increased European investment in Arkansas. We have been working for nearly three years now to reverse the international outsourcing trend and bring more foreign investment and jobs to Arkansas. Recent steps toward that goal include Mitsubishi announcing a new 100-million dollar wind-energy facility that is intended to bring 400 new jobs to Fort Smith. I believe we will see more of this in the coming months and years, through both the expansion of existing companies and the arrival of new businesses from overseas.

European companies, including Dassault Falcon, L’Oreal, Nordex, Zodiac Aerospace, and Unilever, which makes Skippy Peanut Butter, already have a strong presence in our state. While in Europe, our delegation met with their representatives and those from five other companies already invested here, and all ten companies expressed their continued commitment to Arkansas. Over and over, we were shown appreciation and gratitude for taking the time and effort to meet with these companies face to face.

In addition to the delegation visiting with foreign investors and American diplomatic officials in England, France and Germany, we also met with six companies thinking seriously about coming to Arkansas. Te reputation we have built with companies already established here has given us international credibility. Some of the prospects are suppliers to Nordex, which recently broke ground on a wind turbine facility in Jonesboro. Visiting with them in person gave us the chance to discuss how their investment here would be mutually beneficial for their business and for our economy.

I take every opportunity available to sell the merits of our state – our quality of life, affordable cost of living, natural beauty, educational opportunities, and of course, the potential of our workforce. It’s essential that Arkansas’s virtues be known beyond our borders. Education will always equal economic development. Te better we can train our workforce, especially through relevant internships and apprenticeships at the college and university levels, the more we can connect students to future jobs and encourage them to remain in Arkansas. Some of our meetings in Europe focused on producing more qualified Arkansans in specific fields that could lead to more investment opportunities in our state. Te full benefits of the mission may not be known for months or years, but I remain cautiously optimistic that within the next several months, I will have good news to report on additional forthcoming foreign investment in Arkansas. Cultivating economic development at the public level is just like running a business; it requires patience and realistic goals.

I am certain of one thing – the state’s investment in this trade- and economic-development mission was worth it. Growing existing investment and improving relationships is every bit a priority as attracting new investment. Te bottom line is: Jobs are jobs. My goal is simply to increase the number of jobs available to Arkansans.

It’s always good to come home, but it was even better to come back feeling more confident about our business prospects for the future.

Mike Beebe Arkansas Governor

– Honorable Mike Beebe Governor of Arkansas

Governor expands Arkansas Works career training, education opportunities

Gov. Beebe in November announced a major expansion of Arkansas Works, the governor’s strategic initiative to coordinate education, training and economic development in Arkansas communities. Te expansion focuses on providing unemployed and underemployed citizens with career training and educational opportunities.

“As communities work hard to attract new business, the State will help ensure that a qualified workforce stands ready to fill those jobs,” Beebe said. “Te world is quickly changing, and Arkansas must accelerate its pace to create careers for our citizens. Tis effort has something to help every Arkansan, whether you need a job, want to find a better job or want to shift to a new career.”

Beebe helped unveil the College and Career Planning System, an online information resource that will help Arkansans locate jobs that fit their interests and help businesses find qualified candidates to meet their workforce needs. Every Workforce Development Center in Arkansas has personnel prepared to assess job seekers and help them connect with jobs and industries that lead to satisfying careers.

In January, 43 career coaches will be placed in high schools to offer enhanced career guidance to students who want to build careers in Arkansas. Te career coaches will be employed by the two-year colleges located in the communities theses coaches are placed.

In addition, up to $8,000 in financial aid may be available, based on the needs of each individual, to help pay for career training and education.