GTEDC

GTEDC Historical Summary

Revised 2008

The Golden Triangle Economic Development Council (GTEDC) is a not-for-profit business league organized to promote the growth, vitality, and development of South Arkansas by applying the knowledge, creativity, and leadership of its members to the challenges facing South Arkansas. The GTEDC plans to assist in promoting the cooperation of federal, state, and local government entities in the solution of problems associated with infrastructure, transportation, workforce development, and the social and economic welfare of the region it serves.

The GTEDC continues the work of the Golden Triangle Fiber Park Council, which was first organized under the aegis of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company to develop a “Fiber Park” in South Arkansas to attract new industry. After this was accomplished, the ad hoc Economic Development Council evolved into the GTEDC to promote larger regional economic and community development. In September of 2000, Southern Arkansas University (SAU) agreed to provide GTEDC with office space, a student worker, Internet access, and other key logistical support. The responsibilities for the GTEDC office expanded and in 2001 Southern Arkansas University (SAU) hired a permanent part-time staff person. In 2004 a full-time coordinator to work primarily for GTEDC was hired. The GTEDC focuses on strategically supporting the Golden Triangle region by improving the quality of the business climate, and hence the quality of life, by: (1) collecting, analyzing, and distributing economic and social data for decision-makers;(2) working to improve transportation access to the region; (3) encouraging cities and towns to achieve Arkansas Communities of Excellence (ACE) certification; (4) developing new technology initiatives; and (5) providing all necessary catalysts for new development initiatives through a professional staff. The GTEDC received Arkansas’ first Regional ACE certification on June 22, 2001, from the Arkansas Department of Economic Development presented by Governor Mike Huckabee.

The GTEDC socially and economically impacts the lives of over 100,000 people who live and work in the four-county, five-city area by improving the quality of life available to the citizens of the region it serves by reaching out to attract new business and industry. In December of 2000, a membership campaign resulted in a charter membership roster of over 150 corporate, business, and individual members, which has increased to a membership of 212 this year. The first annual membership meeting held in April of 2001.

The Golden Triangle Region includes four counties in south central Arkansas: (1) Calhoun, (2) Columbia, (3) Ouachita, and (4) Union counties. Three of the four counties in the GTEDC are in the Delta Regional Authority. The five communities represented in this area are: Camden, El Dorado, Magnolia, Hampton, and Smackover serve a combined population of 100,000 people.

The GTEDC has developed a website, newsletter, and brochure for marketing purposes and to communicate to the general membership and community recent newsworthy events. Recently, the GTEDC added a comprehensive menu of regional demographics and economic data to the website to further promote our initiatives. The GTEDC conducts annual student employment surveys on the three campuses in the region to use as a marketing tool to attract industries. Bi-annual legislative workshops and legislative luncheons provide a forum for the region to express legislative concerns to state legislators and officials.

The GTEDC has successfully sent a delegation to Washington, D.C. to bring attention to economic development issues in South Arkansas. They meet with the area’s Congressional delegation and select governmental agencies to discuss regional issues and to locate grants and support for area projects.

The GTEDC renews its goals and objectives on a yearly basis. Adopted goals for the year 2008-2009 include to:

• Advocate highway improvements for South Arkansas:

4-lane Hwy 82 between El Dorado and Texarkana

I-69 through the heart of the Golden Triangle

4-lane Hwy 167 from Fordyce to I-530 with Sheridan bypass

4-lane Highway south to connect to I-20 at Ruston, Louisiana

• Business retention and expansion:

Connect existing fiber optic cable within the Golden Triangle

Improve infrastructure/technology

• GTEDC workforce training consortium:

Compete for workforce grants

Create training consortium similar to that in the mid-south training area

The GTEDC partnerships include Arkansas Department of Economic Development, Entergy’s Teamwork Arkansas, and Southern Arkansas University. The GTEDC often temporarily partners with other entities to further economic development within the region. One such partner was the recent partnership with the Federal Reserve Board’s Little Rock Branch to bring an economic forum to south Arkansas. These partnerships enable the southern part of the state to keep in touch with economic development trends in other areas of the state and the nation.

David Rankin, chairman of the GTEDC recently said, “The GTEDC is a wonderful organization that ties the Golden Triangle together in our economic development efforts. It allows us to communicate and work on important issues related to economic development in southern Arkansas. In addition it is exciting to pull together as we look forward to a prosperous future.”