Organization: Jobs/Economic Development Goal Team

Goal Team Co-Chairs: Jack Hornor & West Hornor

Mission Statement: Create new quality jobs and career opportunities for Phillips County citizens by working with elected officials, business leaders, Port and Airport representatives, State economic development representatives, the State Highway commission, and tourist industry representatives to improve the business development infrastructure, strengthen and expand existing businesses, attract new businesses, promote local entrepreneurship, and identify local and regional needs that can be converted into business opportunities.

The primary economic activity in Phillips County is agriculture.  As such, business and job creation depends on maximizing traditional opportunities provided by agriculture while creatively expanding into new and market viable agribusiness concepts. In addition to agribusiness opportunities, the Port of Helena is the third largest port on the Mississippi River. Phillips County also operates a slack water harbor, with tonnage from this harbor, adding to that currently processed at the Port of Helena. The slack water harbor is fully equipped with electric, gas and water utilities as well as rail transportation.

Finally, Phillips County is within the boundaries of the Memphis Economic Development Zone.  This geographic connection to Memphis is a significant attribute and will enable Phillips County to partner with other counties to attract potentially significant employers.

Following is the list of strategic goals related to economic development and job creation identified by Phillips County residents. For a complete list of action steps associated with these goals, download the Phillips County Strategic Community Plan.

Strategic Goal Number One – Expand capacity of the Phillips County Chamber of Commerce and the Port Authority to allow engagement in large-scale industrial recruitment.

Strategic Goal Number Two - Develop and implement a comprehensive business retention and expansion effort in Phillips County that identifies existing business needs and challenges. Based on identified needs and challenges, develop a plan to assist local businesses in addressing these issues.

Strategic Goal Number Three – Initiate a structured planning and development process designed to create a viable biodiesel industry in Phillips County.

Strategic Goal Number Four – Create a Sweet Potato Distribution Center in West Helena, Arkansas. The Distribution Center will create jobs and provide value-added agriculture by allowing local growers to supply distributors and grocery stores throughout the year.

Strategic Goal Number Five – Obtain a commitment that USDA will conduct regional training programs in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas through the assistance of the Arkansas Congressional delegation and from discussions with representatives at USDA.  Subject to this commitment and the number of specified training days, develop a training center with sufficient capacity to host such events.

Strategic Goal Number Six – Improve the transportation infrastructure of Phillips County by creating a four lane highway system that connects proposed Interstate Highway 69 to Mississippi State Highway 61 and Arkansas State Highway 49 to Interstate 40 at Brinkley, Arkansas. This will require expansion of the Helena River Bridge into a four lane bridge and improvement of Arkansas State Highway 49 into a four lane state highway from the Mississippi River to Brinkley, Arkansas.

Strategic Goal Number Seven – Develop a comprehensive community transportation plan that focuses on intermodal transportation, public transit, recreational transportation and health care transportation.

Strategic Goal Number Eight – Expand the slack water harbor infrastructure to a fully functional intermodal port able to load and offload bulk, break bulk, containerized, Ro-Ro and liquid goods to serve the county’s existing and future agricultural and manufacturing infrastructure.

Strategic Goal Number Nine – Initiate a financial technical assistance program with all incorporated communities in Phillips County to improve the financial viability of these communities.

Strategic Goal Number Ten – Evaluate the benefits of forming a Tax Increment Financing and/or Business Improvement District or other types of overlays.

Strategic Goal Number Eleven – Implement programming in Phillips Community College’s Small Business Incubator facility to provide services to small business owners and potential owners.