Economic development -- UPDATE
We mentioned earlier today that Gov. Mike Beebe seemed to have taken a nip at past efforts of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission in adequately staffing vehicle industry plants in East Arkansas. (I asked former Gov. Mike Huckabee's spokesman if he'd care to offer a response on this point, but haven't gotten a response.)
Now comes Roby Brock with more on AEDC, including a lengthy examination of the agency's report on development last year and plans for the future. He mentions that former Gov. Jim Guy Tucker's daughter Anna Janik, who speaks Mandarin, has gone to work for the agency. Sprechen sie francais? Director Maria Haley tells Brock she's looking for a European liaison fluent in at least two languages.
UPDATE: And, of course, like economic developers everywhere, the first thing the new chiefs would like to do is get the legislature to give away more corporate welfare, courtesy of taxpayers.
Comments
Actually Max...I think on the cover of USA Today this morning was a piece saying what you have said for years...that it is not at all clear that states reap what they pay for when they entice big corporate neighbors. But I do think it is nuts to have this discussion and not fault the small school districts. The reason Hino had grumbled for two years about the workers they got was that these workers were ill equipped for the computer tools needed to function in a contemporary factory. Maybe some of you think it's about labor and piece work.....it isn't. Go in any sophisticated plant anywhere and it's all about people looking at computer screens. When Bubba drops out of the 10th grade and goes after a high paying Hino job...he better know his way around a keyboard.
Memo to Team Beebe...go easy on laying this at the old ADED feet. You will find these are deep rooted, complex issues tied to the quality of education....in many ways they have nothing to do with who is in the gov's office at any given time. We are living in a global economy with a staggering domestic economy....we owe it to Bubba to at least let him know what he is in for when he drops out.
Posted by: StrangeTimes![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 22, 2007 08:37 PM
The state agency responsible for sending unqualified applicants to the jobs at Hino is the Department of Workforce Services, the old Employment Security Department. It's curious that Beebe wouldn't cite this agency --- or that the reporter neglected to report it.
Posted by: Pavel![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 22, 2007 09:25 PM