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SPRING RIVER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWSLETTER The August General Meeting of the Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce met Tuesday, August 19th 2008 at the King Catfish restaurant with 22 members in attendance. Mike Deatherage of State farm Insurance Agency of Highland was accompanied by his son and James Spurlock of Ozarka College were present as visitors. Beth McEntire-Bess presided over the meeting in the absence of Charlotte Goodwin, president. Beth introduced the guest speaker, Randy Zook, President of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. He brought good news and bad news and a challenge to those in attendance. The bad news is that Arkansas has the lowest per capita income level in the nation and leads the nation in the highest drop-out rate from public schools. This is reflected in the lower income, in as much as many businesses have become high tech requiring a higher skilled laborer and the lower skilled job opportunities have moved off shore. The greatest need in industry at this time is for engineers in all fields to be able to accomplish the complex work needed these days in all aspects of manufacturing and production. Mr. Zook stated that our educational system is the greatest hindrance in making progress in the industrial development of Arkansas. Many businesses are interested in the state of Arkansas but once they look at our educational system, for their employees and children, they lose interest in the area. The good news on the positive side, Mr. Zook stated that some new businesses have recently moved into Arkansas, e.g. Hewlett Packard in Conway, Emerson in Batesville and Paragould, and the Frito-Lay Factory in Jonesboro. He challenged those present to attend the "ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEETING" sponsored by Governor Beebe on October 16th 2008 in Little Rock. He encouraged every representative in the area from the Superintendent of Schools to the High School Principal, from the County Judge to all members of the Quorum Court, all business leaders and all Chamber of Commerce members to attend. The financial future of Arkansas and our area is at stake and development must include all of us working together to build our economic level above the poverty level through more education for Arkansas residents.
Copyright 2008 Spring River Area Chamber of
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