A statement has been released by the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce following the Mountain Home City Council’s vote to table the economic development agreement until more research has been completed. The following is a portion of the statement released by Chamber CEO Dani Pugsley:
“As the Chamber faces criticism related to the economic development proposals presented to the City Council and the Quorum Court, I felt it was important to respond, not out of defensiveness, but in an attempt to uplift and support our local elected officials. The Mountain Home City Council and the Baxter County Quorum Court are both filled with duly elected individuals who have the best interest of our area and its citizens in mind. I have read several social media posts and emails this week that question these officials’ integrity with no evidence of wrongdoing, which is unacceptable. Likewise, the Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors is filled with individuals who love this community and choose to promote it at every turn. Suggesting that these individuals are corrupt because they have chosen to show support for local economic development is absurd.
I read a blog post that suggested these proposed partnerships are illegal and have a nefarious motivation. That is untrue, and the situation the writer compared us to happened under a different set of laws. In 2016, the law changed to require more transparency with regard to these economic development partnerships. This blog also claimed that tourism is not economic development. Tourism is, in fact, economic development, and it is insulting to all those in our area whose work relates to our booming tourism industry.
The bottom line is this: If awarded these funds, these contracts will be for one year. At the end of the year, the North Central Arkansas Chamber Foundation Board will have to show measurable results from the previous year’s work and ask for approval for another year-long contract. This isn’t a long-term commitment. There absolutely will be accountability, and to suggest that our local government bodies would hand off taxpayer dollars without the expectation of transparency and accountability is insulting and disappointing. Also insulting is the idea that I am simply giving myself a raise and paying for my schooling with taxpayer money. I never thought I would have to justify my love for learning and furthering my education to people I have never met or talked with.
No matter how this situation shakes out, The Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce will continue serving our nearly 600 members and promoting our area for everyone’s benefit. But the fact remains that a partnership with the city and county would further our work and allow for real, long-term sustainable growth for this area.”
Shortly after the statement was released, Pugsley told KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot News the Pay-to-Play or investment levels are off the table for the current time.
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