Chamber Leadership Class on steps leading to AR Senate Chamber
A delegation of 22 local community members made a trip this week to the state capital with the goal of learning more about the inner workings of Arkansas’ institutions and bringing a spotlight to North Central Arkansas.
The Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce hosts the trip annually as part of its Chamber Leadership Class. Members represent a wide range of local organizations, including bankers, business owners, real estate agents, medical professionals, educators, engineers, and nonprofit administrators. The group meets monthly throughout the year, learning about various local institutions and networking with local officials. A recent group project brought the area closer to becoming an ACT WorkKeys-certified community, which will create new economic opportunities in the Twin Lakes Area.
Touring the Innovation Hub in downtown Little Rock
The trip began with a stop at The Innovation Hub, a maker space in downtown Little Rock. The facility provides members access to professional-level woodworking, welding, pottery, and glass tools and work areas, as well as low-cost business development spaces. Mountain Home has started a similar initiative, the Corner Art Collective, and leadership members were able to see how these spaces can benefit small businesses and artisans.
A visit to the National Historic Site at Central High School gave members a sobering reminder of the state’s history of racial integration as they participated in an interactive tour highlighting the educational struggles of the Little Rock Nine.
Touring Central High School
The group also visited the Museum of Fine Art, where they enjoyed viewing art from around the world. Highlights included Monets on display, as well as works by many popular contemporary artists in various mediums.
A tour of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission at the Department of Commerce highlighted the work being done to create opportunities for economic growth statewide. Matt Twyford, the Director of Community Development, spoke specifically about the importance of North Central Arkansas in making the state appealing to emerging business prospects, focusing on tourism and manufacturing. The biggest challenge, according to the commission, is the lack of access to interstates, though the Twin Lakes’ remote location was also noted as a potential draw for certain businesses.
Before visiting the Capitol building, the group stopped at the Old State House Museum, which served as the original home of the state government. Representative Stetson Painter met the group at the Capitol and explained the various functions of the governing process, which included a visit to the state House. April Bentley, the Workforce Director at ASUMH, was impressed with Painter’s commitment to representing the area, “I found it refreshing to hear Mr. Painter’s dedication to representing our area and the overall feeling that our state government is focused on improving the lives of those who live in Arkansas.” A tour of the Governor’s office, Senate, and Supreme Court gave the group a tangible understanding of how government functions in the Natural State.
Jaime Argueta holds $60,000 in state funds
A notable highlight was a visit to the State Treasurer’s office, which offers a unique experience to visitors as the only such office in the country to allow visitors to hold $60,000 in state funds. Jaime Argueta, an engineer at Baxter, reflected after holding the 24 lbs of cash, “It was heavy.”
The two-day trip concluded back in Mountain Home at a reception for the new Arkansas State University System President at Rapp’s Barren Brewery. Much was learned during the trip, and participants gained a broader appreciation for the state’s institutions. Angie Dewey of First Security Bank summed up the experience, “The preservation and restoration of our state Capitol is a testament to the importance of history and well worth a day trip for the citizens of our great state.”
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI