Rural Pathways to the Global Marketplace Summit - Osceola mayor hosts global summit

By Joseph Fondren

Osceola Times

Contributor

Denise Thomas, WTC

OSCEOLA— Tuesday, Aug. 27 more than 60 mayors from Northeast Arkansas, state legislators and congressional officials attended the first ever Rural Pathways to the Global Marketplace Summit at Osceola City Hall. Following the meeting, many attendees got the opportunity to tour Big River Steel.

World Trade Center Arkansas Chief Executive Officer Denise Thomas, along with her staff, and International Trade Specialists, Richard Duda and Maryse Holly, with the United States Department of Commerce and United States Commercial Services, offered insights on trade exports and imports for businesses within the state.

Thomas told the Times that growing the economy can be achieved through exports. “Growing the economy from agriculture to steel and other supporting industries, can be achieved through exports,” explained Thomas. “The World Trade Center Arkansas welcomes the opportunity to support Osceola and the surrounding communities in achieving its goals for more jobs and economic growth.”

Elected officials, business and industry leaders meet in Osceola.

Thomas added the hospitality and warm welcome from the city of Osceola set the stage for a “productive” trade summit. “The visit to Osceola was an amazing visit. The hospitality and warm welcome set the stage for a productive trade summit,” Thomas said. “Economic development starts with essential ingredients of leadership, community and strategic alliance. Osceola delivered all of these and more.”

Thomas continued, “I appreciate the participation from so many leaders and stakeholders from our host, Mayor Joe Harris, of Osceola and his staff. Likewise, we were delighted with participation from all levels of leadership within our congressional delegation, state leaders, counties and municipalities.”

State Senator Dave Wallace (R-Leachville) and State Representative Joey Carr (R- Armorel) were guest speakers where they welcomed the guests and gave a brief overview of what is happening, not only in Mississippi County, but also in Little Rock.

Speaker Richard Duda

During Wallace’s welcoming remarks he mentioned his time as a city official for the city of Leachville and explained that he believes the hardest political job in the world are those of county judge and city mayors. “You are underpaid and over worked,” said Wallace. “I’ve seen that and have been a witness to that. You are all great public servants.”

Several “amens” came from members of the audience.

Wallace mentioned that Arkansan’s on the north west side of the state have become “jealous” of the economic growth happening in Mississippi County. “In Arkansas you can tell how good you are doing by the folks you make jealous. When I started 10 years ago and in that time I have carried every steel mill bill in the senate,” said Wallace who was met with an applause. “All of them have passed,” Wallace added as he was met with another round of applause.

Rep. Joey Carr

Wallace continued, “And from what I’ve seen 10 years ago Northwest Arkansas was it. Now when I start working the back halls of the Capitol Northwest Arkansas is jealous of Northeast Arkansas.” Which was met with more applause.

The Senator turned his attention to how bright the future of Northeast Arkansas is with citizens being able to make $150,000 or more a year at jobs in the steel mills such as Big River Steel.

Wallace stated there’s work to be done with infrastructure and road network. Concerning roads, Wallace added he and Carr continuously fight with the Arkansas Department of Transportation concerning roads in Mississippi County.

Another issue Wallace mentioned was working on schools. “We got to work on our schools. If we get our schools up to par, and some of them are already. Some of our schools are very good,” explained Wallace. “Jobs that are being done here by folks in Tennessee or even further away can stay right here in Northeast Arkansas.”

Wallace continued, “We got to go back and take a look at our schools and we have got to be able to put a better educated worker to our steel mills. If we do that the sky is the limit.”

After the event Wallace told the Times that “exciting times are ahead”. Wallace said, “The mayors and leadership of Northeast Arkansas gathered together today to hear an inspiring talk by Ms. Denise Thomas, CEO, of World Trade Centers of Arkansas. John Newcomb, Judge (John Alan) Nelson and Mayor Harris spoke of the many exciting events occurring in Mississippi County and Northeast Arkansas. Exciting times are ahead.I also want to thank Mayor Joe Harris and the city of Osceola for a tremendous job of hosting the World Trade organization today. A first-class show.”

Carr began his remarks by stating Mississippi County is home to 500,000 acres of farmland with the leading crops being beans, cotton and rice; while also being home to 90 to 100 steel related businesses.

Carr added that he and Senator Wallace work on legislation to “streamline the process and equip” farmers and steel related business to be able to compete not only in Arkansas, but compete across the globe. Carr stated he plans to introduce legislation in January that will help streamline a current processing issue on business concerning paperwork and taxes with products.

Carr told the Times being asked to speak was an honor and privilege. “It was an honor and privilege to address the World Trade Center Arkansas in Osceola. I’m encouraged by the mayors, council members and representatives of our local businesses and industries in attendance,” explained Carr. “ Mississippi County has a lot of opportunities to offer and I’m grateful to celebrate with my fellow citizens. My goal as representative is to increase and enhance those opportunities.”

President of Arkansas Northeastern College Dr. Chris Heigle addressed the audience concerning recent remarks he had recently heard in a convention across the state concerning Mississippi Counties quality of life. “We got a really big thing going on here. This is huge. I was in Hot Spring yesterday at the ADE Conference and we heard the mayor of Hot Springs talk about Osceola. To be honest with you I didn’t like it. It didn’t sound good. He was saying, ‘Oh they got all this expansion, but they got a quality of life issue’,” explained Heigle.

Heigle continued, “No, we don’t. No, we don’t. We know about it. We’re working on it. It’s none of your business what we are doing… Quality of life is something you deal with after you get the jobs.”

Heigle also informed the audience that Mississippi County is the only county in Arkansas that has only one college in the county.

When closing the event Osceola Mayor Harris listed several accomplishments by the city of Osceola that will enhance the quality of life in Osceola and Mississippi County concerning a “state of the art” water park; a bike trail that will start in Blytheville and end in New Orleans, which Judge Nelson stated has “already been approved by the St. Francis Levee District.”; and Hybar Steel has donated five acres of land for a stocked fishing pond.

Judge Nelson thanked Thomas, Duda and Holly for coming and giving information to Mississippi County citizens and the audience needs. Nelson informed attendees that the county has spent $18 million on the Mississippi County Courthouse in Blytheville.

Nelson added to the members of the audience and citizens of Mississippi County and Osceola has his “devotion” to make the courthouse in Osceola look “just like it did, if not better, than what it did when it was put up 110 years ago.”

After the event, Thomas and a bus full of attendees had the opportunity to tour Big River Steel.

Thomas informed the Times she learned about how BRS recycling of materials made her love the tour even more and her favorite part was the use of robotics. Thomas stated, “The Team was very knowledgeable, kind and showed their passion for the work, company and pride in the production process and finished product. Overall WOW!”

She added, via a text, “This was AWESOME, I LOVED IT!”