Chamber continues effort to help with completion of I-49

Work continues on Interstate 49, which will eventually run from New Orleans to Canada. Because of that, the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce has been joining forces with other organizations to help expedite this effort.

Mike Malone, chamber president and chief executive officer, announced that board member Cory Floyd was recently in Washington, D.C., discussing matters involving I-49 as well as I-69.

“We also have been working with the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma, as I-49 will be passing through their land,” Malone said. “Initially there was some friction, but by the time the meeting was over with, it was all hugs and smiles. We are working with all the states I-49 passes through. When we finish this project, everybody wins.”

Eric Voyles, TexAmericas Center vice president and chief economic development officer, will give an update on an economic development grant at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Northridge Country Club. TexAmericas used the grant to contract with Olsson Associates to help with planning and development for selected portions of the center’s 12,000 acres to target particular industries.

Jennifer Harland reported that the recent trip to Little Rock to meet-and-greet with Arkansas officials was a success. Forty-seven people made the trip and had a chance to exchange information with state policymakers. A similar trip to Austin is coming up.

Dennis Lewis told the chamber that Red River Army Depot’s temporary and term-appointment employees whose contracts were set to expire have had their contract extensions confirmed.

Texarkana, Ark., City Manager Kenny Haskin reported that the Arkansas-side Board of Directors is engaging in a series of training sessions to refresh themselves on the essentials of city development to raise their effectiveness as a governing body. Haskin also emphasized doing the right thing. ”Whether it ends up being popular or unpopular, that is just the way it is,” he said.

Haskin also noted relations between the Board of Directors and the chamber have been improving.

Texas-side City Manager John Whitson said, “Bond ratings officials will be coming through Texarkana, Texas, on Monday. We are going to show them around, let them see how the city is doing. We want to give them a good idea on how to rate the city, vis-a-vis our bond rating. We are hoping for a AA rating at the very least.”

“It takes a while to make these things happen with them,” he said, “but we do have their attention.”

Several ribbon cuttings have taken place in the last few days, which means small business growth is going well, the chamber board said.