Possibility of new BRAC plan worries Chamber of Commerce

The Texarkana Chamber of Commerce has an eye on the coming session of Congress, which convenes in early September. According to Dennis Lewis of the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, Sen. John McCain, R.-Ariz., plans to introduce a Base Realignment and Closure proposal.

“He thinks there should be a new BRAC round,” Lewis said. “He has been pursuing this for awhile, and the Senate at this time seems open to the idea. On the other hand, the House is firmly against it, going so far as to propose legislation to block it. So whether one will actually be proposed, much less carried out, that remains to be seen.”

Lewis and the chamber continue to monitor the situation.

Other items the chamber discussed included the coming Economic Development Council Golf Tournament, to take place Oct. 5 at the Texarkana Country Club.

Chamber board member Joey Martin announced that more properties are being listed for industrial development availability on the EDC web site.

The chamber also made it clear that the governments of Texarkana will not become involved in broadband development.

“That would actually be against the law on the Texas side at this time,” according to Mike Malone, chamber president and CEO. “Everyone agreed that broadband development in the area should be left to the private sector. With several private entities doing such that, there should be no issues.”

The chamber is getting ready to publish the 2017 chamber directory.

Finally, the chamber board chairman, Corey Floyd, will be a guest columnist in the Texarkana Gazette sometime in September.