By JOE MAY | The Southern Standard
The Arkadelphia Alliance has been busy the last quarter, according to President & CEO Shelley Short’s quarterly presentation to the Clark County Quorum Court Monday evening, May 12, 2025.
Among the items that Short listed as part of the Alliance’s activities for the last quarter included:
• Hosting a job fair and career expo
• Hiring Donald Westerman as director of workforce development
• Becoming an ACT Ready Community
• Ag education training with AHS, which according to Justice of the Peace Jimmy King, will soon include construction on a building to house the FFA and ag program
• Work on site clearing in Gurdon
• Work on a business and tech park
• Work on a site development grant
• Revitalizing the Downtown Network
• The offering of a facade grant for local businesses
The court also heard from Men United representative Doug Nelson, who is putting together a youth work program that will benefit local kids by having them mow lawns and perform other tasks around the area. He is asking for $30,000 to purchase equipment as well as insurance and pay wages.
After some discussion, the matter was returned to the budget committee who will them make a recommendation to the full court.
In other business, the court:
• Passed a procedural rules ordinance at the motion of Justices Jenna Scott and Andrea Angle.
• Passed a resolution at the motion of Scott and Angle to participate in an 80-20 matching grant program to continue extending the Clark County Regional Trail.
• Heard county Judge Troy Tucker say that work is complete on Graysonia and Stevenson Roads, which were damaged in the recent floods. Work will soon start on Davidson Campground Road and Bateman Road.
• Heard Tucker say that the state’s quota had been met for reimbursable funds for the flooding damage to area roads and bridges. The judge said he is still waiting to see whether there will be enough damage for a federal disaster to be declared, in which case the county will receive 75% reimbursement.