As someone who works every day to bring new businesses and jobs to Arkadelphia and Clark County, I want to share my perspective on Issue 3 and what it could mean for communities like ours.
Recruiting manufacturers and supporting our existing industries will always be a top priority. These businesses provide quality jobs, support families, and strengthen our economy. We work hard to compete for these projects, and Arkansas and Clark County have established tools that help us do that.
But economic development doesn’t stop at the industrial park. It’s also about creating a community where people want to live, work, shop, and raise their families.
We have so much going for us in Clark County, including two universities, Interstate 30, a strong industrial base, and beautiful outdoor recreation opportunities. But we also have needs. We need more housing, healthcare services, grocery stores, shopping and dining options, and places for visitors to stay. These things matter to our residents, our employers, and the future of our community.
Here’s the challenge. While we have tools to help attract manufacturers, we don’t have the same options for these other projects.
I regularly hear from retailers, restaurants, and developers asking whether we have programs that could help make their projects financially possible. Unfortunately, I must tell them that, under current law, we don’t. Sometimes, that’s where the conversation ends. These businesses have choices about where to invest, and they’re naturally going to choose locations where the numbers make the most sense. Without the right tools, we can lose opportunities before we even get the chance to compete.
That’s the gap Issue 3 could help fill.
Some have raised concerns about approving a constitutional amendment without every rule spelled out. But that overlooks how the process works in Arkansas. Voters first approve the constitutional amendment, and when additional legislation is needed, our elected legislators establish the rules, regulations, and safeguards. This is how other amendments requiring additional legislation have been handled. Some argue that this puts the cart before the horse, but it’s actually the other way around. The legislature must first have constitutional authority before it can pass laws that depend on that authority. That’s why the voters’ decision comes first.
This proposal has already received public and legislative consideration. Senate Bill 647, publicly filed in April 2025, outlined a framework for economic development districts if voters approve the measure. The bill was referred to interim study, allowing further public and legislative review.
Although the rules are not final, the proposed framework has been available for discussion for more than a year.
There has also been an effort to tie Issue 3 to data centers, but Arkansas already has incentive programs for qualifying data center projects, regardless of whether Issue 3 passes. Linking the two only adds confusion and distracts from the real discussion: giving communities like ours additional tools to attract the housing, healthcare, retail, tourism, and other development our residents want and need.
Approving Issue 3 would not automatically raise taxes or require any community to create an economic development district. It would simply give communities another option when the right opportunity comes along. Each district could be designed to fit the needs of a specific project and community, with clearly defined boundaries rather than automatically covering an entire city or county. What works for one project may not work for another. That’s why each proposal should be considered through a public process that looks at the costs, benefits, potential impact on taxes and schools, and what’s best for the community.
We will continue working hard to recruit industry, support our existing employers and local businesses, and create quality jobs. At the same time, Issue 3 could provide an additional tool we’ve been missing to help attract the retail, housing, healthcare, restaurants, and other services our residents have said they want and need.
Having this tool available doesn’t mean we have to use it. Not every project needs assistance, and not every opportunity will be the right fit. But without this tool, we may never have the chance to pursue projects that could make a real difference.
Economic development isn’t one-size-fits-all. Neither are our communities. But every community deserves the tools to turn opportunities into reality.
That’s why I am voting yes on Issue 3.
Shelley Short
President & CEO, Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance
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