Clif Chitwood has served as leader of the Mississippi County Economic Development Commission for over 20 years and has seen positive results from the economic one-half cent sales tax that originally passed in 2002.
The one-half cent sales tax was renewed in 2011, extending the tax from 2013 to 2023.
The one-half cent tax will again be on the ballot Tuesday, Aug. 10, with early voting Aug. 3-9.
“We will see if the people want to continue the economic development effort on Aug. 10,” Chitwood said.
The tax has been successful for the county in creating jobs through new industries, expansion of industries in Mississippi County and training programs through the local college.
Statistics show the tax has helped create 4,000 jobs in the county with an estimated 3,700 still in existence. Of the 3,700 jobs over 2,900 have gone to Mississippi County residents.
“A number of Mississippi County residents work in all of the industries we have partnered with,” Chitwood said.
The county has a population of 44,000 making an estimated household population of 10,000. Looking at the statistics, the economic development tax, in part, has helped 40 percent of the households in Mississippi County.
“We have worked to help provide these jobs,” Chitwood said. “In the end, if there are no jobs, everyone will be leaving the county.”
Of the 4,000 jobs, half have been created by new companies including Denso, Systex, Kagone, ARP, Lexicon, Altas Tube, Roll Coater, and Big River Steel. The other half of the jobs have been created through expansions with companies including American Greeting, Nucor, Southworth, Nibco, Viskase, and others.
The tax has also provided funding for workforce training.
“Training is a key concern of companies,” Chitwood said. “They want to know they will have a supply of people who want to work and know how to work. The economic development commission partners with Arkansas Northeastern College to help train workers. It is at a low cost to the companies and at no cost to the students. They train students in all skill levels from steel to food processing. The training helps the workers be successful in the workforce.”
Chitwood said it has been pointed out there is a considerable amount of funds in the county budget from the tax. Most of the funds have been committed to ongoing expansion plans.
“We also have some good prospects we are working on if we are able to maintain the incentive level through the economic development tax,” Chitwood said. “For the past eight years we have only given incentive money for the jobs held by Mississippi County residents with half of the amount for two counties in the Bootheel of Missouri. We do not give incentive money for workers from anywhere else in Arkansas or Missouri. To receive the incentive money the positions must be maintained for two years. We don’t just write checks to companies. We reimburse them for capital investments.”
The economic development tax has generated $50 million and has brought in more than $300 million in matching grants and tax breaks to Mississippi County from the state and federal government. It has created a payroll in Mississippi County of $120 million a year.
“We have seen an enormous return on our investment,” Chitwood said. “I think if we accept what fate would like to deal us, we won’t like it. Look up and down the river and see the communities that did not help themselves in economic development. Mississippi County is struggling but we are not devastated. We are a rich county with enormous capital investments in the county. We have a tremendous workforce in Mississippi County and our county is worth struggling for.”
Chitwood said the county needs to be ready for the return of some of the manufacturing jobs lost to other countries. He is confident some will be returning to the U.S. and is hopeful some will return to Mississippi County.
“We can continue as a county to talk about improving the quality of life and how the tax can be broadened but it is important to the county’s future to adopt the tax now and continue to get jobs,” Chitwood said.
Early voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 3-9 (no Saturdays) at three locations: Osceola Courthouse, 200 West Hale Ave, Osceola; Mississippi County Election Center, 500 North Fifth, Blytheville; and Manila Airport Community Center, 100 Airport Road, Manila.
Tuesday, Aug. 10, election will be held between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at all polling places: Blytheville — Mississippi County Election Center, Trinity Baptist Church, Richard B. Harrison Multipurpose Building; Armorel Planting Co., Gosnell Community Center; Dell Community Center; Leachville City Hall; Manila Airport Community Center; Mississippi County Courthouse, Burdette; Charles Strong Recreation Center, Luxora; Main Street Bingo Hall, Osceola; Keiser First Baptist Church; Wilson Fire Station; Joiner City Hall; Birdsong Fire Station; Dyess Community Center; Etowah Fire Station and Bassett City Hall.