Clint O’Neal became the AEDC executive director in January. He was previously deputy director of global business. His 16-year career includes seven years at the Missouri Partnership.
O’Neal is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute and is a certified economic developer through the International Economic Development Council. He has a master’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas.
You just returned from a European trade trip with the governor. How is Arkansas positioned there?
The companies we met with in Europe are similar to companies in the U.S. and around the world: They want to do business in a country and in a state where there is great leadership and where other companies are finding success. Arkansas is well positioned to win more than our fair share of foreign direct investment projects. We have business-friendly policies and some of the largest and most innovative companies in the world, and we have hardworking, talented people all around the state. I’m confident that we’ll soon be reaping the benefits of the trip and seeing job creation announcements from some of the companies that Gov. Sanders and the team from the Department of Commerce and the AEDC met with in Europe.
How can Arkansas maintain its momentum in steel? Does Arkansas have the workforce to support growth?
Workforce development is the biggest challenge that every industry is facing right now. There is not a single company that we meet with that doesn’t mention this as its top concern. [Commerce] Secretary Hugh McDonald, Chief Workforce Officer Mike Rogers, Office of Skills Development Director Cody Waits and the AEDC team have been very engaged with companies in the steel industry. From educating students in the K-12 system about job opportunities to working with community colleges on customized training, we are working to build a pipeline to support the steel industry and specifically to meet the urgent need of filling jobs in the next several months.
How does the AEDC fit into the governor’s outdoor recreation goals?
Outdoor recreation is important on several levels. Arkansas is the Natural State. We have beautiful natural resources, from rivers to mountains and much more. These resources are major quality-of-life attractions that draw talent and help companies make the decision to locate in Arkansas. There is also a growing outdoor recreation economy, supported by Arkansas’ outdoor recreation opportunities. Arkansas is well positioned to be a national leader in this industry.
What is a key leadership lesson you’ve learned?
Our team is at our best when everyone is empowered to do their job effectively. The leader is like a coach and an offensive lineman — there to put the right people in the right positions and then to block for the team so they can execute.
Arkansas is poised to take advantage of an upswing in manufacturing. We’re a top 10 state in manufacturing by percentage of workforce and we’ve landed several significant manufacturing projects in the past year in multiple industries, including metals, firearms and ammunition, food and beverage, construction materials, aerospace and defense, and many others. Several existing companies in Arkansas are experiencing significant growth, and we have a full pipeline of recruitment projects that we are working.
In terms of recruiting, what are the top industries the AEDC is targeting?
Arkansas has a diverse economy that supports a wide range of industries, including aerospace and defense, technology, food and beverage, metals, firearms and ammunition and timber and forest products. These industries represent the legacy strengths of Arkansas and ones in which many companies have found success in our state. The AEDC will be working closely with the Office of Outdoor Recreation as we strive to grow that part of our economy, and we’re paying close attention to growth opportunities such as the work going into lithium production in south Arkansas.
Is attracting a major auto plant to Arkansas still an AEDC goal?
Attracting an auto plant would be a huge win, a home run of an economic development project. With successful steel companies close by, development of large industrial sites, an increased focus on workforce development and an increasingly favorable business climate, Arkansas is a very desirable state for a major auto plant. But landing one big project is not the definition of a win for us. We’re focused on working with communities across the state to facilitate job creation of high-paying jobs in all three focus areas: the growth of existing companies, entrepreneurship development and the recruitment of new companies.
Promoting entrepreneurship seems to be another aim. How might the AEDC play a role?
The AEDC’s Small Business & Entrepreneurship Development Division aims to be a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship support organizations. The AEDC provides funding for many entrepreneurship development initiatives in the state, and we have targeted incentives programs for early-stage companies with high growth potential. Recently, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation ranked Arkansas as the state with the highest opportunity share for entrepreneurs, which indicates the “percentage of new entrepreneurs who created a business out of choice instead of necessity.” We believe that some of the world’s best entrepreneurs and innovators are in the Arkansas K-12 system today. By increasing our support for entrepreneurs and increasing the quality of life throughout Arkansas, we’re striving to make this the best state in the country to start and grow a business.
This content was originally published here.
