The Right IngredientsFood manufacturers flock to region

Fertile GroundAgribusinesses tap resources, workforce

Road Best TakenLocation, highway assets drive distribution growth

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Historic Sites & Museums • Texas Main Street City • Festivals & BazaarsEastern Wild Turkey Capital • Low Tax Rate • Close Proximity to I-30 Manufacturing Tax Incentives • Industrial Buildings & Land Available

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WorkstyleFertile Ground 8Agribusinesses tap resources, workforce in Ark-Tex Region

The Right Ingredients 10Food manufacturers flock to region

Insightoverview 3

Almanac 4

Business Climate 6

Transportation 12

energy/Technology 13

health 14

education 15

livability 16

economic profile 19

10

15

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on The CoveR The Ark-Tex Region is a crossroads for manufacturers and distributors with broad u.s. markets to reach. Photo by Jeff Adkins

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The Right IngredientsFood manufacturers flock to region

Fertile GroundAgribusinesses tap resources, workforce

Road Best TakenLocation, highway assets drive distribution growth

BusIness®

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ARk-Tex ReGIon, TexAs

sponsoRed By The ARk-Tex CounCIl oF GoveRnmenTs | 2012

®

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ARk-Tex ReGIon2012 Edition, volumE 3

Editorial projEct managEr emily mcmAckincontEnt dirEctor Bill mcmeekin proofrEading managEr RAven peTTycontEnt coordinator JessicA wAlkeRStaff WritEr kevin liTwincopy Editor Jill wyATTcontributing WritErS John FulleR, m.v. gReene, heATheR JohnsTon Johnson, Bill lewisSEnior graphic dESignErS lAuRA gAllAgheR, JAnine mARylAnd, kRis sexTon, vikki williAmsgraphic dESignErS RAchAel geRRingeR, TAyloR nunleySEnior photographErS JeFF Adkins, BRiAn mccoRdStaff photographErS Todd BenneTT, AnTony BoshieRcolor imaging tEchnician Alison hunTeRintEgratEd mEdia managEr mATT mcwhoRTeRad production managEr kATie middendoRFad traffic aSSiStantS kRysTin lemmon, pATRiciA moisAn

chairman gReg ThuRmAnprESidEnt/publiShEr BoB schwARTzmAnExEcutivE vicE prESidEnt RAy lAngenSEnior v.p./SalES Todd poTTeRSEnior v.p./opErationS cAsey hesTeRSEnior v.p./cliEnt dEvElopmEnt JeFF heeFneRSEnior v.p./buSinESS dEvElopmEnt scoTT TempleTonSEnior v.p./agribuSinESS publiShing kim holmBeRgv.p./buSinESS dEvElopmEnt chARles FiTzgiBBonv.p./ExtErnal communicationS TeRee cARuTheRsv.p./viSual contEnt mARk FoResTeRv.p./contEnt opErationS nATAshA loRensv.p./travEl publiShing susAn chAppellv.p./SalES heRB hARpeR, JARek swekoskycontrollEr chRis dudleySEnior accountant lisA owensaccountS payablE coordinator mARiA mcFARlAndaccountS rEcEivablE coordinator diAnA guzmAnSalES Support coordinator Alex mARksSalES Support projEct managEr sARA quinTSyStEm adminiStrator dAniel cAnTRelldatabaSE managEr/it Support chAndRA BRAdshAwWEb crEativE dirEctor Allison dAvisWEb contEnt managEr John hoodWEb projEct managEr noy FongnAlyWEb dESignEr ii RichARd sTevensWEb dEvElopmEnt lEad yAmel hAllWEb dEvElopEr i nels nosewoRThyphotography dirEctor JeFFRey s. oTTocrEativE SErvicES dirEctor chRisTinA cARdencrEativE tEchnology analySt BeccA ARyaudiEncE dEvElopmEnt dirEctor deAnnA nelsondiStribution dirEctor gARy smiThExEcutivE SEcrEtary kRisTy duncAnhuman rESourcES managEr peggy BlAkerEcEptioniSt lindA Bishop

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Ark-Tex Region

Overview

1. location. centrally located within the united states, the Ark-Tex Region is easily accessible by rail, road and air.

2. Thriving and diversified Industries. manufacturing, energy, timber, health care and distribution businesses have all found the Ark-Tex Region to be fertile ground for their growing businesses. The broad base of the region’s economy has helped insulate it from extreme ups and downs.

3. low Cost of living. housing prices are among the lowest in the nation, making the region an attractive destination for relocating families who find they can get a lot more in return for their housing dollars.

4. scenic Beauty. From vast open ranchlands to piney-wood forests to scenic lakes, the Ark-Tex Region offers nature in all its splendor.

5. A skilled, Adaptable Workforce. The region offers high-quality education and top-notch workforce training institutes.

6. Favorable Tax Climate. The state Business Tax climate index ranked Texas as having the sixth best business tax environment in the nation. local officials work hard to create favorable tax incentives for businesses.

7. hospitality. city, county and economic development officials actively work together to address the needs of relocating businesses.

8. mobility. interstate 30 and u.s. highways 59, 67, 71 and 82 converge in Texas’ northeast corner. plans are underway to lay interstate 69, also known as the nAFTA highway, directly through the region, making it an ideal place for distribution.

9. Recreation. The Ark-Tex Region has an abundant supply of recreational activities, from boating and fishing to museums and festivals to rodeos and retail shopping.

10. An Ideal Climate. The climate is consistently mild, with more than 245 days of sunshine.

Top 10 Reasons to do Business in the Ark-Tex Region

4 A R k - T e x R e G I o n

Almanac

only In pARIsFrance isn’t the only place in the world with an Eiffel Tower. A replica of the renowned landmark is situated near the civic center in Paris, which bills itself as the “Second Largest Paris in the World.” The 65-foot replica was erected in 1993, and though it is much shorter than the original 1,063-foot tower in France, this monument is topped with a giant red cowboy hat. With Eiffel Tower replicas in several of the 15 U.S. municipalities named Paris, Texas officials had to find some way to distinguish theirs!

Round ‘em upone of the best known ranching equipment businesses in the southwest – perhaps the entire country – is priefert ranching Equipment out of mount pleasant, Texas. started in a one-room shop by marvin priefert, the family-owned business has grown to become one of the nation’s top manufacturers and suppliers of equipment for the ranching industry. priefert’s has nearly 50 employees and sells equipment for horses, cattle, poultry, sheep, hogs and goats, with specific items for sale such as fencing, round pens, rodeo gates, feeders, water tanks and walking horse arenas.

A TReAsuRed ColleCTIonThe world’s largest, most diverse collection of music boxes comprises an exhibit showcasing more than 150 rare music boxes at the leo St. clair music box museum in sulphur springs. Former sulphur springs resident leo st. clair collected the music boxes while serving in the u.s. navy during the first and second world wars and the korean conflict. The queen of Belgium presented him with a box that is considered the star of the collection – and many of the others were once owned by movie stars and soldiers.

heAR And noWlinden is known for being the home of musical legends, including don henley of the eagles, ragtime composer scott Joplin and blues artist Aaron “T-Bone” walker. its star-studded heritage is celebrated at the music city texas theater, which opened in may 2003 to promote tourism in linden, cass county and the surrounding area. Today the theater hosts all genres of music and is available for entertainment rentals, as well as for civic and private functions.

4 A R k - T e x R e G I o n

TRIBuTe To A TRue CoWBoyone of mount vernon’s most famous natives was former dallas cowboys quarterback don meredith whose greatest claim to fame was serving as one of the three original hosts of ABc’s Monday Night Football with Frank gifford and howard cosell. Joseph don “dandy don” meredith passed away in 2010, but his memory lives on, thanks in part to pieces of his sports memorabilia on display at the mount vernon’s old fire Station museum. The city also happens to be a birding and nature tourism destination, so the museum also houses a national Bird egg exhibit featuring a smithsonian-quality bird egg collection.

BesT dAIRy, BeeF In TexAsFor decades, hopkins county has been known as the dairy capital of Texas, and its proud heritage is celebrated at the Southwest dairy museum and Education center. Today, 160 dairies still operate throughout the county, which also boasts a burgeoning beef cattle industry. local agribusiness leaders recently banded together to form the north east Texas Beef improvement organization to improve the quality of beef calves produced in the area. hopkins county is also gaining attention among equine breeders as a prime spot for raising thoroughbreds.

B u s I n e s s C l I m A T e . C o m / A R k T e x 5

e-z does ITTexarkana is the home and headquarters of E-Z mart Stores, a well-known chain of convenience stores started by retail tycoon Jim Yates in the 1970s. Yates started his franchise empire with only one small store in Nashville, Ark., and today there are nearly 308 stores across a five-state region encompassing Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma. Not only do the stores have the usual convenience items, almost all of them sell gasoline as well. E-Z’s motto? “Making Life EZR 4 U.”

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Business Climate

environment for GrowthDiverse industries expand, thrive in Ark-Tex Region

story by Bill Lewis • photography by Jeff Adkins

Businesses in search of a skilled workforce, abundant water and natural resources, a well-developed transportation network and

incentives to grow are discovering the nine-county, bi-state Ark-Tex Region.

“We have a well-developed business ecosystem” says Steve Gilbert, Executive Director of the Paris Economic Development Corp.

That environment fosters the growth of diverse businesses – from the 777-employee International Paper Co. and the 1,700-employee Cooper Tire & Rubber to 42-employee Applied Control Technology, a maker of control devices, and the 143-employee JCM, a manufacturer of pipeline fitting, says Charles Nickerson, Vice President-Economic Development for the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce.

ATTRACTInG AGRIBusIness, FoReIGn InvesTmenTRecent developments in the region include the

arrival of two major agribusiness companies – Rose Acre Farms, which is developing a $20 to $30 million egg-laying operation in Bogata, and Daisy Brand, which is establishing a 6,000-acre dairy operation near Paris. International businesses are investing in the area as well. Huhtamaki, the global food service and paperboard packaging company whose brands include Chinet tableware, recently acquired Paris Packaging Inc., a maker of folding cartons.

Gilbert predicts Huhtamaki will find continued

success in the Ark-Tex Region.“We will create a value proposition for them,”

he says.The health-care sector is growing as well, with

the $30 million expansion of Paris Regional Medical Center, Gilbert says.

“The medical sector is a significant contributor to the region’s economic well-being,” he says.

TexAmeRICAs CenTeR dRAWs IndusTRyThe establishment of the TexAmericas

Center is creating new opportunities for industrial development, says Bill Cork, the industrial park’s Executive Director and CEO. With nearly 20,000 acres of land converted from a shuttered military base at Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant, TexAmericas Center is one of the largest rural business and industrial centers in the Americas.

“Its size and f lexibility make it attractive to large-scale industrial development in a way that urban areas cannot offer at a low price,” Cork says.

“The proximity of TexAmericas Center to abundant, reliable and low-cost utilities, multiple modes of surface transportation, a regional airport and the cultural and recreational amenities of the two Texarkanas make it a prime location,” he continues. “Furthermore, we have a high-quality, adaptable workforce. Our people make the difference.”

students work on a truck engine during a diesel Technology class at Texarkana college’s training facility at the TexAmericas center.

6 A R k - T e x R e G I o n B u s I n e s s C l I m A T e . C o m / A R k T e x 7

BuIldInG enTRepReneuRshIpAnother forward-looking community asset,

the Red River Region Business Incubator (R3bi), is strengthening the economy by helping entrepreneurs turn their vision into reality and become job creators.

“We take people and teach them how to run a business, and they make the business grow,” says Fred Green, R3bi’s Director.

One of the start-up companies fostered by R3bi, Bodyguard Truck Accessories, is graduating from the incubator and hiring additional employees.

“The partnerships we’re building with businesses are a two-way street,” Green says. “It’s creating jobs. It’s creating sustainable businesses.”

The effects of growth are reverberating throughout the region. In New Boston, Christus St. Michael Health System opened a quick care clinic with

extended hours, and the Dollar General store relocated into a newly built, larger building. Recently, Guaranty Bond Bank and First Bank-New Boston opened branch offices, says Karen Lightfoot, who heads the New Boston Special Industrial Development Corp.

“Within minutes of New Boston, we have Red River Army Depot, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company and several contractors at Red River Army Depot employing several thousands between them,” Lightfoot says. “The New Boston Special Industrial Development Corporation is always looking for ways to increase economic development in our area.”

Businesses are discovering a growing list of advantages to a location in the region, Nickerson says. The top ones include educational opportunities, transportation assets, low-cost utilities and abundant natural resources.

8 A R k - T e x R e G I o n B u s I n e s s C l I m A T e . C o m / A R k T e x 9

Fertile GroundAgribusinesses tap resources, workforce in the Ark-Tex Region

story by Bill Lewis • photography by Jeff Adkins

A griculture-related businesses are growing in the Ark-Tex Region, bringing new investment and creating jobs while responsibly managing

the region’s abundant natural resources.From Rose Acre Farms, which is investing up

to $30 million in its new egg-laying operation in Bogata, to Daisy Brand, which will manage a herd of more than 10,000 cows on its new 6,000-acre milk farm outside Paris, new agribusinesses are planning for a profitable future in the Ark-Tex Region.

They join established businesses that include Kimberly-Clark Corp., which makes Huggies disposable diapers, Pull-Ups, Goodnights and Little Swimmers at its Paris mill; Domtar, which manufactures fine, finished paper; and International Paper, whose Domino, Texas mill makes bleached board for packaging, folding cartons, and hot and cold cups.

Initiatives put in motion by Red River Region Business Incubator (R3bi) and the Paris Economic Development Corp. should help keep that momentum going, says Fred Green, R3bi’s Director.

The incubator operates as a partnership between Paris Junior College and Paris Economic Development Corporation.

“We feel there are even more concepts yet to be developed that we can help foster,” Green says.

InnovATInG, TAppInG nATuRAl ResouRCesGiant oak trees grow from tiny acorns, Green says,

and the incubator is working with entrepreneurs whose ideas may take root and create tomorrow’s jobs. For example, one returning U.S. military veteran has an idea for growing cattle fodder hydroponically, which could boost production while conserving water. It’s already being done in Mexico and Australia.

Beyond their direct investment, growing agribusinesses stimulate the economy by creating new markets for local farmers and suppliers of goods and services. With more than 2 million birds on hand, for example, Rose Acre will be in the market to purchase ample amounts of feed.

“It will give farmers a very local option to consider

8 A R k - T e x R e G I o n B u s I n e s s C l I m A T e . C o m / A R k T e x 9

for the sale of their grains,” says Chips Everhart, the company’s Director of Environmental Affairs.

Rose Acre expects the egg-laying facility to create 35 jobs initially, a number that may go up once the farm is fully operating. Construction of the farm, including roadwork, a water line, the pullet facility, the layer farm, processing facility and an office building, is expected to take up to two years.

RooTed In AGRICulTuReWith its extensive transportation network

and long tradition of supporting agribusinesses, Red River County is the perfect location for a company like Rose Acre, according to Everhart.

“Red River County is an agricultural county,” he says. “They [the people there] understand ag and have values that are important to Rose Acre Farms. There is a labor market that is anxious to apply and go to work.”

The company also received support from local governments and the state of Texas, as well as residents of the region. “The people of Red River

County and of Bogata are the real assets of this area,” Everhart says. “They have been outstanding to work with.”

Daisy Brand is enjoying a similar experience in the Paris area, where the company will debut its first-ever milk production operation. The company is best known for its pure and natural sour cream and cottage cheese. Its farm will feature high-speed Internet links to allow state-of-the-art animal monitoring. It will also have its own feed center and a waste treatment facility to keep the farm and the surrounding community clean, says farm manager Ben Sokolsky.

“Daisy Farms is pleased to work within the local Paris community for all employment needs,” Sokolsky says. “In fact, one of the reasons Daisy Farms elected to come to Paris was because of its sizable workforce that is eager to share its expertise and passion for dairying.”

Thriving agribusinesses are vital to the local economy, Green says. “Agribusiness is part of building a sustainable economy,” he says.

one of several agribusinesses in the Ark-Tex Region, domtar’s pulp mill in Ashdown, Ark. produces fine, finished paper.

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The Right IngredientsFood manufacturers have appetite for Ark-Tex Region

10 A R k - T e x R e G I o n B u s I n e s s C l I m A T e . C o m / A R k T e x 11

story by Betsy Williams • photography by Jeff Adkins

v egetarian or carnivore, dieting or indulging – no matter what suits your taste buds, chances are that something in your grocery cart has

ties to the Ark-Tex Region.Some of the country’s biggest names in food

products are located here. Food manufacturers are drawn to the region because of its assets: the work ethic of its labor force, a strategic location for distribution, an abundance of water, and workforce training programs and partnerships with local colleges.

CompeTITIve AdvAnTAGesWater and roads were key ingredients that drew

renowned cranberry juice company Ocean Spray to the region back in 1980.

“Logistically, we’re in a good spot,” says Craig Miller, Plant Manager for Ocean Spray. “We can get to our markets east and west with Interstate 30 and Interstate 40, and north and south with Interstate 35 and excellent state routes. We can distribute our product efficiently to all customers without having a production facility in the metroplex.”

The Ocean Spray plant in Sulphur Springs produces cranberry juice products from concentrate – a process requiring plenty of clean water.

“Water is key,” Miller says. “We can’t be anywhere that we can’t access good quality water. Sulphur Springs offers us all the water we need.”

sWeeT suCCessJim Webb and his wife and business partner Krista

visited Mount Pleasant to see an available building, but it was more than real estate that convinced the couple to move their company, Sweet Shop USA, from Fort Worth to Mount Pleasant.

“The building is certainly a factor, but there is more to choosing a location for any business than the building,” says Webb, whose company produces fine hand-dipped chocolates sold to candy shops, f lorists, specialty gift stores and upscale department stores. “We had to have an adequate workforce, one that could produce our products,” he says. “Our business is as much a craft and art as it is anything else, and that requires people who are dedicated and detail-oriented. We found those people here.”

moRe nAme BRAndsOther brand-name manufacturers that make

up the region’s food processing industry include:• Paris: Campbell Soup Company• Sulphur Springs: Morningstar (Hershey’s

Chocolate Milk, Land O’Lakes, Dairy Ease, International Delight) and Owens Country Sausage (a Bob Evans company)

• Mount Pleasant: Newly Wed Foods Inc. (food coatings, spice blends and batters) and Pilgrim’s. (chicken)

A skilled, dedicated workforce drew Jim webb and his wife krista, owners of sweet shop usA, to the Ark-Tex Region.

you don’t have to be “deep in the heart of Texas” to be in the middle of economic activity. With its

central location at the corners of four states, the Ark-Tex Region is perfectly situated for manufacturers and distributors with a wide U.S. market. Bordering southeast Oklahoma, the region encompasses the corners of northeast Texas and western Arkansas, and is just a short distance from Louisiana.

loCATIon luRes dIsTRIBuToRsNot only is its location ideal, Ark-Tex’s

highway access is exceptional. Major transportation corridors include Interstate 30 and U.S. 59, 67, 71 and 82. I-30, which connects Dallas-Fort Worth with Little Rock, Ark., along with the U.S. routes, have spawned an abundance of business opportunities in distribution and logistics.

pRoposed InTeRsTATes hold pRomIseThe Ark-Tex location advantage is

expected to get even better with

the development of two proposed interstates, I-69 and I-49, both of which would bisect I-30.

TexARkAnA AIRpoRT ConneCTs To huBThe region is well served by Texarkana

Regional Airport, which has regularly scheduled f lights via American Eagle to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, one of America’s largest and busiest airports. Texarkana Regional Airport officials plan to build a new terminal with construction expected in 2013. Air cargo services are also available at Texarkana Regional, and Mount Pleasant Regional Airport and Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport offer general aviation services.

Two Class I railroads, Union Pacific and Kansas City Southern, serve the region, and Texas Northeastern Railroad, a short line, is available between Texarkana and New Boston, where the TexAmericas Center operates a foreign trade zone. Amtrak also provides daily passenger service to residents in the region.

12 A R k - T e x R e G I o n

Ark-Tex location, highway assets drive growth in distribution

The Road Best Taken

story by John Fuller • photography by Jeff Adkins

Transportation

Ark-Tex region’s TrAnsporTATion neTwork• MajorDistribution

Terminals:40, including terminals for ocean spray, lowe’s, campbell’s soup, grocery supply company and southern Refrigerated Transport

• MajorHighways:i-30, u.s. 59, 67, 71, 82

• Airports:Texarkana Regional Airport, mount pleasant Regional Airport, sulphur springs municipal Airport

• MajorRailroads:union pacific, kansas city southern, Texas northeastern Railroad

interstate 30 is one of several key transportation corridors running through the Ark-Tex Region.

B u s I n e s s C l I m A T e . C o m / A R k T e x 13

Companies pursue sustainable practices, renewable energy initiatives

G reen policies and renewable energy programs are no longer novelty initiatives for companies in the Ark-Tex Region. In Lamar County and

other counties, local plants of major corporations are turning sustainable practices into good business and environmental stewardship.

InTeRnATIonAl pApeR And susTAInABIlITyInternational Paper Co. has invested millions of

dollars in environmental protection equipment at its Coated Paperboard Mill in Domino, Texas. The mill, which manufactures bleached board for packaging, folding cartons and hot and cold drink cups, produces its own electricity and recycles water in-house.

The 960-worker mill was an early adopter of sustainability as the first pulp and paper facility in Texas to participate in Clean Industries 2000 – a voluntary environmental impact reduction and prevention program sponsored by the governor’s office and the Natural Resource Conservation Commission. The mill is certified by the Sustainable Forest Initiative and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification chain-of-custody standards, which maps the mill’s fiber supply chain from the forest to the consumer.

In International Paper’s most recent sustainability report, John Faraci, chairman and CEO of the Memphis, Tenn.-based company, noted that the company strives to “produce these materials in a minimally invasive way, relying on clean fuels and self-sustained energy.”

CAmpBell plAnT emBRACes solARAnother well-known corporation with

manufacturing facilities in the Ark-Tex Region, Campbell Soup Co., which employs 900 workers in Lamar County to process soups, juices and sauces, recently received a $100,000 grant from the Paris Economic Development Corp. to help fund a solar panel project. The solar panels will provide the plant with an alternative electric source.

In the Green

story by M.V. Greene • photography by Jeff Adkins

Energy/Technology

The project is part of Campbell’s sustainability and corporate social responsibility pledge, which the Camden, N.J.-corporation lists as one of its seven core business strategies.

Campbell’s most recent Corporate Social Responsibility Report notes its commitment to cutting its environmental footprint and investment of more than $6 million in environmental sustainability projects. The company is working toward reducing its energy use by 35 percent by 2020 and deriving 40 percent of its energy from renewable or alternative energy sources, such as solar.

14 A R k - T e x R e G I o n

Medical advances, facility upgrades at local hospitals boost care and business

A healthy outlook

Health

story by Heather Johnston Johnson • photography by Jeff AdkinseAsT TexAs MeDiCAL CenTer regionAL HeALTHCAre sYsTeM fACiLiTies in THe Ark-Tex region:

• HopkinsCounty:

ETMCFirstPhysiciansClinic-SulphurSprings

ETMCFitnessSatellite-SulphurSprings

• RedRiverCounty:

ETMCFirstPhysiciansClinic-Bogata

ETMCClarksville

ETMCHomeHealth

chRisTus st. michael health system in Texarkana, Texas is one of several key health-care providers and top employers in the region.

n ortheast Texas residents rely on the area’s cutting-edge hospital network for top-notch medical

service. Here is a look at the region’s top hospitals.

The 312-bed CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System offers heart, orthopedic, cancer, and women’s and children’s care, and is home to a Level III Trauma Center. With 2,100 employees, CHRISTUS is more than a top employer – it was also voted the No. 2 Best Place to Work by Modern Healthcare – and has been recognized as a top 100 hospital by Thomson Reuters.

Stroke and vascular treatments are top priorities for Texarkana’s oldest hospital, 370-bed Wadley Regional Medical Center – the area’s first Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center and the first state-designated Level II Primary Stroke Center. HealthGrades also ranked it among the top 10 percent of the nation’s hospitals for orthopedic care and cardiac surgery.

Affiliated with Baylor Health, the

96-bed Hopkins County Memorial Hospital in Sulphur Springs owns a physician’s clinic – Memorial Clinic – with 23 providers, is a top choice for maternity care and offers ambulance service and hospice care, along with a new emergency room and catheterization laboratory.

Titus Regional Medical Center is a lead Level III Trauma Center between Dallas and Little Rock. In addition to its new oncology treatment facility, it offers surgical oncology and breast reconstruction surgery, micro vascular extremity surgery and interventional pulmonology.

A top employer, the 360-bed Paris Regional Medical Center is known for its cardiac specialty care at its Heart Hospital, which offers the area’s only carotid artery stenting procedure. Listed among the top 5 percent in orthopedics and spinal surgery by HealthGrades, Paris Regional recently began offering weight-loss and reconstructive surgeries and will soon complete a 31,000-square-foot addition.

Texarkana College

B u s I n e s s C l I m A T e . C o m / A R k T e x 15

established in 2008 by local industries to provide advanced manufacturing training to businesses in the north east Texas workforce development area, the Regional Advanced manufacturing Academy is a collaboration of northeast Texas community college, paris Junior college, Texarkana college and workforce solutions of northeast Texas.

The academy’s mission is to interest young people in advanced manufacturing, so they can eventually replace current craftsmen who are approaching retirement age. so far, 16 manufacturers and seven economic development corporations throughout northeast Texas have committed to participating in the program.

regionAL ADvAnCeD MAnufACTuring ACADeMY TrAins workers

Colleges, universities produce skilled graduates, workers for region’s top industries

W hen it comes to achievement, colleges and universities in the Ark-

Tex Region refuse to settle for the status quo. Schools in the region are continually adding programs and facilities to produce the most skilled graduates and trained workers for the area’s top industries.

Texas A&M University-Texarkana offers baccalaureate, graduate and doctoral degrees in its four colleges: Business, Health and Behavioral Sciences, Education and Liberal Arts, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The university is working with the city of Texarkana to provide environmental job training and workforce development to rural areas of northeast Texas.

Texarkana College was recently ranked one of the nation’s 120 best community colleges by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. One of the college’s current initiatives is partnering with pharmaceutical manufacturing company HUMCO Holding Group Inc. to provide workers with training to increase

production and upgrade industry-specific skills.

Paris Junior College was named one of the top 50 fastest growing two-year colleges by Community College Week magazine, and PJC has an annual economic impact of more than $95 million in Lamar County and surrounding counties. A recent program at PJC was working with Campbell Soup Co. to provide customized job training to more than 300 workers.

Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant recently opened the solar-powered Elizabeth Hoggatt Whatley Agriculture Complex – the only LEED-Platinum agricultural facility of its kind in the state – to train students in sustainable agriculture. The college is also home to the Carroll Shelby Automotive High Performance Academy, which teaches students how to transform stock vehicles into high-performance race cars, as well as a new million-dollar industrial technology program designed to provide advanced manufacturers in the region with the skilled workers they critically need.

high marks

story by Kevin Litwin • photography by Jeff Adkins

Education

16 A R k - T e x R e G I o n

Livability

Ark-Tex Region offers playground for hikers, hunters and water lovers

F ull of lakes, parks, nature trails, wildlife and reserves, the Ark-Tex Region is a natural playground for outdoor buffs.

Hikers and campers are excited about the return of Daingerfield State Park, which reopened in June after extensive renovations. Improvements include a new sewer system to all campsites, renovations to buildings constructed in the 1930s and a modern upgrade of all bathroom facilities.

Amenities at Daingerfield State Park include 30 full hookup campsites, three rental cabins with all conveniences and an 80-acre Little Pine Lake

Adventure Awaits

story by Kevin Litwin • photography by Jeff Adkins

that is spring-fed and stays crystal clear year round.“The park is a jewel,” says John Thomas, Daingerfield

State Park superintendent. “It’s family-oriented and allows busy people to get back to nature.”

Other scenic outdoor attractions in the Ark-Tex Region include West End Nature Preserve in Mount Vernon and Atlanta State Park in the Texarkana area. In Paris, the Trail de Paris pedestrian and bicycle pathway is a viewing wonder.

WATeR spoRTs And hunTInG pARAdIseWater lovers can fish, swim or take their boat out

on Millwood Lake and Wright Patman Lake in the New Boston/Texarkana area, as well as Pat Mayse Lake in Paris. Sulphur Springs is home to Lake Fork and Cooper Lake State Park, and the Mount Vernon/Mount Pleasant area has Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Cypress Springs and Lake Monticello.

For those who like to hunt, the New Boston vicinity is home to the Wildcat Creek River Quail Hunting Resort. Hunters at Cooper Lake State Park can find duck, deer, fox and hogs. The Ark-Tex Region also offers other recreation options such as golf, with courses within 20 miles of every town, and thousands of acres of public parks for individuals and families to enjoy.

“We’re lucky because we are fairly close to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, so many people from that part of Texas make our region’s outdoors a destination,” says Greg Dillon, Superintendent at Cooper Lake State Park. “Our park is all about adventure, with campsites, fishing and hunting, plus we recently received a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife to develop more recreational trails.”

Cooper Lake is known for its crappie fishing as well as catches of catfish and hybrid bass, Dillon says.

“For hunters, there are plenty of whitetail deer, and this is a popular place to go after beryl hogs,” he says. “Cooper Lake State Park is an ideal spot to get outdoors and enjoy nature. The Ark-Tex Region is lucky to have many outdoor attractions.”

Families enjoy the last days of summer while playing in the lake at Daingerfield State Park in Daingerfield, Texas.

A Walk down main streetRegion’s CiTies oFFeR DisTinCT DownTown ATTRACTions

From distinct downtown districts to iconic landmarks, cities throughout the Ark-Tex Region are full of historical and cultural sites worth visiting.

Texarkana is home to the historic perot Theatre, which dates back to 1924, and a mural paying tribute to famous ragtime composer and native scott Joplin, as well as four museums, a regional arts center and the state line post office and Federal Building – the only u.s. post office located in two states with two zip codes: 71854 for Texarkana, Ark., and 75501 for Texarkana, Texas.

nearby, paris has quirky shops, a Bywaters park near downtown, a farmers market and the lamar county historical museum. A Texas main street city for more than 10 years, paris’ attractions include everything from a bakery, cafe and trails to art galleries like the hayden museum of Art, a 65-foot eiffel Tower replica, the historic paris community Theatre and the culbertson Fountain.

mount vernon, also a main street city, has a farmers market and the 57-acre dupree park nature center. home to the late dallas cowboys

quarterback and Monday Night Football announcer don meredith, the city’s old Fire station museum displays memorabilia items that meredith donated.

sulphur springs has an antique shopping district that offers selections ranging from european imports to Texas primitives. The city also offers an all-stadium seating starplex cinema 6 as well as three museums, including the leo st. clair music Box museum showcasing a collection of 150 rare music boxes.

– Kevin Litwin

Linden “Music City” Texas

Located on naFTa Highway

Us 59

30 Minutes to i-20

and i-30

Small-Town Quality of LifeCass County Performing arts Council

Music City Texas Theater • T-Bone Walker Blues Fest The academy of Texas Music Headquarters

Good shepherd Medical Center & excellent schools

www.tbonewalkerbluesfest.com

www.musiccitytexas.org

Come Join Our CommunityLinden economic development Corporation

P.O. Box 1229 • Linden, Tx 75563 (903) 756-7774 • ledc@valornet.com

www.lindentexas.org

18 A R k - T e x R e G I o n B u s I n e s s C l I m A T e . C o m / A R k T e x 19

visit ouradvertisersCentury 21 Harvey Propertieswww.c21php.com

City of Clarksvillewww.redrivercoc.com

Hampton Inn & Suiteswww.mountpleasantsuites.hamptoninn.com

Linden Economic Development Corporationwww.lindentexas.org

Paris Economic Development Corporationwww.paristexasusa.com

Queen City Economic Developmentwww.queencitytx.org

6039-TR12260M_TGB_Livability.indd 1 3/22/10 11:40:09 AM

18 A R k - T e x R e G I o n B u s I n e s s C l I m A T e . C o m / A R k T e x 19

populATIon (2010)

Miller County, Ark: 43, 462

bowie County, texas: 92,565

Cass County, texas: 30,464

delta County, texas: 5,231

franklin County, texas: 10,605

hopkins County, texas: 35,161

Lamar County, texas: 49,793

Morris County, texas: 12,934

Red River County, texas: 12,860

titus County, texas: 32,334

mAjoR populATIon CenTeRs (2010)

texarkana, texas: 36,411

texarkana, Ark.: 29,919

Paris, texas: 25,171

eConomIC pRoFIle

Harvey Properties

A FULL-SERVICE BROKERAGEserving Northeast Texas and Southeast Oklahoma

ReSideNTial • COmmeRCial FaRm & RaNCH • laNd

800.785.8495www.c21php.com

each office independently owned and operated

thiS SEction iS SponSorEd by

What’s online For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on the Ark-Tex Region, go to businessclimate.com/arktex and click on Demographics under Facts & stats.

Top employeRs

Red River Army depot &

tenants, 5,500 employees

ChRistUs st. Michael health

system, 2,055 employees

Cooper tire & Rubber,

1,700 employees

texarkana tX independent

school district, 1,100 employees

Wal-Mart/sam’s Club,

1,100 employees

Paris Regional Medical Center,

1,100 employees

domtar inc., 940 employees

Campbell soup Corporation,

900 employees

kimberly Clark Corporation,

800 employees

texarkana, Ark., school district,

785 employees

TRAnspoRTATIon

ROAD:

i-30 and U.s. highways 59, 67,

71, 82

AIR:

Texarkana Regional Airport

txkairport.com

Mount Pleasant

Regional Airport

www.mountpleasantairport.

com/default.htm

Sulphur Springs

Municipal Airport

www.slr.aero

RAIL:

Class i Union Pacific and

kansas City southern rail

service; plus short-line rail,

texas northeastern Railroad

WATER:

Red River

Sources: quickfacts.census.gov, www.paristexasusa.com, www.texarkana.org

BusIness snApshoTthe Ark-tex Region encompasses nine counties in texas and one

county in Arkansas, including the population centers of Paris, texas;

texarkana, texas; and texarkana, Ark. top industries in the region

include manufacturing, transportation and logistics, agriculture and

food production, energy and health care.

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C2 CityofClarksville

20 HamPtoninn&suites

17 lindeneConomiCdeveloPmentCorPoration

C4 PariseConomiCdeveloPmentCorPoration

C3 QueenCityeConomiCdeveloPment

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QUEEN CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTP.O. Box 219 • Queen City, TX 75572 • (888) 286-3836 • Fax: (903) 796-4170 • Email: queencityedc@aol.com • www.queencitytx.org

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