Fort Smith Regional Alliance FAQ

1.  What is the Fort Smith Regional Alliance (Alliance)?

• Comprised of eight counties within the 50 mile radius of Fort Smith – includes Arkansas and Oklahoma counties (Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Sebastian, Scott, LeFlore and Sequoyah)
• 14 communities are represented currently
• Two voting representatives from each community, regardless of population.
• Regional Alliance Population: 353,975
• Formalized Regional Executive Committee
  • Share committee members
• The focus of this region will be economic development as well as legislative affairs that affect and impact the region (i.e. completion of I49, Marshal’s Museum).
• This is the 1st formalized bi-state regional alliance.

2.  Why bi-state? 

Large part of our labor force. Economic development has no boundaries.

3. How did it all start?

• Paul Harvel initiated because of success with Metro Little Rock Alliance. The state of Arkansas started emphasizing regionalism as part of Governor Mike Beebe’s Strategic Plan for Economic Development. Regional alliances are trends across the nation.
• April 2010 - Held the first regional meeting where the group voted to adopt the same structure as the Little Rock Metro Alliance – Two votes/representatives per community no matter the population for equality.
• June 2010 - Regional Executive Committee retained the services of Boyette Strategic Advisors to assist with the development of a strategic regional plan that will guide economic development efforts for the eight-county region over the next five years.
• In August 2010, the Alliance elected to contract with Lea Taylor and What If Creative to fulfill the role of Regional Executive Director. Also in August Boyette’s team held the project launch meeting for the Strategic Plan.

4. Regional Executive Director Responsibilities:

• Serving as the point person for all the regional representatives.
  • Regional Executive Committee
  • Regional Alliance Committee Members
  • Chamber Executives and community leaders
  • ED organizations such as AEDC and Oklahoma Department of Commerce
• Work closely with Economic Development Division on regional initiatives
• Develop and market a regional brand
• Conduct regional inventory
• Support and execute the Regional Strategic Plan developed by Boyette Strategic Advisors as required
• Create Community Profiles for the Regional Partners
• Work closely with AEDC and Oklahoma Department of Commerce

5. Strategic Regional Plan

• a. The Strategic Plan will identify targeted business sectors and strategic recommendations designed to position the region for economic development success based on the region’s key assets for business.
• b. Strategic recommendations will be developed based on the previous as well as:
  • Research into successful economic development organizations and practices
  • Consideration of the region’s existing resources and opportunities
• c. Targeted completion date: March 2011

6. How can I help?

• Participate in meetings, interviews and surveys.
• Encourage participation!!! Be a voice of support in the community!
• Share the importance of the regional alliance and economic development!

7. How will the Alliance be financially supported?

• The Strategic Plan will outline the recommended financial structure to give the Alliance the support necessary to be successful.
• Other successful alliances incorporate a dues structure that is based on population. Whether this will be the recommendation for the Fort Smith Regional Alliance is yet to be determined.

8. The smaller communities that are part of the alliance don’t have the resources or access to resources to assist on the same level as the larger communities. How is the Alliance going to help them?

• The Strategic Plan will outline proposed resources that the Alliance should invest in to support all community partners in the region.

9. Will the Alliance be doing anything to help/focus on small business?

• While the Strategic Plan will outline specific direction, the formation of the Alliance was created to concentrate on economic development for the region, which includes a focus on small business/entrepreneurs.

10. How will the leads/RFP’s be handled, especially since it is bi-state?

• RFPs or leads provided by AEDC (Arkansas Economic Development Commission) that come to the region will be handled initially by Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce who will work with the appropriate Alliance communities in Arkansas on responses and data collection.
• RFPs or leads provided by the Oklahoma Department of who will work with Alliance communities in Oklahoma on responses and data collection.
• The Alliance will work with ALL the alliance partners to address any RFPs or leads that come to the Alliance directly from site selectors.
• The strategy process will include recommendations for how to handle prospects and leads.

11. Can a community become a regional Alliance partner after the formalization?

• Yes, as long as all Alliance partners agree that such community should become a regional Alliance partner.