Crossing the Arkansas state line into Oklahoma and developing the entire region was the focal point of a Wednesday Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce membership meeting.

Tom Manskey, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Fort Smith, Ark., Regional Chamber of Commerce, spoke to about 25 people about hopes of the region working together to gain industry and grow.

Manskey, a 1987 graduate of Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos with a degree in urban and regional planning and public administration, previously served as CEO of the Lufkin and Angelina County (Texas) Chamber of Commerce. He is a 1996 graduate of the Institute for Organizational Management at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and he currently serves as chairman of the board of regents for the Institute for Organizational Management at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Manskey acknowledged there may be possible skepticism about Fort Smith's intentions for regional development, but he assured the group that the more Sallisaw benefits, the more Fort Smith benefits too.

Regional Group Formed

Manskey said a regional group was formed a year ago to discuss economic development and comprise a plan of action.

Some of the initiatives included developing regional incentives and better communication.

He said a consulting group was brought in to assess initiatives and find out how much support the region would provide to fund the project. They ascertained that they could get $2.2 million for regional economic development. The group named themselves Together Jobs for the River Valley, and began raising money. By Feb. 8, they had raised $4.4 million to develop a plan for the region.

They will unveil that plan to the region June 14 at a casual cookout at Beverly Enterprises, Manskey said.

He said the plan will touch on a regional prospect management system, which includes putting together a system to help lure industry in the future.

Manskey said in the Fort Smith area, different communities have not worked together in the past. They are hoping to change that. He said it will take time to gain trust from cities like Van Buren, Ark., Sallisaw, and others.

The Plan

As part of the plan, they will develop a comprehensive database that would include everything a site consultant will need to find a location for industry in the region. He said the consultant will want to know everything about a piece of property, such as seeing aerial photographs and seeing where utilities are located.

The plan would also include a list of possible industries to expand or new industry looking to relocate or settle.

Sallisaw City Manager Bill Baker asked Manskey about the possible relocation of Whirlpool and the 188th Fighter Wing.

Manskey said Whirlpool has actually added employees, and is up 250 employees since the fall. He said Whirlpool plans on moving some production to Mexico, but they currently can't transfer some technology. He said about 500 jobs may be moved, but they would be lower-end jobs.

About the fighter wing realignment, he said Fort Smith is prepared to put on a fight to keep it.

He said they have already met with potential lobbyists, and a hearing has been set for June 22 in Dallas. "We will be there," Manskey said.

"What happens in Fort Smith is important to us," Baker said.

Manskey noted that over 26,000 cars cross the Garrison Avenue Bridge a day.

He said planners can't let perceptions stop at the state line.

"It's all about jobs in the region," Manskey said. "We're all part of economic development."

Other Business

Jeff Mayo, chamber president, updated the group on Bassnanza, a chamber-sponsored fishing tournament set for June. He said over $12,000 in cash and other prizes have been raised.

Mayo said fliers and registration sheets are available at various businesses around the county and surrounding counties. A registration sheet is also available on the chamber's Web site at www.sallisawchamber.com.

"We've had a lot of interest," Judy Martens, chamber executive vice president, said.

Mayo said the chamber is hoping for early entrants although many will sign up the day before the event. He said he encourages people who aren't fishing to join in the activities. Martens said Crazy Days and Bassnanza will be happening all at once.

Mayo also said the July 4 fireworks show in Sallisaw will be a bigger and different show this year, with the city contributing money for the show. He said they will be using electronics to set off the fireworks, and they are also adding another inflatable activity for children. He said they are currently in the process of getting a band lined up to play at the event.

Martens said the Sallisaw High School Band Booster Club will be doing the concession stand this year.

Haan Phelps, director of Dwight Mission northwest of Sallisaw, spoke to the group about the refurbishment of a building on the site through the Oklahoma Centennial Commission. He said the mission is one of the projects listed for the state to fund, but urged people to contact legislators to get the project funded this year.

Phelps said Dwight Mission is up for $1 million to be used for refurbishment. He asked attendees to call or e-mail any legislator and put the word out to get the project funded.

Phelps said the mission project is the only one in the county to be funded, and is one of the big projects in eastern Oklahoma