Rep. Medley Predicts growth for River Valley

overheard at Panera Bread today:

Arkansas State Representative Jim Medley commented on the potential upswing in growth in the Chaffee area and the Fort Smith general area when the Mitsubishi plant opens.

Medley pointed out that an additional 400 people living in this area could well result in more than just jobs, but in the growth of an entire new community, including retail and commercial stores, restaurants, and possibly even schools as a residential development grows to meet the new demand.

He also said that neighboring industries, such as USA Truck and Carco(?) should see increased employment as they supply the new plant which will manufacture wind turbines to help build a new future of alternative energy. As Medley pointed out, Fort Smith and Fort Chaffee were chosen over many other competitors for the plant site because of many factors, but chief among those was our workforce, transportation availability - such as the in coming I49 corridor which will pass right by the plant site.

Medley went on to discuss the new energy source, wind power. "Walmart is already using wind power for some of their electricity needs, as well as other commercial and private users."

Federal tax incentives could be as high as 30 percent for utilizing the alternative power source. The state will also offer several incentive options, making for a considerable motivation for homeowners and businesses to consider the move to wind power.

Just what all will this mean for the River Valley? No one knows for sure at this point just how much of a boost this will represent, but it stands to be significant.