East Arkansas Planning and Development District

Summer 2020 Outreach Summary
Miscellaneous Interview Comments
- Disaster preparation plans did not address pandemics
- Organizations modified schedules to keep doors open
- A strategic response to testing, prevention, and sourcing of PPE would have helped the region deal more effectively with the pandemic, also testing and quick return of results will help isolate the positives
- The most difficult aspect of coping with the pandemic is instilling a sense of urgency among employees to utilize masks and practice social distancing
- Another challenge is to provide a reserve of PPE for community leaders and their employees
- It is challenging to keep essential services going while keeping everyone safe
- There has been a negative impact on supply chains
Hotels and bed & breakfasts | Grocery store | Medical center



EAPDD Advisory Committee Members
Woody Wheeless
Judge, Crittenden County
James Sanders
Mayor, City of Blytheville
Sherman Smith
Mayor, City of Earle
Cody Slater
Director of Economic Development, Wynne Economic Development Commission
Jennifer Hobbs
Mayor, City of Wynne
Regina Burkett
Community Development Director, City of Jonesboro
Mike Philpot
Vice President of Economic Development, Jonesboro Unlimited
Charles Snapp
Mayor, City of Walnut Ridge
Jimmy Williams
Mayor, City of Marianna
Clark Hall
Judge, Phillips County
Lynn Hawkins
Arkansas Rural Health
Brandt Smith
Arkansas State Representative, District 58
Blake Johnson
Arkansas State Senator, District 20
Gene Bennett
Vice President for Workforce Development, ANC Blytheville
Dave Brady
Executive Director, Workforce Investment Board of Eastern Arkansas
David Barch
Director of Membership and Certification, National Association of Workforce Development Professionals
Debra West
Chancellor, Arkansas State University Midsouth
Keith Gammil
Manager of Client Services, Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Ronnie Samuel
Rage Fabrications
Alan Risley
Plant Manager, Peco Foods
Jerry Morgan
Market President, First National Bank