The Searcy Regional Economic Development Corporation (SREDC) "100 for the Future" plays a vital role in the economic growth of Searcy and the region.

Much of the growth in the community can be attributed to a team of people working together. The SREDC, Chamber, Searcy City Council and White County Quorum Court have all joined together to improve the transportation in White County, retain existing business and industry and attract new business. Examples include the Highway 13 Connector and Searcy Municipal Airport Terminal. Current projects include: Holiday of Lights, revitalizing the Rialto Theatre, downtown beautification, development of land adjacent to Riverside Park and the Searcy Center (new shopping center).

The SREDC is continually seeking additional industrial land. We are looking at land both in and outside the city limits, and this continues to be a major challenge. The land must be reasonably priced and close enough to current infrastructure to allow economical extension to the site.

The "100 for the Future" membership is made up of business and professional people with a genuine interest in continuing our community's economic growth. The "100 for the Future" helps subsidize the economic development efforts of the SREDC. Current membership stands at 110 and each contributes a minimum of $250 annually.

The SREDC elects a board of directors from their membership to serve a term of seven years. Four one-year positions were added in 2015. The current board of directors and officers are listed below.

2017 SREDC BOARD

Donnie Miller- President
Ricky Floyd- Past President
Dr. David Burks- Vice President
Steve Lightle- Treasurer
Brooks Davis- In Step Consulting, LLC
Reynie Rutledge- First Security Bank
David Evans- Southwest Energy Company (Retired)
David Morris- Mayor of Searcy

Jamie Mobley- Chamber Chair of the Board
Flave Carpenter- Chamber Vice President
Mat Faulkner- Think Idea Studio
Jim House- The Course at River Oaks
Michael Lincoln- White County Judge
Ray Montgomery- Unity Health
Steve Sterling- City Alderman 

The goals of the SREDC are:

1. Attract new employers and expand existing industries and business.

2. Work to improve communication and cooperation between governmental agencies on city, county, state and federal levels, and involve the business community, educational institutions, cultural organizations and the citizens in working toward creation of a better Searcy.

3. Seek to expand the base of financial support for economic development, realizing that all citizens benefit from sound, planned economic growth.

4. Actively seek both large and small industry for Searcy. Activities include seeking new business development, encouraging local business expansion and retention, collecting and maintaining data, responding to prospect inquiries, meeting with industrial prospects, marketing and sales, advocating infrastructure development and coordination of economic development.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Provided Economic Development services for the city of Searcy
The Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce and City of Searcy signed a contract whereby the Chamber of Commerce performs economic development services for the city. Quarterly reports are presented to the Searcy City Council.

• Maintained Economic Development Section on website
The chamber staff maintains the Economic Development Section of searcychamber.com.  The site is another valuable tool for marketing property. The database is free to use and assistance in placing property on the site is available to all 16 incorporated cities in the county. This section is also an excellent resource for demographic and labor data. The chamber staff is the White County and the City of Searcy's Community Editor, as well as Property Manager for the City of Searcy and Bald Knob. The Site Selection Database, arkansassiteselection.com, provides a valuable tool in attracting development interest and speeding prospect response time. The tool is free to use and is the Arkansas Economic Development Commissions central source for site selection, property identification and prospect referral. 

The SREDC markets five available industrial buildings and two sites in Searcy. More information about these sites and buildings can be found at arkansassiteselection.com

ElectroCraft, Inc. - 1701 S. Benton
ITT - 100 Queensway
Kohler - 920 East Lincoln Ave.
Weatherford - 111 West Booth
Doniphan Industrial Park - 104 Mill Rd.
SEA001 (26 acres) - Benton Ave.
SEA008 (84 acres) - Brantly Rd. 

• Metro Little Rock Regional Alliance (MLRA)
Metro Little Rock is a 12-county region with a population of over 1,000,000 people reflecting the mobility of its workforce. It is located in the center of the country with 40% of the nation's population and buying power within a 550-mile radius. Metro Little Rock is at the crossroad of Interstate 30 and the most heavily traveled Interstate in the nation, Interstate 40. The region benefits from a diversified economic base revolving around advanced manufacturing, aerospace, information technology, medical/healthcare, military and nonprofit industries. Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked Little Rock #1 of America's 10 Great Places to Live in August 2013. SREDC Board members Donnie Miller and Ricky Floyd represent the SREDC and White County on the MLRA board. 

• Rialto Theatre
This committee oversees the revitalization of the theatre. In 2016, the exterior of the theatre was revitalized, and they are currently working to restore the interior by seeking grants to help pay for the cost. They are also creating a plan to utilize the theatre for events other than movies like concerts, performing arts, beauty pageants, etc.

• 104 W. Race Street Building
The SREDC purchased the building for a staging area/green room for the Rialto and may possibly rent the front portion of the building.

• Holiday of Lights
The committee undertook the oversight of working with the city and other groups in Searcy including the Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Searcy, and the county in an effort to get back Christmas lights in Searcy. Liz Howell will chair this committee in 2017.
Money was generosity given to make this a reality and this money, when added to that given by the City of Searcy, made the Christmas lights a reality in Searcy once again.
Future plans include expanding the Christmas lighting project and arrange for local television personality to annually be in Searcy for lighting ceremony.
Larry and Janett Crain generously donated money to purchase a skating rink for the Holiday of Lights celebrations in 2016. The city needed a secure hut or portable building to store the flooring of the ice rink, skates and equipment.

• Beautification Committee
Dr. David Burks will chair this committee in 2017. Bids for the Spring Park project took place in March, and the project began in May. The next phase of the Beautification project will be to continue the paving and landscaping on Spring Street toward Pleasure Street at an estimated cost of $150,000.

• Existing Industries Association
Bill Marion chairs this organization. They are currently discussing how the local schools are preparing the non-college bound students for entry into the workplace.
The Existing Industries will put together a data sheet which will include basic educational requirements, skillsets and certifications for entry level and selected technical jobs in our Plants. Some of the information will be taken from the recent wage and benefit survey.

On May 8, Existing Industries representatives met with Searcy Public School superintendent, Diane Barrett, and two members of her staff to discuss workforce availability and readiness. On May 31, another meeting was held Riverview Public School superintendent, David Rutledge, and members of his staff. Future meetings are scheduled with Bald Knob and Augusta superintendents and planned for each of the area school districts.