With the completion of the Milken Study in 2004, Accelerate Arkansas began drawing the first steps in a clear picture of the state's projected economic future. Accelerate Arkansas was heavily involved in the 2005 legislative session which resulted in several key issues for the state's fiscal benefit.
- Eliminate two-year waiting period for investment tax credit (Act 1232)
- Research appropriation (Act 2092)
- Targeted Business R&D (Act 1232)
- Extend R&D carry forward (Act 1232)
- Increase cap on tech development projects (Act 1232)
- Expand eligibility of bond guaranty (Act 1232)
- Ease tuition reimbursement tax credit (Act 1232)
- Expand technical careers student loan forgiveness (Act 1232)
- The Arkansas Research Alliance focuses on university research-based economic development (Act 563)
- Innovate Arkansas fast track commercialization (Act 1596)
- Risk Capital Matching Fund provides critical liquidity for commercialization (Act 1025 and Act 1023)
- Taskforce for the 21st Century Economy (Act 1024 and Act 1267)
- R&D Tax Credits Validation Fund (Act 1025)
- Enhanced Consolidated Incentive Act (Act 1596).
- Establish a STEM Fund as an economic development initiative (Act 564 and Act 1266).
For a brochure detailing our 2009 Legislative Accomplishments, please click here.
Executive Director:
Charisse Childers, Ph.D., Little Rock
Members:
H. Watt Gregory, III, Chair, Executive Committee; Kutak Rock LLP, Little Rock
Mark Saviers, Vice Chair, Executive Committee; Sage Partners, Little Rock
Jerry Adams, Executive Committee; Arkansas Research Alliance, Conway
Jim Argue, Former Arkansas State Senator, United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas, Little Rock
John Ahlen, Ph.D., Executive Committee; Arkansas Science and Technology Authority, Little Rock
Phil Baldwin, Southern Development Bancorp, Arkadelphia
Ramsay Ball, Colliers International, Fayetteville
Sharon Ballard, EnableVentures, Inc., Alma
Freddie Black, Simmons First Bank, Lake Village
Jim Blakley, Retired, Arkansas Department of Economic Development, Hot Springs
Steve Bova, Technisource, Inc., Little Rock
Lunsford Bridges, Metropolitan National Bank, Little Rock
Bobby Brown, Interstate Highway Sign Corp., Little Rock
Steve Cameron, First Financial Bank, El Dorado
Gary Campbell, Executive Committee; Retired, IBM Corporation, Fort Smith
John Chamberlin, Chamberlin Research, Little Rock
Tony Chelte, Ph.D., University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock
Jay Chesshir, Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, Little Rock
Jeff Collins, Ph.D., Endeavor Consultants, Fayetteville
Mike Coulson, Coulson Oil Co., Inc., North Little Rock
Tom Dalton, Innovate Arkansas, Little Rock
Jerry Damerow, Retired, UAMS BioVentures, Little Rock
Kathy Deck, University of Arkansas, Center for Business and Economic Research, Fayetteville
Michael Douglas, Ph.D., UAMS Arkansas BioVentures, Little Rock
Eddie Drilling, AT&T, Arkansas Division, Little Rock
Gene Eagle, Arkansas Development Finance Authority, Little Rock
Conner Eldridge, Summit Bank, Arkadelphia
David Evans, Former Arkansas State Representative, Southwestern Energy Company, Conway;
Danny Ferguson, Southwestern Energy Company, Fayetteville
Scott Ferguson, M.D., Radiologist, West Memphis
Ed Franklin, Ed.D., Arkansas Association of Two Year Colleges, Little Rock
Len Frey, Ph.D., Arkansas State University, Jonesboro
Slaton Fry, Ph.D., Future Fuels, Batesville
Jeff Gardner, Windstream Communications, Little Rock
Diann Gathwright, Ed.D., Mena School District
Henry Golatt, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff
Luke Gordy, Arkansans for Education Reform Foundation, Little Rock
Maria Haley, Executive Committee; Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Little Rock
Charles E. Hathaway, Ph.D., Chancellor Emeritus, UALR, Little Rock
James Hendren, Ph.D., Executive Committee and Chair, Legislative Committee; Hendren Consulting, Little Rock
Dan Hendrix, Arkansas World Trade Center, Rogers
Richard F. Jacobs, M.D., Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock
Morris Jenkins, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Little Rock
Diane Lamberth, Atlas Asphalt/White River Materials, Inc., Batesville, AR
Leslie Lane, Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, Little Rock
Greg Lee, Retired, Tyson Foods, Inc., Springdale
Ed Mabry, Independence County Economic Development, Batesville
Emon Mahony, Mahony Corporation, El Dorado
Mike Malone, Executive Committee; Northwest Arkansas Council, Fayetteville
Chris Masingill, Office of the Governor, Little Rock
Mike Maulden, Entergy, Little Rock
Tim McFarland, Executive Committee; Diamond State Ventures, Grayrock Advisory Services, Fayetteville
Alan McVey, Executive Committee; Arkansas State University, Delta Center for Economic Development, Jonesboro
Elise Mitchell, Mitchell Communications Group, Inc., Fayetteville
Ted Moskal, Litmus Rapid-B, LLC, Jonesboro
Art Norris, Retired, National Center for Toxicological Research, Pine Bluff
Kay Palmer, J B Hunt Transport Service, Inc., Lowell
Becky Paneitz, Ph.D., Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville
Rodney Parks, Philander Smith, Little Rock
David Rankin, Ph.D., Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia
Melissa Rivers, Crossroads Coalition, Wynne
Archie Schaffer, Tyson Foods, Inc., Springdale
Stacy Sells, Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods, Little Rock
Baxter Sharp, Sharp and Sharp, Brinkley
Sam M. Sicard, First National Bank, Fort Smith
Sam T. Sicard, First National Bank, Fort Smith
Phillip Stafford, University of Arkansas Technology Development Foundation, Fayetteville
Michelle Stockman, Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, Fayetteville
Kirkley Thomas, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Little Rock
Chris Thomason, University of Arkansas at Hope, Hope
Sam Walls, Jr., Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, Little Rock
Ruth Whitney, InVeritas Research and Consulting, Little Rock
Tim Wooldridge, Arkansas Association of Public Universities, Little Rock
Dan Worrell, Ph.D., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Jim Youngquist, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Institute for Economic Advancement, Little Rock
Randy Zook, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, Little Rock