Ross:  Economic Development in Arkansas Key to Recovery, Job Creation

Says Five Key Principles Will Guide His Efforts as Congressman

 

HOT SPRINGS, ARK. – Following the 2010 Arkansas Economic Developers (AED) Annual Conference in Hot Springs, U.S. Congressman Mike Ross of Prescott has released his Blueprint for Economic Development that he says has and will continue to guide his work on behalf of the people of Arkansas.  

Ross, who is a former small business owner, announced the Blueprint at the recent annual gathering of economic developers, saying he believes the key to economic recovery and job creation is to focus on long-term economic development.  Ross’ plan emphasizes lower taxes, better infrastructure, better education, small business support and revising the nation’s trade policies.   

“These are tough economic times and I won’t rest until every Arkansan who wants a job has one.  My plan for economic development is simple:  let’s focus on small businesses and working families, on educating our young people and improving our state’s infrastructure, and let’s stop rewarding multinational corporations that are shipping our jobs overseas,” said Ross. 

Ross said he believes economic development will be the key to Arkansas’s success as a global competitor now and in the future.  Instead of just competing with nearby states like Louisiana and Mississippi, Ross said Arkansas must now also compete against places like India and China. 

“Our economic developers are leading the way to pull our great state through this economic recession and emerge stronger and more competitive than ever before – and I want to have their backs,” said Ross.  “That’s why I’ve long supported their efforts by securing federal investments for critical infrastructure projects, such as I-69 and the Great River Bridge, I-49, I-530 and four-laning Highways 167 and 82.  I also feel strongly that we’ve got to revisit some of our nation’s trade policies that are hurting working families in Arkansas.  This country must stop giving tax cuts to big corporations who ship our jobs overseas and start providing tax cuts to companies that bring jobs back home to the United States.”

Ross’ Blueprint for Economic Development highlights five core principles that he says have and will continue to guide his work as Congressman for Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional District.  Those principles are:  lower taxes; modernize infrastructure; support small businesses; invest in education; and, promote fair trade, not free trade.

“While other candidates are simply talking about economic development, I’ve laid out a blueprint that will guide my work as an economic ambassador for the state of Arkansas,” said Ross.  “These are five commonsense principles that can and will propel our state to the economic successes I know we can achieve together.  Job creation must be our top priority in this economic recovery and I will always be mine.”

More details about Ross’ plan are below or can be obtained online at www.MikeRoss.com:

 

Mike’s Blueprint for Economic Development in Arkansas

 

1.    Lower Taxes

One of the biggest disincentives for new businesses and for business expansion is taxes.  We must ease the tax burden on working families and small businesses.

 

2.    Modernize Infrastructure

Similar to how President Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA) Program helped create jobs during the Great Depression, we need a modern-day WPA-type investment in our infrastructure now. If Arkansas is to compete in this 21^st century, global economy, we must have the infrastructure in place to foster growth now and to meet our future demands.

 

3.    Support Small Businesses

As a former small business owner, I have been and will continue to be a strong supporter of small businesses securing more tax cuts, increasing opportunities for lending and investments and ensuring the federal government provides everyday, hardworking Americans the resources they need to open, own and operate their own business.

 

4.    Invest in Education

As the son of two former public school educators and the father of two children attending public universities in Arkansas, I have seen firsthand the importance of our state’s education system.  I strongly believe that providing all Arkansans with a world-class education is critical to our state’s future and long-term economic prosperity.

 

5.    Promote Fair Trade - Not Free Trade

As we become more competitive in this global economy, we’ve seen to many of our jobs being shipped overseas. We need fair trade, not free trade. We need to rethink some of our trade agreements that are hurting American manufactures.  And, we need to sign new trade agreements with countries that can afford to buy our products so we are shipping our products overseas – not our jobs.