Leading the charge are Danny Games and his Entergy Arkansas team of economic developers. When asked how aggressively Arkansas would pursue landing the new Toyota plant, Games responds: "You can safely say that, without a doubt, we are interested and yes, we are doing what is necessary to communicate our interest and what we have available. I think we definitely offer them an outstanding opportunity."
   Games acknowledges that the primary super- site on the table is in Marion, just across the Mississippi River from Memphis. "Marion is still at the top of the list and has some incredible attributes," says Games.
   Games notes that the state is currently on a roll, with Cardinal Health announcing a 500- job project in Sherwood, a suburb of Little Rock. The plant will pay average annual wages of more than $30,000 to the workers who will staff the customer contact center.
   Late last year, Atlas Tube Inc. announced plans to build a 450,000- sq.- ft. (41,805- sq.- m.) factory in Blytheville and create 100 jobs. Construction is under way on the $55- million facility and is scheduled for completion by this fall. Other big investments in Arkansas are coming from FTD, Fidelity and the information technology group of Entergy itself, which will be based in Little Rock.
   "The activity in downtown Little Rock is absolutely exploding," Games says. "There is over $1 billion in new investments there, plus another $100 million in investments on the drawing board. The new Clinton Library is drawing conventions, tour buses, meetings and seminars. An 18- story condo project is going up just a few blocks from the library. We are genuinely enjoying a prosperous time."