ARKANSAS SPOTLIGHT -- Site Selection magazine, July 2006

Huckabee: 'You Can Have
Global Domination from Here'

n late May, Site Selection interviewed Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Having gained national recognition for his 120- pound weight loss and the book he

Governor Mike Huckabee

wrote about it (Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork), Huckabee is now trying to build up a national following for his political views, perhaps in preparation for a run at the White House in 2008. In the meantime, he continues to serve as the lead economic development spokesperson for his home state. Last year, at the Society of Automotive Engineers show in Detroit, Huckabee was the only governor in attendance. Says Entergy Arkansas' Danny Games: "His rapport and Arkansas' growing stature in that industry were very detectable. When we walked into that hall in Detroit, you would have thought that the President of the United States was there."

   SITE SELECTION: What do you feel have been your most important economic development accomplishments for Arkansas during your tenure?
   GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Our Interstate highway improvements were our biggest project ever. This was critical for economic development. Secondly, passage of Amendment 2 enabled us to offer exceptional incentives for projects that offer over 500 jobs. Thirdly, the Healthy Arkansas Initiative changes our culture from one of treating disease to one of preventing illness and encouraging wellness. We also founded the Biotech Institute. We are the only state that uses every dime of the Tobacco Settlement for health purposes.

   SS: What are the three most significant economic development initiatives of your administration this year?
   GOV. HUCKABEE: The first one is the $5.9 million Department of Labor grant that we used to help target East Arkansas and the Delta area for development of a real automotive corridor. We have seen Hino and Denso locate in the Delta area. We used the labor grant for work force training for the auto industry. We got an EPA economic zone for Crittenden County. This county had been in a non- attainment zone due to the air in Memphis. That really is a boost to us. We are now pitching that area for a super- site. Also, we established two bio- fuels plants – one in Stuttgart and one in Batesville. That is a tremendous prospect for us, being able to turn farm crops into fuels.

   SS: If there is one thing you would change to make Arkansas a more business- friendly state, what would that be and why?
   GOV. HUCKABEE: The availability of capital to bridge the gap between seed capital and venture capital. Also, some tax reform that would remove the sales tax on manufacturing energy use.

   SS: What is Arkansas' biggest advantage when it comes to recruiting expanding manufacturing companies?
   GOV. HUCKABEE: Fantastic sites that are located halfway between Mexico and Canada and halfway between the East Coast and West Coast. Great highway system, rails and waterways. West Memphis has a river and the two busiest highways in America and proximity to FedEx. We have a low cost of living but a high quality of life. There is room to stretch and grow. You are not stuck in traffic all day.

   SS: Why do you think more corporate real estate decision- makers don't consider Arkansas as a potential business facility location?
   GOV. HUCKABEE: We did some serious study on that and asked what CEOs think of Arkansas. We found that 62 percent had a neutral opinion of Arkansas. So we did a very aggressive marketing campaign in Forbes and on CNN and in the site books. We wanted to make sure people know who we are and that we are available. The results? We have a steady stream of inquiries that are directly attributable to our ad campaign.

   SS: Do you feel as though Arkansas is now in a position to successfully compete for and win the new Toyota assembly plant that is now in play?
   GOV. HUCKABEE: We feel like we are perfectly poised and ready to compete for the new Toyota assembly plant. We are suited up and ready for the game. We truly believe and it is a given that we were close behind San Antonio on the truck plant. It was strictly a marketing decision. We really do believe that Arkansas is poised to land an auto plant. We could share some suppliers with the Texas plant and with the Hino plant. There are other auto suppliers that are in that corridor.

   SS: If you could convey one message to corporate decision- makers around the country, what would it be?
   GOV. HUCKABEE: Arkansas is a natural for business. There is a reason that the world's largest company [Wal- Mart] has been able to thrive here. You can have true global domination from here. Dillard's and Tyson, for example. People can be content in the lives they live here. That is the difference between a marginal and a successful company.
   Arkansas is a surprisingly great place to live. People still speak to each other here. You don't have to spend every last dime just trying to make it. That translates well into productivity and growth for companies.