Hutchinson says economic development chief needs to be paid more

Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson speaks Monday at a news conference at the state Capitol.
Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson speaks Monday at a news conference at the state Capitol.

Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson says the next director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission needs to be paid more in order for the state to attract the best candidate.

Hutchinson on Monday announced he had picked Danny Games, currently the manager of corporate affairs at BHP Billiton, to serve as the agency's deputy director and to begin a national search for the director.

Other states in the region pay more for the post, which is charged with attracting industry and jobs to the state, and Arkansas shouldn't fall behind, Hutchinson said.

"This is necessary for us to compete with Alabama, with Florida, with Texas in which they have raised and supplemented the usual salary and for us to compete nationally and globally in job creation," Hutchinson said at a news conference Monday at the state Capitol, noting Texas is tops in the country for job creation. "We're going to have to elevate the compensation package for that director."

The current director, Grant Tenille, who has been told he will not be retained under the new administration, makes $139,706.11.

Hutchinson said the precise amount the state needs to pay the next director isn't known yet, though he thinks it will need to "get in the $200,000 range." The amount may be split between base salary and incentive-based pay, though Hutchinson said he does not have a set goal for number of jobs he intends to bring to the state.

But he emphasized that job creation is his top priority.

"We want to make sure we can attract someone that is nationally competitive," he said.

The raise in pay will require an amendment to Arkansas law.

Hutchinson said he wants the director named "as soon as possible," though not before a "thorough search" is conducted by Games, a former president of the Arkansas Economic Developers Association.

Hutchinson on Monday also announced Daryl Bassett as the next director at the Department of Workforce Services. Bassett is a former division chief at that agency and is currently a director of business and commercial services at the Secretary of State's office.

See Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more on this story.

Upcoming Events