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New computer-classes law puts Arkansas on radar of tech companies

Technology companies and other outsiders are no doubt keeping an eye on Arkansas.

They seem genuinely interested in what we're up to here.

A positive reminder came after Gov. Asa Hutchinson followed through on a campaign promise to place priority on computer science education. He signed into law House Bill 1183, which mandates that all state high schools offer classes related to computer science. Included in the bill was $5 million devoted to improving the state's computer literacy and getting students interested in things like coding.

That led to, among other things, a phone call from Wired magazine. Hutchinson visited with a writer there last month who wanted to know how Arkansas of all places seemed to be leading the way in tech education.

Hutchinson, during the groundbreaking of ArcBest's new headquarters in Fort Smith, said he will mention the computer science program in every speech he gives until the 2015-16 school year begins. Wired noted that Arkansas is leading more tech-minded states like California and New York in devoting funding to this type of education and wanted to know why.

"Who cares about my answer? The point is, they asked the question," Hutchinson joked. He later pointed out that among the reasons ArcBest is investing $30 million in a new headquarters and 975 jobs is because of the growing demand for tech- and data-focused work.

Funding education that will provide a springboard for these types of jobs offers a level of credibility to the notion that Arkansas is serious about tech-related matters. That commitment is what led to Wired's article headlined: "So, Arkansas Is Leading the Learn to Code Movement."

Wired is hardly alone among tech-minded folks keeping an eye on Arkansas. Other, less favorable, attention comes in the form of what those high school youngsters learning to code might refer to as "side eye."

Critical glances are directed our way because of the recent brouhaha over the state's "Religious Freedom Restoration Act." Arkansas was pointed to as a state, like Indiana, that isn't friendly to the homosexual, bisexual and transgender community.

Apple, Yelp and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which aims to build a global tech company alongside its global retail operation, all issued statements opposing the measure, House Bill 1228, which some feared would allow business owners to discriminate.

Negative reaction and less-than-favorable press gave rise to talk of a veto and executive order from Hutchinson. Eventually HB1228 died, and he signed Senate Bill 975, which more closely resembles the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Critics argue the Senate bill signed into law also allows for discrimination.

Hutchinson told me that he believes a compromise was reached, one that "sent the message that Arkansas is a good place to do business."

"One of the things that illustrates that is that some of the largest expressions of concern to House Bill 1228 came from Silicon Valley, came from the IT community," Hutchinson said. "Well, I've been invited to come to Silicon Valley and make a case for Arkansas. So based upon how we handled that, I was asked to come out there for two reasons -- one, because of our emphasis on computer science, but also because of the way we handled that and expressed an understanding of our diverse workplace and that we understand that is part of the culture of the United States and Arkansas."

Hutchinson says the outcry arose because tech companies are interested in opportunities within Arkansas. Essentially -- and this is my rough paraphrase -- if these progressive companies didn't have Arkansas on their radar, they wouldn't otherwise give a rip who we might or might not be discriminating against.

Earlier in the day, during a group session with reporters, Hutchinson said "what's important is that Arkansas is known as a nondiscriminatory place." Assuring the outside world that that is the case will be key to economic development, which Hutchinson has made a priority.

Several times now I've heard the story of Hutchinson's first day in office including calls to out-of-state companies in an attempt to sell them on Arkansas. Economic development was the focus of a tour of the state that he took last week that included stops in El Dorado and Fort Smith. Many more trips related to job growth -- both inside and outside the state -- are on the governor's agenda going forward.

Those tours are important. Those phone calls are critical. Hutchinson gets that.

And, of course, how we are perceived when those outsiders take a look at Arkansas matters tremendously.

SundayMonday Business on 04/19/2015

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