Gov. Sanders, Commerce Department distribute $20 million for state’s nursing pipeline

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

More than $20 million in training grants were awarded to 19 two-year and four-year Arkansas schools to expand the state’s nursing profession.

Gov. Sarah Sanders, Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald and Cody Waits, Director of Arkansas Workforce Connection, announced the $20.4 million funding for the Arkansas Linking Industry to Growing Nurses, or ALIGN, grants on Monday (May 13).

“As Governor, one of my biggest priorities is preparing young Arkansans for the careers of the future. Healthcare and nursing is one of our primary areas of focus,” said Gov. Sanders. “The 19 two- and four-year colleges and universities receiving grants today train some of the best nurses in America. Each of them will help us build Arkansas’ next generation of healthcare professionals.”

Gov. Sanders, Commerce Department distribute $20 million for state’s nursing pipeline

ExxonMobil exec: Arkansas poised to be ‘center’ of lithium industry in North America

by Steve Brawner (BRAWNERSTEVE@MAC.COM)

Arkansas can become the center of the lithium industry in North America, but success will require predictable and efficient regulations, fiscal competitiveness and certainty, and infrastructure, said Patrick Howarth, lithium global business manager for ExxonMobil.

“I believe that if we can do this together, we can achieve great things,” Howarth said at the inaugural Arkansas Lithium Innovation Summit in Little Rock Thursday (Feb. 15). “We have the opportunity to start a new foundational industry in Arkansas, and with that [comes] significant capital investment. That leads to economic development, which means jobs and opportunities, and really, and I think why many of you are here, it’s about additional revenue – individuals, businesses, and the states.”

Howarth was one of a number of speakers on the first day of the two-day summit, which brought to Little Rock nearly 700 energy sector executives, policymakers and stakeholders to discuss the growing lithium extraction industry in south Arkansas.

ExxonMobil exec: Arkansas poised to be ‘center’ of lithium industry in North America

New commerce secretary says entrepreneurship will be a focus

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Lured out of retirement by Gov. Sarah Sanders, Hugh McDonald, former Entergy Arkansas CEO, said he still has a lot to contribute.

“I got a call one night out of the blue and had an offer that I really couldn’t refuse. The Governor is a good negotiator, and I think I still have a little bit to contribute and it’s in sort of the wheelhouse that I worked a lot in in my previous life in economic development and workforce development and running a large organization,” said McDonald, a guest on this week’s Talk Business & Politics. McDonald retired from Entergy in 2018 and he is the former chairman of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.

He will be different than his predecessor, Mike Preston, who wore two hats as Secretary of Commerce and director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. McDonald will wear the cabinet secretary hat and he’s elevated Clint O’Neal to the AEDC director’s post.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/02/new-commerce-secretary-says-entrepreneurship-will-be-a-focus/

Gov.-elect Sanders names Hugh McDonald to Commerce post, Shane Khoury to Energy and Environment

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders announced Thursday (Dec. 22) former Entergy Arkansas CEO Hugh McDonald as her choice to lead the Arkansas Department of Commerce, the cabinet post that oversees economic development and recruiting, and other agencies dealing with banking, securities and insurance.

McDonald, who has been retired from Entergy since 2016, said he is looking forward to the challenge of recruiting businesses to Arkansas and helping develop the state’s workforce. Sanders said improving Arkansas’ workforce training and coordination – with an eye toward helping younger, non-college bound students explore career opportunities – would be a top priority for her administration.

Mike Preston, the outgoing Secretary of Commerce, is transitioning to the private sector. He said an announcement about his future would be forthcoming.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/12/gov-elect-sanders-names-hugh-mcdonald-to-commerce-post-shane-khoury-to-energy-and-environment/

Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders and Commerce Secretary nominee Hugh McDonald.