Clark County Receives CCI, Select Site, and ONSite Recognition
February 27, 2026ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (February 27, 2026) – Clark County has received the Competitive Communities Initiative (CCI) designation from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), the Select Site certification from Entergy Arkansas, and the ONSite certification from the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas for the Southwest Arkansas Mega Site.
State officials, including Secretary of Commerce Hugh McDonald, joined representatives from Entergy Arkansas, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and community leaders to celebrate the joint CCI, Select Site, and ONSite announcement on Friday. During the announcement, AEDC presented the community with a plaque commemorating the CCI designation while Entergy and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas provided grant funding and recognition for the site certification work.
The Southwest Arkansas Mega Site encompasses 991 acres strategically positioned to compete for large-scale manufacturing and advanced industry projects. Located in Clark County, Arkansas, the publicly owned, single-entity site provides strong transportation access and proximity to a skilled regional workforce. Extensive due diligence, along with substantial site upgrades and infrastructure extensions, has already been completed—making the property development-ready and uniquely suited for high-impact economic development opportunities.
“Clark County has earned the Competitive Communities Initiative designation, setting itself up for economic growth in the coming years,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “This is a significant milestone for Clark County and is the result of hard work and visionary leadership. Congratulations to Clark County on earning this designation and for recognizing the value of forward-looking economic development efforts.”
Arkadelphia is the 11th Arkansas community to receive the CCI designation. As part of the CCI process, communities demonstrate their ability to be more competitive in their economic development organizational structure, economic development funding, workforce, and product readiness.
Product readiness is a critical factor in attracting new industry, and Clark County has taken proactive steps to ensure its sites are development-ready. The Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Economic Development Corporation of Clark County partnered with Entergy Arkansas and the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives to successfully complete the certification requirements for both programs.
“Economic development is a team effort, and Entergy Arkansas is proud to work alongside our partners in Clark County to help them compete for new investment and jobs,” said Danny Games, vice president of business and economic development for Entergy Arkansas. “Through initiatives like Select Site, we’re doing more than certifying sites -- we’re working with our state leaders to prepare for growth by strengthening our communities, improving readiness, and positioning Arkansas for new opportunities that support long-term prosperity, a key pillar of our Next Generation Arkansas initiative.”
Entergy Arkansas Select Site is an Entergy Arkansas initiative designed to help communities gain a competitive edge by preparing and promoting industrial sites that are ready for development. The program includes a comprehensive review that documents utilities, environmental conditions, infrastructure and other critical factors required to meet the fast-paced demands of modern industrial projects.
Arkadelphia joins other Select Site communities, including Little Rock, Russellville, Stuttgart, and West Memphis. Recent Select Sites across Arkansas include Amazon, Owens Corning, and Tractor Supply Co.
“When a site earns ONSite designation, it reflects months of collaboration, preparation, and a shared commitment to growth. Clark County has done that work,” said Colby Wells, CEO of South Central Electric Cooperative. “This certification tells prospective industries that they will find more than reliable power here — they will find partners who are invested in their success and a community ready to support jobs, families, and long-term opportunity.”
The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas ONSite program is an industrial site development certification initiative led by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas (through the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation). It evaluates and certifies industrial sites across Arkansas based on a comprehensive set of readiness criteria to ensure they are “shovel-ready” for manufacturing and economic investment. Sites that earn the ONSite certification have been reviewed against a detailed checklist of features that improve their attractiveness and competitiveness for business location and expansion, helping communities promote these certified properties to site selectors and prospective employers as part of broader economic development efforts.
The Southwest Arkansas Mega Site is the second property to be certified through this program, joining the Arkansas Manufacturing Center site in Miller County.
“Today is a milestone moment for our community,” said Shelley Short, president and CEO of the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation of Clark County. “Achieving two site certifications and earning a Competitive Community designation sends a clear message: we are ready. Ready for investment, ready for opportunity, and ready to compete at the highest level. These designations reflect years of hard work, strong partnerships, and a shared belief in our future. They don’t just put us on the map—they position us to win.”
For more information on the AEDC Competitive Communities Initiative, including how communities can complete the process, visit www.arkansasedc.com/cci. To learn more about Entergy Arkansas Select Site or Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas ONSite, visit www.ArkansasSiteSelection.com. To learn more about the Southwest Arkansas Mega Site, visit www.southwestarkansasmegasite.com.
###
About the Arkadelphia Economic Development Alliance
The Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance makes a positive impact by leading economic and community development efforts that advance growth and prosperity in Clark County, Arkansas.
About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
At AEDC, we know economic advancement doesn’t happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success. AEDC is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. To learn more, visit ArkansasEDC.com.
About Entergy Arkansas
Entergy Arkansas provides electricity to approximately 735,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR). Entergy produces, transmits and distributes electricity to power life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing for growth and improved reliability and resilience of our energy system while working to keep energy rates affordable for our customers. We’re also investing in cleaner energy generation like modern natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy. A nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship, we deliver more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to the communities we serve through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at EntergyArkansas.com and connect with @EntergyARK on social media.
About the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas
The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas comprise electric distribution cooperatives; Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI), a Little Rock-based cooperative that provides services to the distribution cooperatives; and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC), a generation and transmission cooperative. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to more than 1 million members, or customers, in Arkansas and surrounding states.
