Imagine you are in a small town, and several industries have moved out of your community. Many of your citizens have lost their jobs. What do you do now? Meet Jon Chadwell, the Executive Director of the Newport Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Jon’s community rallied together and formalized a plan to revitalize their community. The community worked together to find industries that were previously present in town. The community invested in infrastructure to make the community more marketable to similar industries. They brought in new industries as well. As a manufacturing community, they shifted to invest in other industries, such as technology, by forming a tech depot. Newport shifted to having enough jobs where people from different communities now commute to Newport for their jobs. As a result, Newport has now partnered with the local school system and the local two-year college to provide training for local industry by identifying gaps in the workforce. This is a great episode for those thinking of revitalizing their economic development and employment through partnerships and grant-funded opportunities. About the guest Jon Chadwell is the Executive Director of the Newport Economic Development Commission (NEDC). The NEDC manages an economic development fund created by a one-half-cent sales tax in Newport, Arkansas. Jon has worked in local economic development for 30 years, the past 19 years in Newport. Previously, he held economic and community development roles in Blytheville, Camden and Prescott. Jon has held positions in a number of state and regional economic development groups. He is a member of Arkansas Economic Developers and Chamber Executives and a member of the International Economic Development Council. He was appointed by Governor Asa Hutchinson to the Arkansas Finance Development Authority in 2019. In addition to economic development activities, Jon has been active in facilitating adult leadership programs in Newport, Prescott and Camden. Jon has a B.A. and an M.Div. from Harding University. He is a graduate of the Community Development Institute and LeadAR. In addition, he is a Business Retention and Expansion Consultant through BRE International. Jon is also recognized by the International Economic Development Council as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD). In 2022, he was chosen as the Outstanding Economic Developer in the state of Arkansas by the Arkansas Economic Developers and Chamber Executives Association. Jon is married to Sheridan Chadwell and has two children, Calli Johnson and Jordan Chadwell. Sheridan is the Arkansas Sales Rep for the Daniel Richards Showroom and Coordinator for the Joe and Helen Harris Foundation. Calli is an insurance agent in Newport with M&P Insurance and Investment. Jordan is a computer programmer with Bass Pro in Springfield, Missouri. Jon and Sheridan really enjoy spending time with their granddaughter Olivia. Email director@newportaredc.org