Col. Gary Holland was named Friday as director of military affairs for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Holland's hiring, announced by Gov. Asa Hutchinson, is part of a process that began last year to identify ways to expand the state's military installations and related businesses.
State legislators approved $750,000 for the Military Affairs Grant Program as part of the commission's $26.25 million budget during this year's fiscal session. Holland, a native of North Little Rock and a 25-year Air Force veteran, will begin work Jan. 1 at a salary of $79,092.
Commission Executive Director Mike Preston said Holland was picked among 80 applications for the position.
"He can help our business development team on the recruitment side as we analyze the supply chain around bases in the state," Preston said. "He can identify what businesses can come in to support these bases, what subcontractors are needed. There is a lot of opportunity, and I feel like it was an opportunity the state of Arkansas was missing for years. I'm not astute on all the history, but I know the military has shrunk in Arkansas the last 25 years. There is opportunity to grow."
Arkansas has military bases in Pine Bluff, Fort Smith, North Little Rock and Jacksonville.
Hutchinson announced in September 2015 an intent to expand the state's "military installations and related economic development interests." At that time he appointed the Governor's Military Affairs Committee. That body, chaired by Brad Hegeman, president of Nabholz Construction, is finalizing an economic impact study related to military business interests in the state. Results of the study will be announced in early 2017.
Preston said Friday that military business interests in the state account for an economic impact of about $4.5 billion annually. About 60,000 people -- military and civilian -- are employed as a result.
Florida, where Preston worked before coming to Arkansas, estimated the military's impact on that state at $60 billion. Florida's economic development commission employed four people devoted to military affairs, Preston said.
Military affairs offices operate as part of economic development in Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas, Preston said.
Specific steps to increase the economic impact and create jobs will be laid out in the study. Among the steps outlined, Preston said, was hiring a point person for military affairs, something he accomplished with the hiring of Holland.
Holland has been working as a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He holds a doctorate in business administration and homeland security, a master of art degree in business administration and public administration, and a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Arkansas Tech University.
Attempts to reach Holland were unsuccessful.
"Col. Holland understands the importance of Arkansas' military installations both to our nation's defense and the state's economy," Hutchinson said in a press release. "His decision to come home to Arkansas to lead this crucial effort will give us strong direction in giving these installations the tools they need to remain and grow in Arkansas. His personal experiences and expertise make him the ideal person to act as a liaison with our congressional delegation and national military leaders."
Holland's position is being created from a state employee position that was in the budget, but vacant, Preston said. It has been vacant since 2015 when the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority and the Department of Rural Services were folded into the Economic Development Commission.
Hutchinson said at the time that the consolidation resulted in $645,000 in savings for the state.
Business on 12/10/2016