New Chamber director says future looks bright for city

Tourism cited as town’s best selling point

By Amy Widner

LITTLE ROCK — Marilyn Wright is ready to sell a product she believes in: Heber Springs.

The newly named Heber Springs Area Chamber of Commerce executive director said the future holds a lot for her town.

“This is a very exciting time for our area,” Wright said. “We’re in a growth time right now. The economy is hurting people all over the [country], but it’s not affecting us as much. We suffered under the high gas prices, of course, but we’re looking ahead and are working at becoming more diverse.”

Tourism has historically been Heber Springs’ economic base, and Wright said the surrounding Greers Ferry Lake and Ozark Mountains are still their biggest assets.

“We have one of the most beautiful lakes in the country, and then there are the mountains,” Wright said. “We’re nestled in the mountains, yet we’re close to the metro area of Little Rock, and we’re close to the Memphis area.”

However, Wright also pointed to newer developments that she hopes will widen Heber Springs’ economic base. The natural gas industry has started investing in the area. Fort Worth, Texas-based XTO is building a facility just outside the city, Wright said.

She also credited community leaders like Mayor Jackie McPherson, Cleburne County Economic Development Director Jim Jackson, area businessman and former Chamber leader Ricky Davis and her Chamber predecessor, Jo Price, for working for projects like the town’s community center, which broke ground in August, and the nearcomplete sports complex. She also credited residents for passing the taxes to pay for them.

A Stage department store opened Oct. 23, the first national chain store to open in Heber Springs other than Wal-Mart and grocery stores.

“Some of those things, especially the natural gas industry, will be the catalyst for drawing more diverse industry into this area,” Wright said.

Wright is an Arkansas transplant who was born and raised in Pennsylvania. She came to the state in 1972 and lived in central Arkansas. She and her family vacationed at Greers Ferry Lake and decided to make Heber Springs their permanent home in 1994. She has a variedhistory in community service and marketing.

She started her job as Chamber director on Sept. 2. She said the previous director, Price (who was in the position for nine years), did a wonderful job, and Wright plans to continue much of that work while looking for areas to tweak and improve.

Jackson was director of the Chamber search committee that hired Wright and will work closely with her through the organization he directs, the Cleburne County Economic Development office.

“She was the most qualified and the most enthusiastic,” Jackson said. “She truly showed that she wanted that job and has proved it now that she’s in the position. She’s doing a good job. She is out and about in the community, being very involved, and I think she’s going to work out just fine.”

The Chamber hosted its Business Expo soon after Wright came on board, and Wright saidshe has had to hit the ground running, but that she has energy beyond her 61 years and loves the hard work.

For example, Wright conducted a survey of the Chamber’s 434 members. It showed that 41 percent of the businesses the Chamber represents are located outside of the city limits. With that knowledge in mind, Wright wants to look for ways to better represent and market the area as a whole.

She recently sent out another survey asking members where the Chamber is doing a good job and where it can improve.

Wright said that with a staff of two full-time people, one part-time employee and a host of rotating volunteers, there’s plenty of workto go around. The Chamber does three big annual events that bring in out-of-town tourists: the Cardboard Boat Races, Springfest and Fourth of July Fireworks. It also does community-oriented events like the Business Expo, monthly events and quarterly luncheons.

Coming up, the Chamber is hosting an open house in December. The previous director remodeled the whole office, and a lot of people don’t know that and haven’t gotten a chance to see it yet, Wright said. There will be a Chamber banquet in February.

She said the Chamber is a true marketing tool for the community.

“We just try to represent Heber Springs and the area in the best way we know how,” Wright said. “And that’s what I want to improve on.” - awidner@ arkansasonline.com

Three Rivers, Pages 99, 102 on 11/16/2008