Entergy Corporation Selected as One of North America’s Top Utilities in Economic Development

Entergy Arkansas’ Teamwork Arkansas Helps Deliver 3,500 New Jobs

Little Rock, Ark. – For the fourth straight year, Entergy Arkansas has been recognized as one the Top 10 utilities in North America for its work to support economic development. The recognition comes in this month’s issue of Site Selection magazine.

Site Selection magazine recognizes utilities for their performance in four categories – capital investment, job creation, capital investment per capita and jobs per 10,000 in population – over the course of the 2008 calendar year. The selection is also based on responses from site selection consultants, as well as the companies’ investment in new generation, transmission and renewable-energy projects. Results were tallied from responses to Site Selection’s annual survey of utilities as well as magazine’s own research.

“We are honored to be recognized for our work in helping bring new jobs to Arkansas and helping retain and expand the ones we already have,” said Mike Maulden, director of external affairs for Entergy Arkansas, Inc. “Economic development is an area that we feel is vital to growth in Arkansas, and we are grateful that our efforts to attract businesses and create jobs are being recognized nationally. Entergy has worked tirelessly with state and local officials, as well as with community organizations, to help our communities grow, and we look forward to continuing those partnerships in years to come.”

Other honorees included Alabama Power, American Electric Power, Duke Energy, FirstEnergy Corp., Georgia Power, Hydro-Québec, National Grid, Progress Energy and Tennessee Valley Authority.

Some of Teamwork Arkansas’ accomplishments in 2008 include:
Corporate Headquarter Visitation Program

Teamwork Arkansas facilitates a structured approach to meeting for the needs of existing businesses, knowing they are the bedrock of the state’s economy. Building relations with existing industries is an important component of any business retention and expansion effort, but many times the ability to build relations at the corporate level with corporate decision-makers is cost-prohibitive. In 2008, Teamwork Arkansas created a corporate headquarter visitation program and offered to sponsor up to four domestic corporate visits in 2008. The purpose of the program is to help communities 1) establish a relationship with corporate-level decision makers; 2) Identify opportunities or threats for the local company; 3) Identify customers and suppliers; 4) Identify issues that can affect the local company; 5) Assess the perception of local issues at the corporate level.

Certification of Mega-Site—Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

In 2008, Arkansas announced its first certified mega-site when the Saline County Economic Development Corporation achieved all of the due diligence required to complete Teamwork Arkansas’ site certification program known as “Select Site.” The mega-site consists of 2,045 acres with Interstate-530 frontage. Teamwork Arkansas created a comprehensive marketing strategy that included national media coverage and collateral material. The certification of the mega site was unveiled by Governor Mike Beebe at a press conference July 29.

In addition, in 2008, Teamwork Arkansas was involved in projects that led 3,500 new jobs in Arkansas, representing more that $300 million in investment.

“The best utility economic developers lead the way toward high-impact projects and the low carbon economy all at once,” said Adam Bruns, managing editor of Site Selection. “Helping companies meet sustainability and efficiency targets is becoming just as important as incentives or special power rates in sustaining new or existing corporate operations and expansions.”

“Utilities play a key role as participants in the economic development efforts of cities, regions and all areas working to improve their local business climate,” says Mark Arend, editor in chief of Site Selection. “This year’’s Top Utilities were particularly successful in this endeavor in 2008"