Zook speaks at Chamber Annual Banquet

Zook: Health care reform could set back growth

By Warren Watkins
The Daily Citizen

Small businesses are the key to Searcy's economy, a state leader in economic and community development told participants Monday at the annual fundraising banquet for the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Attendance at the banquet, held at the Sullards Annex of Searcy High School, was 365 and keynote speaker was Randy Zook, president and chief executive officer of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas.

Dr. John Henderson was honored as the medical professional of the year and the Christian Health Ministry of White County was singled out for the humanitarian of the year award.

Zook shared his views on what was happening on the national level with issues and concerns that may affect Searcy, focusing on business matters. The nation's current high unemployment rate is unacceptable, Zook said.

“The only way to cure that is by growing the business sector of the economy,” Zook said. “Two out of three new jobs in the U.S. always come from small business and that's what we have to stimulate.”

Washington's current debate on health care reform will impact Searcy and White County, Zook said in the form of possible added costs to small businesses.

“Someone has to pay for this,” Zook said. “You can't add 30 million people without adding costs.”

The real solution for health care reform is to reduce inefficiency, not letting the government take over health care and the health insurance industry, Zook said.

“I think there's a tremendous concern that the plans being discussed are going to have a negative impact on the business community,” agreed Buck Layne, the chamber's president and chief executive officer.

Energy efficiency is also impacting Searcy, Zook said as he promoted using more natural gas in place of oil.

The Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce does its economic development through its companion organization, the Searcy Regional Economic Development Commission.

“The chairman and vice chairman of our board serve on our economic development board,” Layne said. “The idea there was that the chamber staff works for both those boards. I think it's very seamless, although outside looking in you can't see the difference sometimes.”

The Searcy chamber has 656 members, and according to ArkansasBusiness.com ranks 17th of 50 in the state for membership size.

Chambers of commerce are noted for doing community development work, increasing the quality of life, while on the economic development side they try to increase wealth and increase the tax base, Layne said.

“Everybody's trying to do the same thing,” Layne said, “making our communities better, more desirable and conducive to raise a family.”