End of Year Wrap-Up: Economic growth and challenges across the state with Skip Rutherford

In this week’s episode, Skip Rutherford, dean emeritus of the Clinton School for Public Service, joins Rex once again for an end of year wrap-up on Arkansas’s evolving economy. Rex and Skip discuss key industries across the state, from the steel boom in the northeast and the lithium business in the southwest portion of the state as well as the $500 million timber processing project in southeast Arkansas. They also touch on the defense industry’s growth in Camden, and the state’s shifting educational sector that includes new university leaders in addition to medical and dental schools. After conversing on the state's economic advantages and gains, Skip highlights the ongoing challenges experienced by many of Arkansas' counties, such as poverty, hunger, and population loss. The two also emphasize the importance of creating unity among Arkansas counties, which could help emphasize the state's various cultural and economic developments. Follow Rex Nelson's Southern Fried Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, or visit arkansasonline.com/podcast23 for an exclusive subscription offer available only to podcast listeners.