The Newport Economic Development Commission is pleased to share that in the most recent classification of counties by the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, Jackson County has improved from a Tier 4 County to a Tier 3 County. In 2003, legislation required the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to develop a ranking of Arkansas counties according to their economic condition, with Tier 1 counties being the most prosperous and Tier 4 counties being the least prosperous. Typically, the top 15 counties are in Tier 1, the next 20 in Tier 2, the next 20 in Tier 3 and the final 20 in Tier 4. To spur development in less prosperous counties, the thresholds companies had to reach to qualify for many state incentive packages was adjusted based on the Tier of the county. In the recent medical marijuana process, Tier 4 counties were given preference as locations for facilities. Tiers are based on a formula that incorporates unemployment rate, poverty rate, per capita income and population growth. The rankings are updated annually. Since the creation of the Tier system, Jackson County has been a Tier 4 county. In 2003, Jackson County was one of the lower of the Tier 4 counties. Growth has occurred over the years and Jackson County grew within the group of Tier 4 counties. As of July 1, 2019, the economic growth in the county resulted in Jackson County improving the condition enough to be classified as a Tier 3 county. “Obviously we are excited about the growth that has allowed us to become a Tier 3 county,” stated Jon Chadwell, Executive Director of the Newport Economic Development Commission, “however, we are focused on continuing to grow and eventually becoming a Tier 1 county.” While the incentive packages may be slightly more restricted because of the new Tier designation, the indication of growth given by the new ranking will be attractive to businesses and industries. The Newport Economic Development Commission greatly appreciates the work that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission does on behalf of all of Arkansas’ counties. “Without our great economic development partnerships, this growth would not occur in Jackson County,” remarked Chadwell. The following Arkansas Incentives Tier Map gives more information on Arkansas’ Tier system.