Finances Force Hoxie To Leave Regional Group

The city of Hoxie left the Northeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Facilities Authority, an economic development group, because it couldn’t afford the annual fees.

“For our situation, it was purely economical,” said Hoxie Mayor Lanny Tinker.

He said the city had a $65,000 deficit on its budget of about $1.7 million for 2015 and had to make some cuts. City officials will reconsider the issue at the end of year and decide whether the city should rejoin the group for 2016.

Founded in 2009 by the Arkansas Legislature, the authority was created to promote the intermodal and multimodal assets in northeast Arkansas, according to its website. The authority serves Randolph and Clay counties and Corning, Pocahontas and Walnut Ridge.

Tinker said that Lawrence County also had decided to not to be a member in 2015.

The authority received credit for helping to bring Peco Foods Inc. of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to the area last year. The $165 million integrated poultry operation will be in Randolph County and is expected to open later this year.

A spokesperson for the authority didn’t return a call or email for comment.