Governor Sanders on Education, Economic Growth & Arkansas’ Future

Sanders is the first woman to serve as Arkansas’ governor, and she is the youngest governor in the country. (Provided)

What is your pitch to companies considering bringing their business to Arkansas?

How do you counter negative perceptions? I recently met with a group of site finder consultants, who help companies decide where they’re going to place their next factory or regional headquarters. They raved about Arkansas’ strong labor force, our low cost of doing business, my administration’s investments in education and workforce training, and the three tax cuts I’ve signed into law. I asked them, “So what can Arkansas do better?” Their answer: We need to get louder. That’s why I, alongside the team at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, have worked so hard to reach out to companies, invite them to tour our state, and show them why Arkansas really is the best place for their next investment.

We’ve removed barriers between state, county and city governments so that we all speak in one voice when working to get companies to our state. We are uniquely positioned in the heart of the Heartland, with easy access to road, river and rail that connect us to some of the nation’s biggest markets. And we have the best asset of all: our people.

You’ve said you hope higher education is a focus of the coming legislative session. What are some of the facets of higher ed you’d like to see addressed in 2025?

My goal for Arkansas’ higher education system is that it lines up with what both students and businesses need. That means more affordable, more accessible higher education and workforce training programs that actually prepare students for high-growth, high-wage jobs.

For far too long we’ve told our kids the lie that the only way to be successful is to get a traditional four-year college degree. It’s certainly true that many careers require a bachelor’s or master’s degree, but many of the jobs of the future — think welding, advanced manufacturing and construction — can be done with an associate’s degree, certificate or apprenticeship.

What other goals do you have for the 2025 session?

During the last legislative session, I had three main focuses: education, cost of living and public safety. This legislative session, I plan to build on all those priorities.

Arkansas LEARNS transformed our K-12 education system. This session, we’re planning to tackle higher education and workforce training. Our three tax cuts have lowered Arkansans’ personal tax rate by a full percentage point. Now, we’re planning cost-saving measures that help struggling Arkansas families save on daily necessities. The Protect Act is helping us crack down on repeat violent offenders. Next year, we are going to implement modern solutions to the dangers facing Arkansans and especially our kids.

From your perspective, what are the top concerns of prospective businesses?

When I took office, nearly every business leader I spoke to had the same concern: They couldn’t find enough workers. We’ve worked hard to alleviate that problem, especially through our investments in workforce training like the Career Ready Pathways program established through Arkansas LEARNS. Arkansas’ population is also growing thanks to our low cost of living and excellent quality of life, helping us fill jobs.

Most companies are also focused on meeting energy demands and that’s especially true among manufacturers. Arkansas enjoys some of the lowest energy costs in the country, and I’m proud to lead an administration that isn’t afraid of oil and gas like some of our blue state friends, so this gives Arkansas another competitive advantage.

What has surprised you the most during your first term?

I’m lucky to have a former governor — and in my very unbiased opinion, Arkansas’ best governor — on speed dial. My dad is my greatest mentor in this job and I remember him telling me that serving as Arkansas’ governor would be the best job I’d ever have.

A few weeks into my first term — after a few particularly difficult days — I called my dad up and asked him, “So when does that part start?” And in a way only a dad can, he said, “You haven’t done anything yet! Just wait. When you least expect it, it’ll happen.”

Of course, he was right. Not long after that call, I started hearing from Arkansans. Moms and dads whose kids were finally getting the education they needed thanks to the LEARNS Act. Business owners who were saving their hard-earned money through our tax cuts. Tourists visiting our state for the first time and enjoying themselves thanks to the investments we have made in our outdoor economy. Now, everyday people come up to me, at the grocery store, at my kids’ sports games and tell me about the impact of my administration’s work on their life. Knowing we are making a difference and helping people live even just a little bit better is the most rewarding part of what we do.

What are you most proud of your administration for so far?

I made no secret that I planned to be Arkansas’ education governor. Arkansas LEARNS was truly a transformational change to our school system — one that we have needed for a very long time. Teachers are earning more than ever, early literacy is getting the focus it requires, and students now have the choice to attend the school that best fits their individual needs.

The statistics are compelling and the stories even more so. I talk to parents all across the state who are taking advantage of Education Freedom Accounts, teachers who feel their dedication to student achievement is finally being recognized, and kids who are finally in a classroom tailored to their needs.

To attract more workers for the growing steel and manufacturing base in Arkansas, is the goal to eliminate individual income taxes akin to Texas and Tennessee? Do you believe that goal is attainable?

I have been upfront that one of my goals is to responsibly phase out Arkansas’ income tax to help us compete with zero-income tax states like Tennessee and Texas. During my first two years in office, we cut taxes three times, lowering our income tax rate by a full percentage point, while continuing to make needed investments in our priorities, and I look forward to making more tax cuts in the future. To get to zero, we also need to make Arkansas’ government work more efficiently — the focus of my administration’s Arkansas Forward initiative. And we need to grow our economy and expand our tax base. It will take hard work, but we’re on the right track.

Is the internet fiber capacity in our rural areas sufficient to handle demands of industry and residents for the next decade? If not, what needs to be done to solve this problem?

Reliable internet is a necessity for Arkansas schools, businesses and families, and closing the internet service gap is a major focus of my administration. Our State Broadband Office is working closely with the National Communications & Information Administration to roll out Arkansas’ BEAD proposal, which allows us to access more than $1 billion to improve connectivity across the state.