A month after an Arkansas factory lost a bid for a $6.75 billion contract to assemble military tactical vehicles, the governor has formed a group to help grow the state's military economy.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced the Governor's Military Affairs Committee on Monday. The organization of public and private leaders will advocate for the state's military installations and their economic development interests.
Hutchinson is spending $400,000 from discretionary funds to start the group and for an economic impact study.
The group, which includes Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Mike Preston and others, says it will work to protect the state's military installations and to grow its share as a priority state in the country's national defense plan.
