In 1974, Fort Smith manufacturing leaders founded the Manufacturing Executives Assocation (MEA) to provide its members an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and information, to improve their local community and foster a favorable business climate for its member companies as well as prospective manufacturing companies considering the Fort Smith region as a plant location. (click here for our Constitution & By-laws.)

In today's business environment, manufacturers must work together to help shape the future economic, educational, and political environments of our community, state, and nation. This is being accomplished through established working relationships with the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, the Arkansas Department of Economic Development (ADED) and other business organizations and associations in the state.

The MEA board and members also work closely with the local school systems, university and state education officials to improve work force training and education. Board members and member companies also work with government and other leaders on issues such as health care, insurance, tort reform, education and economic development in order to provide a better business environment for manufacturers.

Monthly luncheon meetings include topical presentations, meetings with elected officials or plant tours hosted by a member company. An annual meeting and banquet is held during the Christmas Holiday in which members, their spouses, and special guests join invited government officials and other leaders as a way of expressing the MEA's appreciation to those who serve in public office.

The MEA has formed committees to help accomplish our mission. Those committees are Legislative Affairs, Health Care, Education, Membership.

Legislative Affairs

Providing a favorable business climate for manufacturing is vital to the future of the Fort Smith region. The legislative committee monitors those issues impacting member companies and provide member views and positions to elected representatives and others.

Those issues include health care mandates such as any willing provider, workers compensation, education, and tort reform. The committee coordinates these efforts with our professional lobbyist before and during the legislative sessions to inform legislators of the MEA position on proposed legislation.

Health Care

In 1991 the MEA formed the MEA Healthcare Committee to help members control their spiraling healthcare costs. The committee evolved into what is now the Employers' Health Coalition (EHC), a non-profit 501(c)(6).

The establishment of EHC allowed self-insured employers to join together and negotiate as one entity with area providers. Today EHC is an important, influential voice in the healthcare delivery systems in our community. EHC uses healthcare data to evaluate the costs and the quality of the care given to member employees. Using this data, EHC identifies high cost disease states and works with providers to establish effective cost controlled disease management programs. The EHC is directed by an independent board with the MEA President as an ex-officio board member.

In 2003, EHC members saved over $1,000,000. EHC operates on approximately 3% of the savings. For this, EHC negotiates with providers on behalf of its members. Members may choose from either of the two healthcare systems.

Education

The primary goal of the Education Committee is to identify education and training issues and work with local educators to prepare the community's work force in the principles and disciplines of successful manufacturing techniques as well as increasing the over all quality of education both in the community and the state. The Committee is involved with all aspects of work force training that take place in our community.

They also work with the state to provide grants, loans, and reimbursements to companies for employee training and education. MEA members are active in the Partners in Education program in the elementary schools. MEA members work to develop and monitor training and education programs including the manufacturing program at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith. It also includes the successful Work Force Leadership Program, the Manufacturing Technology Degree and the Egineering Degrees.

Membership

The membership committee works with prospective manufacturing companies to determine their eligibility for membership in the MEA and increase the membership.