U.S. Chamber and Cong. French Hill hold roundtable with chamber members in Saline County

Pictured (l. to r.) are Shane Broadway, Jonathan Burks, Lamont Cornwell, Congressman French Hill, Brent Jones, and Blake Torres. 📸Shelli Poole. Several more photos below.

Shane Broadway, Chancellor for Arkansas State University Three Rivers, welcomed business and community leaders, along with U.S. Rep. French Hill to the Saline County Career Technical Campus to address pressing economic challenges facing Arkansas communities.

The roundtable session served as a local stop for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s nationwide “Free Enterprise Express” bus tour, led by Jonathan Burks, senior vice president of policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The discussion around the table in Betnon focused on business capital access, rising healthcare expenses, rural development, and workforce preparation. Read more below.

Broadway opened the discussion and welcomed guests to the Saline County Career Technical Center in Benton. Jay Chesshir, CEO of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce.

The Free Enterprise Express is a six-week, 20-state initiative featuring more than 50 events across the country. Organizers launched the tour to highlight local businesses and workers, promote free-enterprise principles, and push back against government-directed economic mandates.

The group visited with instructors and students in their classrooms.

During the Saline County stop, participants examined barriers preventing entrepreneurs from launching and expanding enterprises. Mr. Burks noted that while the nation is experiencing a high volume of new business starts, policymakers must address ongoing obstacles such as housing costs and regulatory complexity.

Rep. Hill outlined federal efforts to expand investment capital for small businesses. He highlighted ongoing work with U.S. Sen. Tim Scott on legislation aimed at easing fundraising rules, including proposed adjustments to accredited investor qualifications and expanded options for equity crowdfunding.

Brent Jones (l.) noted concern for rural economic development.

The discussion turned to rural economic development and population retention. Brent Jones of Edward Jones Financial Advisors, who serves as board chair for the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce, expressed concern over rural communities losing younger residents to larger population centers. Jones emphasized that expanding local career preparation and keeping pace with technology and artificial intelligence are vital to keeping young talent in Arkansas.

Addressing rural infrastructure, Hill described difficulties developers face when financing new residential construction in rural areas, where a scarcity of recent home sales can complicate traditional appraisal and lending processes.

Discussion lasted approximately 40 minutes.

Healthcare expenses and prescription access generated substantial dialogue among participants. Blake Torres is a Benton Chamber board member, as well as a partner and pharmacist at West Side Pharmacy in Benton, reported that the local area has lost three long-established independent pharmacies over the past five years. Torres attributed those closures to broader economic pressures and consolidation across the prescription-drug supply chain, warning that losing independent pharmacies harms patient access to care in smaller communities.

Torres noted that independent pharmacies are adopting new technologies, such as automated robotics, and forming purchasing cooperatives to manage overhead costs.

While giving a tour of the campus, Broadway noted that students are building new structures to replace the aging Christmas diorama “houses” on the Courthouse holiday display.

In response to rising healthcare costs, Rep. Hill advocated for consumer-driven solutions, including expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and association health plans that enable small businesses to pool purchasing power. Participants also reviewed how Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement policies influence commercial insurance rates and healthcare provider stability.

The event concluded with a tour of the Saline County Career Technical Campus construction lab, where leaders observed students receiving hands-on vocational training designed to support regional housing and commercial development.