Highlands Forming Legislative Agenda That Would Include Virgin Falls State Park Status

The Highlands Economic Partnership gathering local opinions from industries and local officials to form a legislative agenda.

CEO and President Amy New said the goal is to present the information to local legislators in December before the General Assembly gathers.

“I realized how often the Highlands would not be included in any grant funding or had barriers to be able to help our companies, so we decided to start putting an agenda together,” New said.

New said Virgin Falls becoming an official state park will be on the agenda sent to legislators. New said it has been successful in the past such as the Diddy Road project in Baxter as well as education funding.

New said she started the program when she joined the chamber of commerce in 2020. New said the local feedback comes from leaders of the Highlands four-county area of Jackson, Overton, Putnam an White County.