News Coverage From Arkansas Business:
Comments (0) 
Comments (0) 
Discussion Groups
By admin, October 1, 2009 5:21 pm
After the formal presentation segment of the program, we turned to an audience-participation activity. With attendees working either individually or in small groups, we asked them to evaluate a list of issues/concerns that arose from focus group discussions that preceded the meeting. (See the worksheet HERE).
Participants were asked to assign a total of 10 priority points among the list of challenges, in any way they saw fit. As a second step, they were asked to think about the extent to which the challenges they identified were issues over which there is some control, either locally, regionally, or at the state level. Rankings for the degree of control were coded as “H” for high control, “S” for some control, and “L” for little control.
The links below bring up our tabulation of the results for each site and for the statewide (unweighted) average. The priority points in the summaries are renormalized to equal 100. In some cases, participants used the “other” option to list issues or concerns that were not included on the worksheet. In those cases where additional issues came up, they are noted on the summary reports.
Statewide Rating of Challenges
Notes From the Presentations
By Michael, October 1, 2009 11:52 am
The program for our September 30th event included presentations from Kathy Deck in Fayetteville, Alan McVey in Jonesboro, and Michael Pakko in Little Rock. The presenters worked from a common set of notes/handouts, which are available (in PDF or Powerpoint form) by clicking on the links below.
Background: Focus Group Discussions
By JimF, October 1, 2009 9:51 am
In preparation for the first Arkansas Economic Issues Breakfast, small focus groups were assembled at each of the seven locations around the state. Summaries of the discussions from those focus groups are available by following the links below:
Fayetteville Focus Group Summary
Fort Smith Focus Group Summary
Little Rock Focus Group Summary
The Arkansas Economic Issues Breakfast Series
By admin, September 17, 2009 3:14 pm
A semiannual statewide business and economic
discussion via videoconferencing
First Event: September 30, 2009, beginning at 7:00 AM and adjourning no later than 9:15 AM.
Online Registration
The Arkansas Economic Issues Breakfast Series is designed to encourage economic development in Arkansas through the dissemination of high quality information and analysis to business, community, and government leaders. The event links people from across Arkansas via videoconferencing technology and provides an interactive setting for learning about the latest economic trends that affect businesses in Arkansas. This opportunity is the result of collaboration between seven higher education institutions in Arkansas and an understanding that Arkansas citizens must leverage their resources to compete successfully in the global economy.
The videoconference will be hosted simultaneously at venues in seven locations across the state. A panel of statewide economic experts will provide insights about the functioning of the Arkansas economy and how the regional economies within the state contribute to the overall economic picture. After the panel discussion, the individual events will provide time for attendees to participate in conversations about unique local and regional economic opportunities and challenges. The information from each event will be synthesized for all statewide participants so that common goals can be sought and common obstacles faced together.
The Arkansas Economic Issues Breakfast Series will be held twice a year, in the fall and in the spring. Prior to the public videoconferencing events, regional economic focus group sessions will be held as a basis for the discussions that follow.
The series is coordinated by the Institute for Economic Advancement (IEA) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in cooperation with the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Arkansas, the Delta Center for Economic Development at Arkansas State University, the Economic Research and Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the College of Business at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and Southern Arkansas University.
The first event of the breakfast series will be held on September 30, 2009, beginning at 7:00 AM and adjourning no later than 9:15 AM. Please mark the time on your calendar and make plans to join the business leaders of Arkansas in promoting a prosperous future.
For more information Contact:
Neva Wayman
501-569-8551
nfwayman@ualr.edu
Themocracy