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By admin, February 15, 2010 1:07 pm

March 17, 2010, beginning at 7:00 AM and adjourning no later than 9:15 AM.

The second event of the Arkansas Economic Issues Breakfast Series will focus on Arkansas’ infrastructure.  A panel of speakers will address some of the issues, followed by local discussion sessions. Topics will include:

• What are the goals and priorities for maintaining and building highways and bridges in Arkansas?  How do we pay for it?
• What is the status of Federal stimulus spending (ARRA) on Arkansas infrastructure projects?
• How can we improve high-tech infrastructure around the state?  What are our options for improving high-speed internet connectivity?

An important aspect of the event program is public participation.  After the panel discussion, the individual events will provide time for attendees to participate in conversations about unique local and regional aspects of the issues. Feedback from participants around the state will be tabulated and summarized on the Economic Issues Breakfast webpage.

The panel discussion participants will include:  Jim McKenzie, Executive Director of Metroplan and a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Highway Finance (Chair, New Revenue Subcommittee);  Michelle Stockman, Broadband Entrepreneurship Program Director at Arkansas Capital and Vice President of Connect Arkansas; and Keesa Smith representing the Governor’s Office of Recovery.  The program will also include a brief economic update report by Kathy Deck (Center for Business and Economic Research, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville) and Michael Pakko (Institute for Economic Advancement, University of Arkansas at Little Rock).

Online Registration

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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 among higher education institutions in Arkansas and an understanding that Arkansas citizens must leverage their resources to compete successfully in the global economy.

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 series is sponsored by Arkansas Business.