- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock /news-archive/tag/arkansas-economic-development-institute/ ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Tue, 06 Jul 2021 14:56:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Names Braun as New Dean of College of Business, Health, and Human Services /news-archive/2021/07/06/frank-braun-dean-cbhhs/ Tue, 06 Jul 2021 14:56:01 +0000 /news/?p=79338 ...]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has named Dr. Frank Braun as the new dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, effective Aug. 16.�� “I am pleased to announce Dr. Braun will be joining us at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Dr. Ann Bain, provost and executive vice chancellor. “I have confidence that he will be an excellent addition to our leadership team and will foster expanded connections with our local community and business partners throughout the state.”�� Braun, dean of the School of Business and a professor of business informatics at Baldwin Wallace University, will replace Dean Jane Wayland, who retired this summer after 14 years of service at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison, associate dean, has been serving as interim dean of the college. The College of Business, Health, and Human Services is the largest college at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and contains eight departments and schools as well as the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, the state’s lead Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, and MidSOUTH. Braun will be responsible for working with many business and industry leaders in the area and cultivating students to help build the state’s growing workforce and economic development.�� “I see many opportunities at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to cultivate transdisciplinary connections that will enrich scholarship, experiential learning, and industry engagement,” Braun said. “I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues and other key individuals to engage our students and stakeholders in initiatives that promote innovative, inclusive, and prosperous partnerships across the college, campus, and community.” Braun was selected following a national search conducted by a committee of dedicated faculty, staff, and university stakeholders led by Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School. “I am excited to welcome Dr. Braun as a colleague,” Berry said. “He brings a wealth of experience and has some fantastic ideas for how the College of Business, Health, and Human Services can further engage our city, region, and state. He is exactly the right person to move this relatively new college forward.” Braun will bring comprehensive experience in the business industry and the classroom to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. He has more than 20 years experience in executive-level information systems management, consulting and business development, including senior leadership positions with United Dairy Farmers, TouchScreen Systems, and Klosterman Baking Company. He also was the contracted general manager for the IBM North America Technology Asset Management and Evaluation Program Logistics Center. “Dr. Braun will bring the right expertise and direction to this position,” Bain said. “He will be a community-oriented, thoughtful leader for the college. His expertise and multifaceted background position him to be a synergistic leader for the university’s largest college.”�� Prior to joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Braun also served as department chair, associate professor of business and health informatics, and director of the Master of Science in Information Systems Program at Northern Kentucky University. His research areas include project leadership, knowledge management, experiential learning, organizational resiliency, and entrepreneurship. Braun earned a bachelor’s degree in applied science from Miami University, a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University, and a Doctor of Management from Case Western Reserve University. Braun is active in the cybersecurity domain and holds the Certified Information Security Manager credential.]]> ��Vlog��ý System Awarded $900,000 Workforce Training Grant /news-archive/2021/04/07/ua-system-aedi-workforce-training-grant/ Wed, 07 Apr 2021 15:23:56 +0000 /news/?p=78722 ...]]> Nine ��Vlog��ý System institutions will collaborate on the project, led by the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, to collect and analyze statewide workforce data and use outcomes to provide existing and bolstered education and training efforts through all seven of the ��Vlog��ý System’s two-year colleges, along with two colleges of technology at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (��Vlog��ýM). “This project is groundbreaking on many levels, especially in the showcase of power that’s possible by the ��Vlog��ý System harnessing resources in a collaborative and innovative fashion for the greater good,” said Chris Thomason, vice president for planning and development for the ��Vlog��ý System. “But most important is the positive impact this project will have on those adversely affected by the unprecedented disruption of the economy and the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. By identifying the specific needs of Arkansas communities and matching those with workforce training being offered by the ��Vlog��ý System’s seven two-year colleges and colleges of technology, we are truly promoting the ��Vlog��ý System’s mission of serving and providing educational and professional opportunities for all Arkansans.” The $900,000 EDA grant, which will be matched with $225,000 of local investment, will fund the development of a workforce training strategy with a special emphasis on technological skills that boosts community recovery efforts in Pulaski County and eventually across the state. It also enables the creation of the ��Vlog��ý System Workforce Response and Training Center (��Vlog��ý-WRTC), which will consist of a consortium of ��Vlog��ý System entities aligned to maximize existing training efforts that will be deployed in a data-driven, collaborative format. The project’s goal is to focus on identifying workforce populations most impacted by the pandemic through data, and then aligning skills training opportunities for retraining and reemployment to support community pandemic recovery. “Providing the tools and resources that communities need to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19 is a top priority for EDA,” said Dennis Alvord, acting assistant secretary of commerce for economic development. “By working through the University of Arkansas System and its array of diverse colleges and universities across the state, this project checks all of the boxes on our goals to begin moving the country out of this pandemic and into recovery.” AEDI will operate as the lead data gathering and analyst hub, and ��Vlog��ý-WRTC will utilize the comprehensive, historical documentation of the impact of COVID-19 on the state. With the initial focus being Pulaski County, the effort will then spread statewide to develop workforce training strategies that promote expedited economic recovery and sustained growth. Once AEDI identifies the high-demand employer workforce needs, the full portfolio of existing training and credential programs across the entire ��Vlog��ý System two-year institutions and at ��Vlog��ýM’s colleges of technology will be matched to best meet the workforce training need. “AEDI will foster the development of an industry training alliance comprised of regional employers and ��Vlog��ý-WRTC institutions to identify critical economic infrastructure needs to sustain and grow workforce training programs for the region,” said Jim Youngquist,��executive director of AEDI at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “Special emphasis will be placed on technology and training simulators that will support the success of the centralized training model while ensuring that delivery of training will not be disrupted by future pandemic events.” Youngquist said as the home of the Arkansas State Data Center, AEDI and its existing emphasis on supporting economic research data analysis positions his agency perfectly to lead the collaborative ��Vlog��ý System effort. “We will��be developing a database that will track all aspects of identifying skill sets and jobs available for the underemployed, unemployed and hard-to-employ, all within the corridors of Little Rock where lower per-capita income and unemployment exists,” he said. “Once the model is designed, implemented and successful, we will use AEDI’s statewide data to replicate regional training models across Arkansas to have the same impact. This will allow for a network of regional centers of excellence that will be easily accessible by all Arkansans.” The collaboration includes:�� ��Vlog��ý System Two-Year Institutions

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana
University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain
University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College

Other ��Vlog��ý System Entities

University of Arkansas at Monticello
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Arkansas Economic Development Institute

“Workforce development plays a critical role in helping citizens develop necessary skills to secure well-paying jobs and��ensuring��our state continues to attract and retain employers,” said U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark. “This funding will bolster our economic recovery and put hardworking Arkansans in a good position to provide for their families.” The collaborative project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided the EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock economists to discuss state, local economic forecast /news-archive/2020/11/02/economic-briefing/ Mon, 02 Nov 2020 14:55:30 +0000 /news/?p=77791 ...]]> The virtual economic event will take place from 8-10 a.m. Nov. 12. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required at Economists will speak on the economic conditions and outlook for the region and the nation. The briefing will be of particular interest to business leaders, academics, and community development practitioners. The speakers include:

, St. Louis Fed research officer and business economist, who will discuss national economic conditions
, Arkansas Economic Development Institute regional economist, who will give the Little Rock metro report
, Arkansas Economic Development Institute chief economist and state economic forecaster, who will talk about the Arkansas economic outlook

“The Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing will include perspectives on the national, state, and regional economies,” Pakko said. “In these very unusual times, the pandemic and efforts to curtail its spread have a profound influence on the economic outlook, and we’ll be focusing in particular on how our economy has fared thus far, and what that portends for the forecast.” The program also includes a welcome from Robert Hopkins, senior vice president and regional executive of the Little Rock Branch, and a question-and-answer session following the presentations. For more information, contact Julie Kerr at julie.a.kerr@stls.frb.org or 501-324-8296.]]> AEDI creates new COVID-19 Initiative to track virus’s social and economic impact on Arkansas /news-archive/2020/10/13/aedi-creates-covid-19-initiative/ Tue, 13 Oct 2020 16:29:59 +0000 /news/?p=77688 ...]]> The dashboard will provide Arkansans access to timely and relevant information on how the virus affects their employment, mental health, food security, economic security, education, and other critical indicators. “We are excited and proud to offer this unique resource to Arkansas communities struggling to cope with this unparalleled crisis,” said AEDI Director Jim Youngquist. In addition to drawing on traditional data sources, AEDI will work with communities throughout the state to develop new databases that specifically address the challenges and concerns facing Arkansas communities. “Reliable data is the key to making good decisions, and this new information will be drawn from the lived reality of thousands of Arkansans,” Youngquist noted. “We invite all Arkansans to check out the COVID Recovery Website and Dashboard at ” The COVID-19 Dashboard is part of a larger Arkansas EDA COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA). AEDI’s two-year project will include the creation of an economic recovery plan as well as the development of a history of the economic impact of COVID-19 on the state. In addition to the new databases, AEDI and the Delta Center for Economic Development at Arkansas State University will join forces with the eight EDA Planning and Economic Development Districts in Arkansas to provide training, documentation, resources, and planning for local government, schools, small businesses, the healthcare community, and other entities affected by the pandemic.]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock receives $300,000 grant to create statewide economic recovery plan /news-archive/2020/08/31/aedi-economic-recovery-grant/ Mon, 31 Aug 2020 13:07:05 +0000 /news/?p=77306 ...]]> The Economic Development Administration is awarding a total of $7.8 million in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to universities across the country to boost their capacity to support regional economic development strategies in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The grant funds will be used to help the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock-based Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) create an Arkansas Recovery and Resiliency Plan in partnership with Arkansas State University and eight planning and economic development districts in Arkansas. “For the first 12 months of the project, we are historically documenting what has happened in Arkansas since March in regards to COVID-19,” said Jim Youngquist, AEDI executive director. “We are getting on-the-ground information for all 75 counties from small businesses, industry, healthcare, local state, and federal governments, and education. We’ve already interviewed more than 500 people across the state from various sectors.” AEDI is working with the Arkansas Economic Developers and Chamber Executives to reach out to the 138 Chambers of Commerce in Arkansas to learn about the economic impact on small businesses and main streets. AEDI’s economists are analyzing how local income, state sales taxes, and revenue rates are impacting the state’s economy. “Thus far, we’ve been surprised at how it has affected the smaller towns in the state,” Youngquist said. “We always say we have a lot of small towns that are hanging on, and we feared that COVID-19 would push them over the edge. The initial impact on smaller communities in the state who rely heavily on sales tax revenue for local government operations has not been as bad as we feared. Many people are staying home and shopping locally. Communities will become more vulnerable the longer the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The communities where schools do not reopen are really going to affect the economy. You do not know if parents will be able to keep their jobs if their kids are not going back to school.” The research group has created eight regional task forces and a 41-member statewide advisory council that includes members from higher education, state government, chambers of commerce, utility companies, U.S. Small Business Administration, Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, and more. “In the second 12 months of the project, we will be working with the task forces and advisory group to develop strategies that focus on economic recovery and resiliency,” Youngquist said. “If something like this happens again, local towns need a plan on how they will be able to deal with this next time. For this to be successful, the people in the communities are going to be the ones who drive this effort. We are trying to create a structure where they can identify what has happened, and we can help them develop strategies toward recovery.” The funds will be used to provide training, resources, and planning assistance for local governments, schools, small businesses, the healthcare community, manufacturing, and other entities affected by the coronavirus pandemic. “These investments come at a crucial time to help our nation’s economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “We are pleased to make these investments in EDA University Centers across the nation to deliver university-based resources to communities and businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.”]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock economists to discuss state, local economic forecast /news-archive/2019/11/06/economists-to-discuss-economic-forecast/ Wed, 06 Nov 2019 13:58:23 +0000 /news/?p=75592 ...]]> The Arkansas Economic Development Institute at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Research Bank of St. Louis will host a briefing on the Little Rock region’s economic development Thursday, Nov. 14.�� The event will take place from 7:30-10 a.m. at the William J. Clinton Library and Museum, 1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. A hot buffet breakfast will be served. The event is free and open to the public, but .�� The speakers include:

, Arkansas Economic Development Institute chief economist and state economic forecaster, who will talk about the Arkansas economic outlook
, Arkansas Economic Development Institute regional economist at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, who will give the Little Rock metro report
, St. Louis Fed research officer and business economist, who will discuss national economic conditions

“The Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing will include perspectives on the national, state, and regional economies,” Pakko said. “Of course, leaders of business and industry have a stake in understanding current economic conditions and the outlook for the future, but the economy affects everyone. So whether you’re interested in where future employment opportunities might be found, the outlook for wage and income growth, or even just the cost of your household grocery bill, we hope this briefing will convey valuable information.”�� The program also includes a welcome from Robert Hopkins, senior vice president and regional executive of the Little Rock Branch, and a question-and-answer session following the presentations.�� ]]> Arkansas Economic Development Institute to train budding business leaders to boost economic development in four-state area /news-archive/2019/10/17/arkansas-economic-development-institute-2/ Thu, 17 Oct 2019 21:26:58 +0000 /news/?p=75143 ...]]> The Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will teach leadership skills to up and coming regional leaders in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana through a new institute designed to promote economic development in the four-state region.�� The new Red River Leadership Institute will give regional leaders in the four states’ Red River region the tools to create smart and innovative economic development opportunities for the Red River Region and beyond. The Red River Valley encompasses 20 counties and parishes with a population of nearly 840,000. The Institute is especially valuable in the Red River�� region where significant layoffs and business closures have occurred.�� “We are excited to work with universities, colleges, regional development organizations, and local businesses from the region to make this unique type of training possible,” said AEDI Executive Director Jim Youngquist.�� The Red River Leadership Institute held the first of seven training sessions at Texas A&M University-Texarkana Sept. 5-6, and will move to Hope, Arkansas, for the second session on workforce development on Oct. 18. The institute will end with a closing retreat and graduation, also in Texarkana, Texas, on May 14-15, 2020. Additional training sessions in 2019 and 2020 will be held in Hope, Arkansas; Broken Bow, Oklahoma; Texarkana, Arkansas; Sulpher Springs, Texas; and Bossier City, Louisiana.�� More than 25 rising business and community leaders from the four-state region have been selected to participate in the leadership institute, where they will learn from a variety of business and economic leaders.�� “Twenty-five economic planners, government officials, business and community leaders from across the region will participate,” said Chris Brown, executive director of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments. “We think that the hands-on skills offered will make a real difference to communities struggling with economic change.”�� Two AEDI employees, Randy Wright, deputy director, and Grainger Ledbetter, assistant research/extension specialist in strategic community economic development, will teach essential leadership skills to the institute’s participants. The topics include situational leadership, conflict management, the role of ethics in business, the importance of an ethical business culture, effective team leadership, and the power of persuasion.�� “The participants will learn a whole lot about leadership,” Wright said. “They will learn to apply their leadership skills to their businesses and will become effective business leaders and move up as leaders in their fields.”�� The participants will also work in teams to complete a real-world, regional project in one of four areas – community development, economic and workforce development, entrepreneurship/innovation, and downtown development – that will be presented to the Red River Leadership Institute organizers. ADEI employees will serve as project mentors and provide research, advice, and resources to the participants.�� ADEI employees plan to use the most important lessons learned from the Red River Leadership Institute to develop an economic development course at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for business professionals and entrepreneurs in the central Arkansas area.�� “This course would be a great addition to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s curriculum, and local employers could send their people to a great class where they would learn valuable new skills in economic development and leadership,” Wright said.]]> Arkansas Economic Development Institute awarded grant to provide early childhood services information in Arkansas /news-archive/2017/09/13/arkansas-economic-development-institute-grant/ Wed, 13 Sep 2017 13:04:38 +0000 /news/?p=67878 ...]]> Arkansas Economic Development Institute at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received $156,850 from the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Childcare and Early Childhood to improve the lives of Arkansas children and families. Through the Arkansas Early Childhood Asset Map program, the institute will utilize its Census Data Center and Geographic Information System (GIS) Applications Laboratory to provide mapping services, resource guides, and its yearly publication, “Getting Ready for School.” The program provides information policymakers need to help children start and succeed in school. The institute offers an online GIS map with demographic data, such as children in poverty, babies born with a low birth weight, and babies born without prenatal care. The “Getting Ready for School” publication provides detailed data of School Readiness Indicators to increase awareness of children and families in the state. The School Readiness Indicators were developed by the Arkansas School Readiness Initiative Team and provide a foundation for policymakers and community leaders. “Our relationship with DHS began over 20 years ago with a basic 10-page publication,” said Phyllis Poche, senior researcher at the Arkansas Economic Development Institute. “Today, an interactive database and website can track indicators that enable policymakers and community leaders to identify areas most in need of intervention.”]]> Arkansas Economic Development Institute to begin work with ‘Go Forward Pine Bluff’ /news-archive/2017/08/30/arkansas-economic-development-institute/ Wed, 30 Aug 2017 18:56:30 +0000 /news/?p=67769 ...]]> The at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will soon team up with the to lay the groundwork for the revitalization of downtown Pine Bluff. The project was devised as a blueprint to address challenges faced by the city, such as high unemployment rates and population decline. The initiative’s ultimate goal is to make Pine Bluff a place its residents are proud to call home. Stephen Luoni, director of the Community Design Center, will work with his team to compose a master plan to put the project in motion. The plan will include baseline drawings of existing conditions, downtown development proposals, master street and landscape arrangements, and the final report. Before the plan is constructed, Luoni and his team will spend the next few weeks evaluating the status of downtown properties to identify buildings that have been condemned and abandoned, or have potential for redevelopment. The Arkansas Economic Development Institute will provide logistical assistance to Luoni and his team by mapping each property downtown using the institute’s geographic information system laboratory. This resource will allow members of the institute to identify the owner of each property, along with the property’s occupational and zoning status. “Outside the immediate downtown district, there will be other areas identified as the planning process moves on that they’ll need that information,” said Jim Youngquist, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Institute. “We’ll be providing the Community Design Center parcel and infrastructure information as they do their plan.”]]> Arkansas Economic Development Institute receives grant to assist in Pine Bluff revitalization /news-archive/2017/07/07/arkansas-economic-development-institute-pine-bluff-revitalization/ Fri, 07 Jul 2017 13:57:18 +0000 /news/?p=67427 ...]]> at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received $10,000 from the Simmons First Foundation to assist efforts to revitalize the city of Pine Bluff.�� The initiative, led by Simmons First Foundation, aims to implement a blueprint to address the systemic problems and challenges in the city. The blueprint emphasizes four major areas: economic development, education, government and infrastructure, and quality of life. Pine Bluff has experienced numerous challenges, such as a population drop, high unemployment rates, and deterioration of residential and commercial buildings. The campaign will develop an extensive plan to increase and maintain financial stability. The Arkansas Economic Development Institute will develop and prepare a community economic development profile for Pine Bluff aimed toward the city’s best future economic development opportunities. The Institute will also develop and facilitate town hall meetings to gain feedback from citizens in the city. The institute will be working the to develop a master plan for downtown Pine Bluff and bordering neighborhoods. It will include��baseline drawings of existing conditions, master street and landscape plans, downtown development plans, and the final report along with visualizations.]]>