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

Executive director touts 60th anniversary of institute

Gloria King — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 16:14:06 +0000

James Youngquist, executive director of the in the ��Vlog��ýLR College of Business, recently provided a guest commentary highlighting the institute’s 60th anniversary. Youngquist recounted its history for the monthly magazine . From its conception during the Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus era to its current multiple partnerships with the business community, Youngquist said visionary leadership helped develop the institute into arguably the most comprehensive university-based economic development research and training institute in the U.S. “It has been a remarkable 60-year adventure,” he said. As a U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration University Center, the institute is charged with enhancing the work of Arkansas’ planning and economic development districts. Currently, the institute is partnering with the federal government to provide technical assistance in the disaster recovery infrastructure effort for Vilonia and Mayflower. Both towns were devastated by tornadoes in 2014. Youngquist is the recipient of the President’s Award from the National Association of Development Organizations at its annual conference in San Diego. He has worked at the institute since February 2008.

Forecast on state’s economy coming Oct. 15

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 08:10:26 +0000

Dr. Michael Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster at ��Vlog��ýLR’s Institute for Economic Advancement, will present his annual forecast on the state’s economy on Oct. 15.

Dr. Michael Pakko, ��Vlog��ýLR

The Institute for Economic Advancement and the Little Rock branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis will host the Little Rock Regional Economic Briefing from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Little Rock Marriott. The Little Rock Marriott is located at 3 Statehouse Plaza in Little Rock. In addition to Pakko, the free breakfast event will feature guest speakers Kevin Kliesen, St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank officer and business economist, and Charles Gascon, St. Louis Fed regional economist. Kliesen will discuss national economic conditions, and Gascon will provide an overview of economic conditions in Arkansas. Registration is open, but seating is limited. To register, visit this . Media interested in attending the event should contact Laura Girresch at laura.e.girresch@stls.frb.org or 314.444.6166.

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Public forum to focus on Money, Class, and Opportunity

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 21:43:39 +0000

An expert panel will discuss Arkansas’s economic future at the 11th annual Racial Attitudes in Pulaski County Forum from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 17, at the Ron Robinson Theater in downtown Little Rock. The event, titled “Money, Class and Opportunity,” is free and open to the public. Registration is available online at 2014 Forum. Senator Joyce Elliott of the 33rd District will moderate a panel of civic leaders as they discuss what class, finance, and business mean to Arkansas residents. In addition, Chief Economist and State Economic Forecaster Dr. Michael Pakko of the Institute for Economic Advancement at ��Vlog��ýLR will give an economic overview of Pulaski County. The panelists are Maria Elena de Avila-Peters of the Arkansas Department of Career Education; Heather Larkin, president and CEO of Arkansas Community Foundation; Rep. Fred Love of district 29 and grants administrator for Pulaski County; Carmen Parks of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Terry Richard-Trevino, LULAC state director and professor in the ��Vlog��ýLR Department of Sociology; and Rep.Darrin Williams of district 36 and CEO of Southern Bancorp Inc. The featured guests will discuss some of the key topics addressed in the 2014 Racial Attitudes Survey such as business practices and consumer behavior, paying taxes, public policy, small business ownership, employment, and what role education plays in financial stability. The ��Vlog��ýLR Institute of Government has conducted the Racial Attitudes Surveys since the beginning of Chancellor Joel E. Anderson’s tenure in 2003. “The Institute of Government’s survey findings have helped inform important discussions surrounding race in central Arkansas for some time now and this year’s report is no different,” said Dr. Michael R. Twyman, director of Institute on Race and Ethnicity. According to the recent Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, in 2012, nearly 20% of all people in Arkansas lived below the poverty line – the fourth highest in the nation. “As a city and state, we must position ourselves so that we can adequately address these economic issues. It starts with open and honest dialogue and by fostering mutually beneficial partnerships,” said Twyman. The Institute will host the forum in the heart of the River Market district in downtown Little Rock this year. “We decided to host the forum near downtown businesses this year for several reasons, among them, is to give our students the opportunity to network with professionals in the thriving commercial atmosphere.” The Institute also recognizes the university’s commitment to being responsible stewards of our physical resources. Therefore, the 2014 survey report will be released online the day of the conference in lieu of printed copies this year. All of the previous year’s surveys and corresponding data are currently available online at 2003-2013 Research. “With the topic of the survey in mind, we are attempting to be even more fiscally and environmentally responsible in order to reduce our carbon footprint and printing costs. We also encourage ��Vlog��ýLR students, faculty, and staff to carpool to the event if possible.”

To learn more about the 2014 Racial Attitudes Forum, go to Money, Class and Opportunity.

For more information, contact the Institute at race-ethnicity@ualr.edu or by phone at 501.569.8932.

Institute’s economic research impacts decisions in state, region

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 19:42:13 +0000

When Bass Pro Shops throws open its familiar log doors on Nov. 13, outdoor enthusiasts from miles around will likely pack the new store to browse in an environment that has made the retailer one of the most recognizable brands in America.

A little less known is the behind-the-scenes research quietly performed by the Institute for Economic Advancement (IEA), housed at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

IEA did an economic impact feasibility study prior to Bass Pro’s decision to locate the store at the 169-acre site near the intersection of Interstates 30 and 430. Not only did it help lure the national chain to the area, it demonstrated the positive impact the store will have upon the local economy.

From privately-held companies to nonprofit agencies from around the state and across the region, IEA’s research provides clients with data considered vital to a community’s strategic plan.

In another example, census and demographic data compiled and analyzed by IEA’s Data Research Unit is highlighted in the second edition of Aspire Arkansas, released by the Arkansas Community Foundation on Oct. 9 at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The report girded the foundation with needed information to help organizers there address some of the largest contributors to the state’s poverty rate – the fourth highest in the country. It has made its way to other chambers of commerce around the state, ending with an Oct. 23 discussion of its findings at the Fort Smith Main Library.

Public officials use the objective data detailed in the 65-page report to understand what is really happening in the 75 counties and the state as a whole, according to IEA Executive Director Jim Youngquist.

“This is a significant piece of work that is a wonderful tool for community, regional, and state leaders,” Youngquist said.

“When officials want to comprehend why people are leaving their community, for example, this research answers a lot of the ‘whys’ that come up. At the same time, it also provides excellent examples of strategies for improvement.”

The report details such education-related issues as high school graduation and remediation rates, as well as the percent of population earning a high school degree or higher. Health-related issues including obesity rates, which associated costs run the state between $1.5 and $1.9 billion per year, are also detailed along with socio-economic issues including teen pregnancy rates and median household incomes.

It is precisely these type of data-driven snapshots that provide communities across the state with an accurate picture of positive trends, while dealing with negative ones.

“They see the data and realize they can address these issues,” Youngquist said. “When you address the right issues, you have a profound effect on the next generation.”

Perhaps not too surprisingly, the data has consistently revealed how much of the Delta remains impoverished in comparison to the rest of Arkansas.

In fact, the data has been so compelling that the Delta Regional Authority–covering eight states and approximately 252 counties and parishes from Kentucky to Louisiana–asked for the IEA’s help with providing research to determine the best way to allocate funding throughout the region.

Information from that report is available on the , to quickly and efficiently compare data among the eight states involved.

“Aspire Arkansas,” which also has a on the Arkansas Community Foundation website, stemmed from a yearly report, Getting Ready for School, that IEA’s Data and Research division prepares for the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education.

State Sen. David Johnson contacted the IEA after having seen the publication.

Johnson also works closely with Community Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Heather Larkin, who agreed Aspire Arkansas is a tool to understand and identify ways to address charitable needs in communities across the state.

“��Vlog��ýLR’s Institute for Economic advancement has been a vital partner in helping us compile, visualize, and understand statistics on education, health care, family economics, poverty, and community engagement in our state,” Larkin said.

Information gleaned from IEA research will be highlighted in the upcoming 2013 Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference on Nov. 6, at the Clinton Presidential Center. For 30 years, the Data and Research unit has also contributed to a federal-state program that provides yearly updates on local data for the U.S. Census Bureau.

IEA’s goal is to promote applied research for the development of Arkansas’s economy through analysis, professional development, community outreach, and technical assistance. For more information about research that can be performed, visit or call 501.569.8519.

Federal Reserve VP to speak at Economic Forecast Conference

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 17:53:35 +0000

Dr. David Altig, executive vice president and director of research for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, will address the national economic outlook at the 2013 Arkansas Economic Forecast Conference Wednesday, Nov. 6. Hosted by the housed at ��Vlog��ýLR, the conference will be held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Great Hall at the Clinton Presidential Library and Center in downtown Little Rock. Altig advises the bank president on monetary policy and related matters, and he oversees the bank’s regional executives and research department. His blog for the Atlanta Fed provides commentary on monetary policy, macroeconomic developments, and the Southeast economy, among other things. Altig is also an adjunct professor of economics in the graduate school of business at the University of Chicago. Dr. Michael R. Pakko, IEA’s chief economist and state economic forecaster, will provide the Arkansas economic outlook. From 1993 until 2009, Pakko was a research economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, where he published research on a variety of topics, including international trade, economic growth, macroeconomics, and public policy. Dr. Bert Greenwalt will address “Agribusiness Trends, Issues, and Challenges” as the luncheon keynote speaker. A native of Hazen, he is a partner in his family’s farm, which produces rice, soybeans, and winter wheat. He served two terms as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and is a member of the bank’s Agribusiness Council. Greenwalt received the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Agribusiness Award in 1999. is required to attend the conference. Cost is $85 if paid in full by Oct. 30 or $115 after registration deadline. For more information, contact Tonya G. Hass at tghass@ualr.edu or 501.683.7407.

‘State of Region’ breakfast coming May 30

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:16:04 +0000

The Institute for Economic Advancement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has partnered with the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce to host a breakfast focused on the region’s economic outlook. The first State of the Region Report Card Breakfast will be held from 7 to 8:30 a.m., Thursday, May 30, in ��Vlog��ýLR’s Jack Stephens Center, Legends Room. The report focuses on the Metropolitan Statistical Area of Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Conway. It will unveil how the region’s economy is performing relative to the state as a whole and also to comparable metropolitan regions. Participants will be invited to review the report and address opportunities to make the region more competitive for business and economic development, as well as a more attractive place to live. Several comparative measures were used to assess how the region fares next to 10 regions. The metropolitan areas were graded and ranked in terms of economic structure, economic performance, and quality of life, helping to evaluate their economic attractiveness. To attend the event, participants are asked to contact Susan Miller at smiller@littlerockchamber.com or 501.377.6040 by May 20.

Hass Adds to Economic Development Skills

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 22:08:37 +0000

Tonya Goza Hass, assistant research extension specialist at ��Vlog��ýLR, has completed an intensive week-long, three-tiered program from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. Hass completed the OU EDI fall session, held in Indianapolis, on Nov. 15. The program provides a broad spectrum of advanced education for the economic development professional. Classes focus on business retention and expansion, real estate, and finance, as well as areas of concentration in marketing, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, and managing economic development organizations.

Fall Economic Forecast Set for Oct. 30

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:51:51 +0000

Registration for ��Vlog��ýLR’s ’s 2012 Economic Forecast Conference is still open. The conference will be held from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the Clinton Presidential Center. Tickets are available for $85 and can be purchased at or by calling Tonya Hass at 501.683.7407. IEA Chief Economist and State Economic Forecaster Michael Pakko will unveil his forecast for Arkansas. Chris Varvares, co-founder and president of Macroeconomic Advisers LLC of St. Louis, will deliver the national economic forecast. Varvares has more than 25 years of experience in macroeconomic forecasting and policy analysis, both as a principal of Macroeconomic Advisers since 1982 and as a member of the staff of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers from 1981 to 1982. Dr. W. Michael Cox, director of the O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business, will provide the luncheon keynote. The former chief economist and senior vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Cox has served for 25 years advising U.S. presidents on monetary and other economic policies. He retired in 2009 to become the founding director of the Center for Global Markets and Freedom in the Cox School of Business at SMU. He writes regularly for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, and other printed media. He is a regular guest on C-SPAN, MSNBC, NBC, and Fox News, where he comments on monetary and other government policy. Cox is author of the book “Myths of Rich and Poor,” which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. He has been a professor for 36 years after earning his Ph.D. in economics at Tulane University.

Pakko Updates State’s Economic Forecast

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:04:35 +0000

, chief economist and state economic forecaster for ��Vlog��ýLR’s , said final statistics for the fourth quarter of 2011 predicts steady but unremarkable growth as the economy slowly emerges from the aftermath of the 2008‐09 recession. “In general, the data have confirmed our expectations that 2011 would show a slowdown in the pace of the economic recovery overall, but with clear signs of improvement in the final months of the year,” Pakko said. “In some cases, our expectations for improvement in the waning months of 2011 were exceeded – in other cases our outlook was overly optimistic. Accordingly, the forecast revisions are mixed. And the outlook – in broad strokes – continues to be one of steady but unremarkable growth,” Pakko said during the Arkansas State University Economic Outlook Conference. “Yesterday’s data‐release from the Bureau of Economic Analysis showed that total personal income in Arkansas grew by 3.7 percent in 2011. This fell closely in line with our forecast of 3.6 percent growth for the year,” he said. “Hence, revisions to the outlook are minor, due, in part, to lower‐than‐expected transfer payments in the second half of 2011. “The forecast for personal income growth in 2012 has been revised from 5.1 percent to 5.0 percent.” Pakko left the forecast for 2013 unchanged at 3.9 percent.

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