Arkansas Economic Issues Breakfast Series Focuses on the Arkansas Workforce

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is hosting a statewide business and economic discussion on Wednesday, Aug. 18. Via videoconferencing, the Arkansas Economic Breakfast Series links educational institutions throughout the state of Arkansas and provides an interactive setting for learning about the latest economic trends that affect businesses in the state.

The Northwest Arkansas event will be held from 7 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development on the University of Arkansas campus. There is a $20 fee for the breakfast event, and reservations are required by Aug. 16. Reservations for any of the seven locations can be made at http://arkansasbusiness.com/EconomicsBreakfast. Questions about the event or reservations for the Northwest Arkansas event can be directed to (479) 575-4151 or e-mailed to cber@uark.edu.

This program is the third in the series and will focus on matching the needs of business and industry with the skills of the Arkansas workforce. Kathy Deck, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research in the Walton College and Michael Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster for the Institute of Economic Advancement in Little Rock, will provide the latest data and trends about the state’s economy. Then, speaking from Little Rock will be Charisse Childers, executive director of Accelerate Arkansas, a statewide group of leaders volunteering their time and resources to focus on how to move the state forward in the 21^st century economy. After her presentation, Childers will lead an interactive discussion about workforce readiness among the seven sites.

Kathy Deck will act as host and facilitator at the Northwest Arkansas event. She said, “The Center for Business and Economic Research is so pleased to continue this statewide discussion about the economic issues that affect us all. Bringing Arkansans from around the state together to hear good information about our common economic challenges and opportunities will promote prosperity.”

The Arkansas Economic Issues Breakfast Series is coordinated by the Institute for Economic Advancement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in cooperation with the Center for Business and Economic Research in the Walton College, College of Business at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, Delta Center for Economic Development at Arkansas State University, Economic Research and Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas at Monticello and Southern Arkansas University. The series is sponsored by Arkansas Business.