Stronger Economies Together (SET) Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District Civic Forum Notes Star City October 19, 2017

Transcription

1 Stronger Economies Together (SET) Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District Civic Forum Notes Star City October 19, 2017 Stacey McCullough, Assistant Director of Community and Economic Development for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, and Steve Mosher, Area Director for USDA s Rural Development Fort Smith office and Community Development Coordinator, served as facilitators for the civic forum. After introductions and a brief overview of the SET program, attendees participated in a series of interactive rounds to discuss the strengths, challenges and opportunities for the ten-county region. In round 1, participants at each table were asked to identify the 3-4 most positive features of the region. Each table then prioritized these strengths as a group. The list below contains the top strengths identified by all tables. A list of all strengths listed by each table can be found beginning on page 5. Summary of Top Regional Strengths River/Bayou, Land, Geographic Transitions History/Tradition Opportunities/Potential Diversity of Agriculture and Related Industries, Farmers Transportation River, Rail, Improving Roads, Hwy 65 Geographic Features/Natural Resources Wildlife, Recreation, Water, Soil, State Parks, Tourism Education Opportunities Tech Schools, K12, University/College Medical Resources Infrastructure People Work Together and Accept Change In round 2, participants at each table were asked to identify the top 3-4 challenges faced by the region now or in the near future. Each table then prioritized these challenges as a group. The 3-4 top challenges identified by each table were shared with all civic forum participants, who were then given three votes to indicate what they see as the biggest challenges or concerns. The list below shows the voting results. A list of all challenges listed by each table can be found beginning on page 6. Summary of Regional Challenges (number of votes by participants) Local Infrastructure (10) Money/Tax Revenue (8) 1

2 Skilled/Available Workforce (7) Education/Low Expectations (5) Affordable Housing - Price, Contractors, Sites, Type (4) Population Decline (2) Lack of Community/Collaborative Vision (2) Job Opportunities (1) Workforce Preparedness Drugs/Narcotics In round 3, participants examined key data for the region in the areas of demography, human capital and labor force. Based on this information, participants at each table discussed any additional strengths or challenges not previously discussed in rounds 1 and 2. These responses are shown in the table below. Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Strengths Diverse Human Capital Volunteer Pool Baby boomers Moving Back to Local Communities Human Resource Median Household Income Stable Retirees Cost of Living 0-19 Year Olds Potential for Change Year Olds Community Involvement Potential Challenges Desirability Retention Not Enough People Qualified Workers Rehab Drug/Alcohol Raise Educational Level Keeping Youth - Buying Into Community Difficult to Change Status Quo More Amenities Needed Counselors/Mentors (High School) No Jobs Out-Migration Aging Population Non-participants in Labor Force Lower than Average Earnings Per Job No High School Diplomas Lack of Participation in Adult Education No Educated Workforce for Available Jobs Employers Recruiting Outside Local Area 2

3 All strengths and challenges were posted around the room for participants to review. In round 4, participants at each tabled brainstormed ideas of what the region could and should do to make the Southeast Arkansas Region vibrant for the future. They were encouraged to discuss opportunities with the following questions in mind: What regional challenges might this opportunity help address? What regional strengths might be enhanced through this opportunity? What is feasible? (What could we do?) What has the greatest support and/or resources? (What could we do?) What is most pressing? (What should we do?) What is most urgent? (What should we do?) Regional Opportunities By Table (^ indicates what we could do, * indicates what we should do) Table 1 Opportunities o Learning from Each Other^ o Town to Town Collaboration^ o Community Advocacy^ o Internet Sales Tax^* Table 2 Opportunities (in order of priority) o Promote Technical Training Programs in High School and Prisons^* o Promote Tourism (AR Post, Wildlife Refuge, Japanese Internment, Rare Birds, Duck Hunting, Rhythm and Blues Bayou, Bike Trails, Farm Tours)^* o Organic Farming^* o Value Added Industries (Cereal, Timber)^* o Expand and Utilize Technology Centers o Promote Development of Cooperatives for High Value Agriculture Production Table 3 (in order of priority) o Small Farm Entrepreneurship^* o Trade Skills Training/Education^* o Food Tourism/Agritourism/Bike Trails^ Table 4 o Tourism (Bring outsiders in to spend money link stops throughout region so people spend week instead of day or 2)^* o Collaboration Across Counties - Strength in Numbers to Attract Attention and Resources (previous proof this can work with Cornerstone Coalition)^* o Aesthetics (Way a region looks impacts whether people will come/stay)^ o Trade Schools (Need technical schools and other opportunities to provide training that matches existing/emerging industries Should be feasible but won t happen) o Matchmaking (Match local needs with people who are good fit for those needs) o Spread Retail Rather than Lump in Once City/County (Help each other compete to spread things around) 3

4 Due to the size of the region, at least one more civic forum is planned. Participants were asked to provide feedback on how to engage others to participate in the project. Suggestions include: Visit with and invite community members Encourage people to bring a friend so they don t have to come alone Do an easy project that will create results quickly Support events of other communities in the region 4

5 Full Responses from Rounds 1 and 2 Round 1 Regional Strengths By Table (* indicates top 4 as ranked by table) Table 1 Strengths o River/Bayou, Land, Geographic Transitions* o Quality of Life o Labor Costs o Opportunities/Potential* o Diversity of Agriculture* o Education Availability o Youth (Younger Population) o Existing Structures (Cities) o History/Tradition* Table 2 Strengths o Agriculture (Diverse) and Related Industries* o Timber o Transportation River, Rail, Improving Roads, Hwy 65* o Geographic Features Wildlife, Recreation* o Local Culture Strong People, Unity, Resourceful, Faith-based Churches, Friendly o Education Opportunities Technical Schools* o Prisons Table 3 Strengths o Churches o Education K12, University, College, Technical* o Farmers* o Medical Resources* o Manufacturing o Railroads/Transportation/Infrastructure* o Natural Resources* o People Table 4 Strengths o We are not the Big City o People Work Together and Accept Change* o Natural Resources Water, Soil, State Parks, Tourism* o Transportation* o Center of Nation o History o School System (Education) College 5

6 Round 2 Regional Challenges By Table (* indicates top 4 as ranked by table) Table 1 Challenges o Money/Tax Revenue* o Decreasing Population* o Housing* o Workforce Preparedness* o Roads o Infrastructure/Local Retail/Restaurants/Food* o Jobs o Work Ethic o Community Involvement Table 2 Challenges o Job Opportunities* o Declining Population* o Revenue/Finance o Lack of Community Involvement* o Poor Quality Primary Education o Infrastructure Water, Wastewater, Broadband Internet, Roads & Bridges* o Housing o Lack of Collaboration/Vision* Table 3 Challenges o Population Decline* o Infrastructure/Utility* o Skilled Workforce/Available Workforce* o Income Inequality o Affordable Housing* o Lack of High Wage Jobs o Drugs o Internet Table 4 Challenges o Employment Opportunities o Tax Base (lack of)* o Housing o Youth Retention Young Adults o Lack of Soft Skills /Lack of Trained Workforce* o Declining Population o Lack of Activities of Interest o Lack of Professionals o Lack of Vision o Infrastructure* o Education* o Decline in 10%ers 6

7 Civic Forum Attendees Name Denise Williams Essie Mae Dale Cableton Zola Hudson Jim Craig David Leech LaDana W. Emerson Les Walz Joel Tolefree Linsley Kinkade Carolyn E. Harris William Campbell Susan Knight Britt Talent Patrecia Hargrove Gregory Dale Steve Mosher Noah Washburn Wayne Miller Stacey McCullough Tyler Knapp County Lincoln Lincoln Jefferson Arkansas Arkansas Desha Cleveland Bradley Pulaski Ashley Desha Lincoln Cleveland Jefferson USDA Rural Development National Office facilitator USDA Rural Development National Office facilitator University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture and County Governments Cooperating. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. 7