80 replies to this topic

[Mith242]

Earlier in the week a lot of local leaders got together to talk about NWA and a study that was done on the region for future growth.  Overall the message wasn't really anything new that we haven't already heard.  One being that the area needs to work together as a region rather than a bunch of separate entities. One thing that gets mentioned is the percentage of college graduates in the area.  It's not particularly high when compared to other areas.  For that matter even with having the state's flagship university here NWA lags behind Little Rock.  But I think overall is finding a way to keep the students here after they graduate.  Many move elsewhere after they graduate.  The U of A attracts a number of students from out of state so maybe a number of them plan to leave even if there's a possible job here for them.  But I think more would consider staying if they could find a job in the area.  
The area is obviously dominated by several companies.  Walmart obviously being the leader with Tyson and JB Hunt as well.  The study mentioned finding other businesses to locate offices here but ones that don't compete against the pre-existing ones.  Once again to me seems sorta obvious.  There are a lot of vendors in the area with local offices because of Walmart, and if Walmart really pushed for it there could obviously be more.  But I don't think NWA leaders could really persuade Walmart to alter it's plans just to try to get more vendors in the area.  I think Walmart is going to do whatever it think is best for itself.  
The study mentioned promoting the sustainability related technologies and jobs.  Once again I think many already know about this and have been trying with the Green Valley Network.  The study mentions expanding the role of the university to strengthen technology based businesses.  I think this is a big one.  This would help create good jobs and also help keep graduates here.  Maybe the question is more what can we do to help this process along?  
One thing mentioned was to capitalize on recent investments in new hospitals to become a more of a regional health care destination.  This is one thing I don't hear mentioned a lot.  In part I think in the past the area wasn't big enough and there were other metros in the region close enough.  But this really is an area I think NWA could work on.  While it might be hard to try to compete with much larger metros like Tulsa.  Honestly in some ways I think Ft Smith still competes rather well in this are with NWA.  So obviously there's work to do in this area.  I'm sorry to say this to any Ft Smith people but really NWA should really be establishing itself to overtake Ft Smith.  But overall I think we know this metro has been rapidly growing and things like this are going to take a little time.  
One more thing mentioned in the study was arts, entertainment and tourism.  But I think this is one area that we all know is going to be changing very soon with the opening of Crystal Bridges.  Crystal Bridges isn't just going to be a state draw or even a regional draw.  I think Crystal Bridges is going to have enough going for it to be a national draw.  It might take a little time after it opens but I think Crystal Bridges is going to really help in the arts/tourism area.  
While I wouldn't say the study was a waste or anything.  But overall I don't think there were really any big revelations in the study either.  It might be more of a how do we find a way to accomplish some of these things.  But at least we can try to get people in the area to discuss this and start looking for ways to help our metro continue to grow.