The FRIENDS Foundation hosted the Arkansas Economic Development Institute research team and community leaders on Thursday, August 26^th, in the Weyerhaeuser room of the UA Cossatot De Queen Campus for its first planning meeting to begin work toward a county-specific CEDS. Attendees included

Dr. Steve Cole, Angie Walker, Greg Revels, Judge Greg Ray, Mayor Jeff Brown, Mayor Lester Overturf, Kristen Dane, AEDC, Jim Youngquist, AEDI, Mike Collins, AEDI, A. Lamar Hoy, AEDI, Miles McDonnell, AEDI, Logan Benson, AEDI, Amber Berg, AEDI, Esteban Ochoa (EO), ZZ Kamruddin, Suzanne Babb, Christy McCullough, Erika Buenrrostro, Leslie Daniels, and Tiffany Maurer.

“Having community leaders contributing to the Sevier County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is the key to having a CEDS that not only represents what’s great about living in Sevier County but how we can plan the strategic growth of our economy and our community together,” said Tiffany Maurer, Director of Economic Development for Sevier County.

A CEDS is a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.  The Economic Development Administration (EDA) requires these plans for all communities and they are often a required attachment for federal grant applications. Sevier County is currently and will continue to be included in the CEDS developed by the Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District, but will have the opportunity to use this country-specific plan in place of a strategic plan for the growth of Sevier County. More meetings will be held in the coming months for specific sectors to be addressed in the plan, including, but not limited to, education, healthcare, workforce, tourism, inclusiveness, facilities, infrastructure, housing, events and activities, business retention and expansion, and beautification.

More information on the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) can be found at: https://www.eda.gov/ceds/.

To learn about becoming a FRIENDS member, contact Tiffany Maurer at 870-584-1184 or tmaurer@cccua.edu.