The FRIENDS Foundation hosted AEDI for Sevier County CEDS planning on Monday, November 22nd, in the Weyerhaeuser room of the UA Cossatot De Queen Campus.
Attendees included Mike Branson, Dr. Steve Cole, Angie Walker, Jay Bunyard, Jimmy Bristow, Greg Revels, Mayor Jeff Brown, Mayor Lester Overturf, Erika Buenrrostro, Alissa Cook, UAC Student Ambassadors, AEDI Planning Team, and Tiffany Maurer.
“Having AEDI prepare the CEDS for Sevier County is an honor for us. AEDI has a wealth of knowledge and experience preparing economic development research and analysis. During this meeting, the FRIENDS Board of Directors placed emphasis on incorporating the perspective of current UAC students to develop a plan that will accurately reflect the goals of our community members,” said Tiffany Maurer, Director of Economic Development for Sevier County.
The AEDI team discussed the progress of the CEDS. It brought up discussions for the group to break into subgroups to tackle individual concerns for the county and develop strategies to address each. Topics most prioritized are included below:
- Entertainment
- Broadband
- Housing
- Infrastructure
- Jobs
The AEDI team will take the strategies developed to include in their completed plan. The FRIENDS Board of Directors plan to continue incorporating UA Cossatot Student Ambassadors in the CEDS development to ensure the plan will garner community engagement and support while being holistic in addressing the goals of the community.
To learn about becoming a FRIENDS member, contact Tiffany Maurer at 870-584-1184 or tmaurer@cccua.edu.