Regional Technology Strategies, Inc., to present findings of state economic study

Oct. 8, 2008 -- The key findings of a three-year study of Arkansas’ creative economy by Regional Technology Strategies, Inc., will be presented in a town hall meeting format Thursday, Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-noon in the Grand Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro.

The meeting, open to anyone interested in learning more about Arkansas’ creative economy, is co-hosted by the Arkansas State University Delta Center for Economic Development, Arkansas Delta Byways, and the Arkansas Heritage SITES (System Initiatives for Technical and Educational Support.)

“We want to invite you, as a key stakeholder in Arkansas’ economic future, to be among the first to hear and respond to these key findings,” said Dan Broun of Regional Technology Strategies. “RTS has found, among other exciting results that the creative sector is the third largest industry in the state, creating thousands of jobs and contributing millions of dollars to the region’s economy, and we hope people will offer feedback.”

The meeting is an opportunity to help shape a policy agenda for strengthening Arkansas’ creative economy, which includes architects, educators, entrepreneurs, artists, artisans and a wide variety of vocations. The recommendations from the RTS study will be delivered to the state legislature.

The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, in partnership with the Arkansas Arts Council, the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority, and the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges, has been sponsoring Regional Technology Strategies, Inc., since 2005 to examine the most critical creative industries and activities in the state of Arkansas.

RTS is recognized as a national and international leader in developing innovative regional economic development plans for states and regions. RTS helps regions tackle economic development in a way that creates wealth in the community, helps grow existing companies, and makes regions attractive locations for new ventures.

Those planning to attend the meeting should respond to Dan Broun at broun@rtsinc.org or call (919) 933-6699. Each of RTS' previous three reports on Arkansas' creative economy may be viewed at http://rtsinc.org/publications/index.html.
           

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