Arkansas Community & Economic Development Alliance

What is ACEDA?

ACEDA is an informal network with representatives from government agencies and organizations supporting Arkansas communities, regions, nonprofits, businesses and other organizations. There is no fee to join and representatives from any organization serving Arkansas can participate.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service is proud to be a founding member of ACEDA. It exists because no single organization can do it all. We all need to work together to make a positive difference in Arkansas.

What we do:

Link local governments, organizations and businesses in Arkansas to technical assistance, potential funding opportunities and other resources they need.
Provide networking opportunities for ACEDA partners through quarterly meetings.
Share information about our programs and services with each other.
Partner on projects to better meet state and local needs.

The group meets quarterly to discuss projects in need of assistance. Representatives from partner organizations also communicate with each other by phone and email regarding projects in need of immediate assistance.

Browse the ACEDA Resource Guide to learn about agencies working to serve Arkansas.

Join the mailing list.

Get invites to quarterly meetings, videos and transcripts, and resources shared by ACEDA members by subscribing to the email list. Looking for partners or collaboration on a project? Send it to the the 170+ and growing mailing list.

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Host the next meeting.

Each meeting offers virtual and in-person attendance to accommodate members statewide. Host the next quarterly meeting and showcase your building and services. Meetings typical run from 10:00am-12:00pm. As a host, you are not required to be the featured speaker. Contact Brandon L. Mathews at bmathews@uada.edu to learn more.

Be a featured speaker.

Each quarterly meeting has a featured speaker that provides information related to community and economic development. Past speakers include nonprofits, government agencies (state/federal), community-based organizations, and higher-education institutions. Speakers typically present for 15-20 minutes with time for Q&A. As the featured speaker, you are not required to be a host. Send inquiries to bmathews@uada.edu.

How can you contact us for help?

If you have a project and needs assistance, contact bmathews@uada.edu or complete a Needs Assessment form and return it to aado@arkansaseconomicregions.org.

Upcoming Meetings

October 16, 2024 - Location: UADA-Extension Little Rock State Office Education Wing.
Featured Speaker: Samantha Evans, Outreach Regional Manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Join the ACEDA email list to get the most up to date meeting information.

2024 Meetings

July 17, 2024 - Featured Speakers: April Campbell - Economic Development Representative, U.S. Economic Developmentment Administration, Austin Regional Officce; Renee Dycus - Executive Director, Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District; Dwayne Pratt - Executive Director, West Central Arkansas Planning and Development District; Rodney Larsen - Executive Director, Central Arkansas Planning and Development District

EDA ACEDA Meeting Presentation Slides

April 10, 2024 - Featured Speaker: Brandon Horvath - Consulting Manager, Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center

January 17, 2024 - Featured Speaker: Mike Malone - Vice Chancellor for Economic Development, University of Arkansas

Previous Meetings, 2021-2023

October 11, 2023 - Featured Speaker: Janea Jamison, Regional Advocate-Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas), U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy

July 12, 2023 - Featured Speaker: Glen Howie, Arkansas State Broadband Director

April 12, 2023 - Featured Speakers: Matt Twyford, Community Development Director - Arkansas Economic Development Commission & Clint O’Neal, Executive Director - Arkansas Economic Development Commission

January 18, 2023 - Featured Speakers: Cory Anderson, Chief Innovation Office - Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation & Tim Smith, Program Director - USDA Rural Development

October 12, 2022 - Featured Speaker: Brandon L. Mathews, Program Associate – Economic Development, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension - Topic: Arkansas Business Navigator

July 13, 2022 - Featured Speaker: Kristen Dane, Project Officer and SCORP Planner – Outdoor Recreation Grants Program, Division of Arkansas State Parks

April 13, 2022 - Featured Speaker: Samantha Evans, Community Development Advisor – Workforce Development, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 12, 2022 - Featured speakers: Julie Trivitt, Senior Economist, and Katie Milligan, Program Manager of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with Heartland Forward

October 13, 2021 - Featured speaker: Derek Lewis II - President, Derek Lewis Foundation & Chair, Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative (ABPC)

April 14, 2021 - Featured speaker: Tiffany Henry, Director of Entrepreneurial Communities, The Conductor

January 13, 2021 - Featured speakers: Kim Reed, AmeriCorps Program Manager for EngageAR &
Lori Ducey, Mission Effectiveness Consultant - Topic: Food Security and Food Systems Opportunities in Arkansas

July 14, 2021 - Featured speaker: Hazelle Whited, Regional Program Coordinator-CREATE
BRIDGES, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service
Show Me the Money: A Guide to Funding & Financing Community and Economic Development in Your Community or Region

Check out Extension's guide to identifying resources to implement community and economic development projects in your community or region.