Rex Nelson to be keynote at Moving Manila Forward launch on Sept. 18

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Fast Facts:

Moving Manila Forward community and economic development initiative to launch

Rex Nelson.
Event is 6:30 p.m. at Manila Airport

(192 words)

(Newsrooms: With file art https://flic.kr/p/235f543, Nelson headshot at https://flic.kr/p/29o67Np )

LITTLE ROCK – Moving Manila Forward will officially launch its economic development blueprint and action plan at an event Sept. 18 that will feature columnist Rex Nelson as its keynote speaker.

The Moving Manila Forward action plan launch event is open to the public and will take place at the Manila Airport at 6:30 p.m. with a barbecue dinner at 6 p.m.

Moving Manila Forward is the latest Community and Economic Development project from the Breakthrough Solutions program of the Cooperative Extension Service. What began as the Manila Pilots Association seeking help for airport improvements transformed into a communitywide effort to build the town of 3,000. (For background see: http://bit.ly/2EwemUY )

“We are excited about this launch event,” said Andrew Fleeman, chairman of Moving Manila Forward. “We have done a lot of hard work to pull the community together and push forward, and with this event we can showcase our action plan for the future.”

“This event is an opportunity for the community’s energy and creativity to be transformed into action,” said Mark Peterson, professor-community and economic development for the Division of Agriculture. “A great deal has already been done in Manila and we are excited about the opportunities that have emerged for the community moving forward.”

“After the speakers, community members will be invited to visit with local teams to learn about their parts in the community development project and sign up to help those efforts,” he said.

To learn more about Breakthrough Solutions, visit https://www.uaex.uada.edu/business-communities/strategic-planning/breakthrough-solutions.aspx, or contact your county extension office.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact the Mississippi County Extension Office at 870-762-2075 as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu