CENTRAL ARKANSAS
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
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WHAT IS CEDS?
As a designated Economic Development District (EDD) by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), the CAPDD develops a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for the six-county region. The District is composed of all the county governments and incorporated municipalities within the counties of Faulkner, Lonoke, Monroe, Prairie, Pulaski, and Saline Counties. This CEDS plan follows the new guidelines released by the US Economic Development Administration in September of 2016 and is a strategy-driven plan developed by a diverse work group of local representatives from the private, public and nonprofit sectors.
Through its development and adoption by the region's local governments and the CAPDD Board of Directors, and approval by the EDA Austin office, the CEDS not only provides an organized structure plan for economic development of the region, but it also makes the region's local governments eligible for EDA capital improvement and infrastructure funds that help create, retain, and expand job opportunities for the citizens of Central Arkansas.
Additionally, the Arkansas Association of Development Organizations (AADO), the statewide association of planning and economic development districts, of which CAPDD is a member, in partnership with the Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC), the Arkansas Municipal League (AML), and the University of Arkansas Little Rock Arkansas Economic Development Institute has developed a statewide CEDS to for the first time.
SWOT ANALYSIS
The diverse and robust economy of Central Arkansas derives from the strength of local communities and the powerful economic engine provided by the metro areas in Pulaski, Faulkner and Saline counties. This creates a resilient economy critical to long-term growth and financial stability for families.
SUMMARY BACKGROUND
The regional and county snapshots shown on the following pages highlight the demographic and economic statistics of the region. As the data shows, government services, health care and social assistance, and retail trade are the leading industries, with health care projected as the leading growth industry.
Timeline - 2024 CEDS Report
NOVEMBER 2023
CEDS Committee Meeting
November 15- Metroplan- View Meeting Agenda
November 16- CAPDD- View Meeting Agenda
APRIL 2024
CEDS Committee Meeting
DECEMBER 2023
MAY 2024
Draft Review Comment Period
Click or Tap Here to View the 2024 CEDS Draft
Please submit comments to Conya Spencer at conya.spencer@capdd.org by Friday, June 7, 2024.
MARCH 2024
CEDS Sub-Committee Meeting
June 2024
Finalize CEDS & Submit to EDA
Lasting Impact
CEDS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Allen Dodson, Faulkner County Judge
Amy Whitehead, Director, Center for Community & Econ. Dev. Division of Outreach & Comm Engagement, UCA
Amy Willams, AEDC Regional Manager
Barry Hyde, Pulaski County Judge
Bart Castleberry, Mayor of Conway
Benjamin Damron, Mayor of Holland
Bernie Chamberlain, Mayor of Austin
Billy Hankins, Mayor of Brinkley
Bob Butler, Business Representative
Caleb Norris, Mayor of Maumelle
Carla Sue King, Mayor of Humnoke
Charles Gastineau, Mayor of Ward
Clyde Crookman, Jr., Mayor of Haskell
Colleen Bailey, Director, NLR Economic Development
Courtney Dunn, Director of Community & Economic Development
Crystal Hermann, Mayor of Alexander
Danny Hester, Mayor of Mayflower
David Hardke, Mayor of Hazen
David House, Mayor of England
Dennis Doepel, Mayor of Ulm
Derrick Rainey, Mayor of Wrightsville
Derrick Young, Mayor of Fargo
Diane Cunningham, Mayor of Clarendon
Doug Erwin, Lonoke County Judge
Frank Scott, Jr., Mayor of Little Rock
Grindell Price, Business Representative
Harold E. Jones, Mayor of Bauxite
Jeff Elmore, Mayor of Jacksonville
Jerry Matthews, Business Representative
Johnnie Mass, Business Representative
Jonathon Hawkins, Mayor of Mt. Vernon
Joyce Surratt, Business Representative
Ken Kincade, Mayor of Cabot
Kenneth Raynor, Mayor of Allport
Kent Smith, Mayor of Biscoe
Kimberly Schane, Mayor of Traskwood
Ladell Brown, Business Representative
Lawrence Holloway, Prairie County Judge
Marco Middleton, Business Representative
Mary Jo Townsell, Mayor of Sherwood
Matt Brumley, Saline County Judge
Michael Brown, Business Representative
Mike Kemp, Mayor of Shannon Hills
P.K. Norman, Monroe County Judge
Preston Scroggins, Mayor of Vilonia
Ralph Jones, Mayor of Coy
Ray Glover, Mayor of Carlisle
Ray McVay, Sr., Business Representative
Rhonda Sanders, Mayor of Bryant
Roger Scott, Mayor of Des Arc
Sammy Hartwick, Mayor of Greenbrier
Shane Ralston, Mayor of Enola
Stephanie White, Mayor of Keo
Terry Hartwick, Mayor of North Little Rock
Terry Robinson, Mayor of Wooster
Terry Williams, Mayor of Guy
Thelma Gray, Mayor of DeValls Bluff
Theodore Brown, Mayor of Twin Groves
Tom Farmer, Mayor of Benton
Travis Hackelton, Mayor of Roe
Wayne McGee, Mayor of Lonoke
Willie Stokes, Mayor of Holly Grove
V.O. "Butch" Callhoun, Business Representative
CAPDD STAFF
Rodney Larsen, Executive Director
Conya Spencer, Director of Economic Development
Vivian Brittenum, Business Service Coordinator
Ashley Fugo, Digital Media Coordinator
ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (AEDI) UALR STAFF
Jim Youngquist, Executive Director
Logan Benson, Community Planner
Alison Wiley, Arkansas Economic Development Institute
Reteisha Byrd, Community Economic Development Specialist