Union County included in program to identify infrastructure challenges

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service has teamed up with students from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service to identify infrastructure challenges and strategies for addressing them.

The students are seeking mayors, quorum court members and county judges in 20 Arkansas counties, including Union County, to participate in a brief online survey about rural infrastructure and challenges. The team will then review and compile appropriate ways to respond to those challenges.

The survey is available until Feb. 11 at http://bit.ly/2uaexuacs. The 20 counties are Boone, Calhoun, Clark, Cleveland, Crittenden, Dallas, Hot Spring, Independence, Johnson, Lafayette, Lincoln, Monroe, Newton, Nevada, Prairie, Searcy, Sevier, Union, Van Buren and Woodruff.

"Rural infrastructure impacts citizens' lives every day, from the roads they drive on to the water they drink," said Julianne Dunn, an economic development instructor for the Cooperative Extension Service's Community, Professional and Economic Development unit. "The purpose of this research study is to improve quality of life and foster economic and community development in rural Arkansas through identifying specific infrastructure challenges and recommending evidence-based responses for local and county governments to undertake."

The students also are reviewing evidence-based best practices that enhance stability in rural infrastructure in surrounding states.

The Clinton School graduate students are all pursuing masters degrees in public service. As part of the Clinton School's curriculum, students complete hands-on public service projects, including local work in Arkansas communities and international projects across the world.

"They are essentially putting into practice what they learn in class," Dunn said. "We're looking forward to seeing their results so we can better serve our communities."

The students include Marlie Ball, Drew Coker, Brock Hyland and Dillon Pitts.

"Once we complete our study, we will relay our evidence-based findings back to elected officials," Ball said. "Ultimately, we hope to identify potential solutions that can spur economic and community development in rural Arkansas that improves quality of life for Arkansans."

For more information about the survey, contact Marlie Ball at mball@ uaex.edu. More information about the Clinton School is available at clintonschool.uasys.edu.

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.

Learn more at uaex.edu.