Survey expected to guide Ashdown improvements

A survey is expected to help Little River County create a plan to attract housing, industry and correct community flaws.

“The survey went well overall. The input provided a base to start moving forward,” said Randy Wright, deputy director for the Arkansas Economic Development Institute in research and forecasting.

“The research will help to create smarter solutions and stronger communities,” said Wright.

“The answers to open-ended survey questions ranged from young people leaving home and never coming back to wild animals in the streets,” said Wright.

“Little River residents were invited to participate in a survey about a variety of topics, ranking public safety, availability of public facilities, economic development and some open-ended questions to provide their opinions of what they like and what needs improvement in the county,” said Vickie Williamson, Economic Development director.

“Little River County Economic Development knows that economic growth must be regional, and we look forward to working with all the economic development agencies in our region. We believe our four states region is rich in untapped opportunities and will do our part to promote it. We continue to develop the intermodal facility, which will be an important regional asset.

“I think the input was good and provided a base for us to start moving forward,” Williamson said.

A total of 741 people participated in the survey and about 35 people attended the meeting in the Barbara Horn Civic Center on the Ashdown campus of Cossatot College.

Wright, deputy director for the Arkansas Economic Development Institute in research and forecasting, prepared the condensed survey response.

Summary of responses to open-ended survey questions include:

What do you think are the strengths of this county? Family friendly community

■ Neighbors and kids

■ Friendly people

■ People work well with each other

Schools and churches

■ School system

■ Churches

■ Cossatot College

Outdoors and nature

■ Nearby lakes

■ Rural setting

What do you think are the weaknesses of this county?

■ Nothing to do/no social life

■ Nothing for young people, teens to do

■ No social activities

■ Need hotels/sit-down restaurants

■ Trash, litter, wild animals in streets, lack of cleanliness Urban decay

■ Buildings old, need repairs

■ Drugs

■ No quality housing

■ Trash, litter, wild animals in streets lack of cleanliness Young persons leaving

■ Educated youth leave and don’t return

■ Lack of quality jobs for graduates

■ Lack of things to do that interest young adults

For additional information, contact Williamson at 870-584-1488 or by email at vwilliamson@cccua.edu.