UA Community & Economic Development

🚜Agriculture is rapidly evolving through the use of technology, creating exciting new opportunities for the next generation of leaders.

The Ag-Tech Career Exploration (ACE) program introduces Arkansas high school students to careers in precision agriculture, data analytics, robotics, drones, food genetics, and other emerging technologies that are transforming the agriculture industry.
Through hands-on experiences, mentorship, and industry exposure, students gain valuable insight into how innovation is shaping the future of agriculture and the workforce.

🥃 On Monday, June 1, a few Experiential Scholars Program interns had the privilege of visiting the Delta Dirt Distillery in West Helena, Arkansas.🍸

Located in the Arkansas Delta, interns learned about the process of distilling spirits and all the hard work that goes into producing their own produce and grains by the Williams family.

“Papa” Joe Williams was the founder who sharecropped the original 86 acres in the late 1800s. His son, U.D. Williams, farmed the same land but did something new in 1949 — he purchased the farm out of sharecropping with money accumulated from cotton and homemade moonshine. Harvey Sr., the next generation farmer of the Williams Family, had to either sustain row crop farming or completely give up farming. Instead of giving in to the challenge, he reinvented the farm for vegetable production, mostly sweet potatoes and some squash, which shipped into national distribution.

In 2017, sweet potatoes were rejuvenated on the Williams farm, but with a creative twist, still to reinvent the operation again. The idea of creating a vodka from sweet potatoes sparked from a conversation held by Harvey Jr. and his brother Kennard. Three years later, Delta Distillery released Sweet Blend Vodka, produced from a distilled mix of sweet potatoes and corn.

Raising four generations of family in Phillips County, farming and now operating a family-owned craft distillery, they hope to grow their business beyond Phillips County.

Touring the family-owned and operating business, there was no doubt about the amount of hard work and passion this family has for their land, Delta Dirt Distillery, and for one another.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Williams family for hosting us and welcoming us into their community and sharing their story.

Arkansas APEX Accelerator office hours around the state.

Office hours are for established businesses interested in selling to the government.
Please sign up on the Arkansas APEX Accelerator event website unless otherwise noted.

Office Hours at the Conductor with Tim Hicks – Conway
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: The Conductor, 1201 Oak St, Conway, AR 72032
Sign up at https://calendly.com/info-q2mr/conductor-connect-meeting-tim-hicks?month=2026-06 and Tim Hicks will contact you to confirm your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at the Generator with Kenneth Griffin – Pine Bluff
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: The Generator, 435 South Main St., Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Sign up at https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2446 and Kenneth Griffin will contact you to set up your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce with Kimberly Randle – Siloam Springs
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00PM
Location: Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce, 101 N. Mt. Olive St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761
Sign up at https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2449 and Kimberly Randle will contact you to set up your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at the Newport Economic Development Commission with Kimberly Randle – Newport
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 3:00 PM
Location: Newport Economic Development Center – Tech Depot, 209 Hazel Street, Newport, AR 72112
Sign up at https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2463 and Kimberly Randle will contact you to set up your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at the Monticello Economic Development Commission with Tim Hicks
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Monticello Economic Development Commission: 211 W Gaines Street, Monticello AR 71655
Sign up at https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2450 and Tim Hicks will contact you to set up your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at ASU Heber Springs with Kimberly Randle – Heber Springs
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 3:00 PM
Location: ASU Heber Springs, 101 River Crest Dr., Heber Springs, AR 72543
Sign up at https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2453 and Kimberly Randle will contact you to set up your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at the Greater Bryant Chamber of Commerce with Kenneth Griffin – Bryant
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Greater Bryant Chamber of Commerce, 109 Roya Lane, Bryant, AR 72022
Sign up at https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2451 and Kenneth Griffin will contact you to set up your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at the ASU Delta Center for Economic Development with Kimberly Randle – Jonesboro
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Arkansas State University, Delta Center of Economic Development: 2nd Floor Conference Room, 318 University Loop West, Jonesboro, AR 72401
Sign up at https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2464 and Kimberly Randle will contact you to confirm your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at UA Ft. Smith Economic Development Center with Kimberly Randle – Ft. Smith
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: University of Arkansas Fort Smith Economic Development Center - The Bakery District: 70 South 7th Street, Ft. Smith AR 72901
Sign up at https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2456 and Kimberly Randle will contact you to set up your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at Communities Unlimited with Kimberly Randle – Fayetteville
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Communities Unlimited, 3 East C**t Square Drive, Fayetteville AR 72703
Sign up at https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2461 and Kimberly Randle will contact you to set up your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at the Generator with Kenneth Griffin – Pine Bluff
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: The Generator, 435 South Main St., Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Sign up at https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2457 and Kenneth Griffin will contact you to set up your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at UAPB with Kenneth Griffin – Pine Bluff
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: UAPB, Small Business & Technology Development Center, 615 S. Main St., Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Sign up at https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2458 and Kenneth Griffin will contact you to set up your one-on-one appointment.

Office Hours at Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center with Tim Hicks – Little Rock
Date: Thursday, June 25 & Friday, June 26, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, Little Rock, AR 72204
Sign up at https://calendly.com/cityoflittlerock/apex-open-office-hours?month=2026-06 . Once you sign up, Tim Hicks will contact you to confirm your one-on-one meeting time.

Arkansas APEX Accelerator 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

🔥🔥Things are heating up in our 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿!

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Join us in welcoming our 2026 Experiential Scholars Program interns!

From May 18 through July 17, 2026, our interns will be working in specialized focus areas including water and soil conservation, food, health, nutrition and safety, and community development.
From Little Rock to Northwest Arkansas and communities across the state, these interns will gain hands-on experience through job shadowing, leadership training, and independent projects within their specific areas of focus.

Through this program, students are gaining valuable experience while making a positive impact in communities across Arkansas. We are excited to see all they accomplish this summer!

Arkansas APEX Accelerator is hiring in Jonesboro. Please share and/or apply today!

APEX Accelerator: Procurement Counselor Current University of Arkansas System employees, including student employees and graduate assistants, need to log in to Workday via MyApps.Microsoft.com, then access Find Jobs from the Workday search bar to view and apply for open positions. Students at University of Arkansas System will also view o...

Eleven nonprofit and community leaders from 6 counties gathered in Phillips County for a Capacity Building through Grant Writing training with instructors Danielle Watson and Dr. Hunter Goodman.

Thank you especially to Mayor Whitfield for providing a welcome to all participants. Thank you to Helen Halbert, Director of Helena Advertising & Promotions Commission. And to Julie Goings, UADA-Extension Phillips County, and Phillips County Chamber of Commerce for hosting a wonderful event.

Photo Credit: Julie Goings Strayhorn

We're excited to partner with the Arkansas Agritourism Association to host Social Media Basics on Tuesday, May 19 at 7 pm. This free webinar aims to help agritourism businesses strengthen their marketing efforts. Registration is required: https://uada.zoom.us/meeting/register/24NI5PKJQfO9c7Tr6zmWdA

NOTICE OF TIME CHANGE for this Arkansas APEX Accelerator event on 5/14/2026

NOTICE OF TIME CHANGE -
Building Your Network with the AEDC Arkansas Business Resource Hub

5/14/2026

⏰NEW TIME: 2:00 - 3:00 PM ⏰

The Arkansas Business Resource Hub is a free, centralized, statewide listing of the organizations committed to helping entrepreneurs and small business owners access the many resources, programs, and funding opportunities available to them. The site is managed by the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation and funded by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, the Asset Funder's Network, the Arkansas Women's Foundation, and the Arkansas Community Foundation.
Esperanza Massana Crane, Director of AEDC's Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, will share tips for navigating the site to find important resources and opportunities within your community and make connections with those committed to supporting your venture.

REGISTER: https://arapex.ecenterdirect.com/events/2433

Check out this opportunity for youth entrepreneurs being hosted by our friends at Arkansas 4-H!

We are just 1 week away from the inaugural Young Makers Market. Swing by the C.A. Vines 4-H Center (1 Four H Way, Little Rock) next Saturday (5/9) between 9am-5pm and check out all the talented youth vendors we have lined up. We plan to make this an annual event. Please help make the first year a success for these young entrepreneurs.