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SW Arkansas Survey by U of A System Division of Agriculture
Atmosphere, options and safety at the top of consumers’ list
By Ryan McGeeney U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
· Survey conducted by Division of Agriculture initiative looks at consumer priorities
· Data collected from 199 southwestern Arkansas residents · Survey results at www.uaex.uada.edu/createbridgesresources
LITTLE ROCK — A friendly atmosphere, options, and safety measures were southwestern Arkansans’ top three values in choosing which restaurants and stores to frequent, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The survey was conducted in March by CREATE BRIDGES, an initiative of the Division of Agriculture’s Community and Economic Development Department, based in Little Rock. CREATE BRIDGES is an acronym for “Celebrating Retail, Accommodations, Tourism and Entertainment by Building Rural Innovations and Developing Growth Economies.”
The survey received responses from 199 residents living in Howard, Little River, and Sevier counties.
Julianne Dunn, economic educator for the Division of Agriculture, said the most popular products purchased were clothing and locally made or crafted goods, according to the survey results.
“Additionally, a majority of respondents want the conveniences added during the pandemic to remain, such as ordering online, picking up at the store and curbside delivery,” Dunn said.
CREATE BRIDGES is designed to bring two three-county regions together to collaborate, gather data, develop and implement strategies to assist small, rural businesses in retaining and expanding their customer base.
The CREATE BRIDGES 3C’s Region, consisting of Howard, Little River, and Sevier counties, was selected in the fall of 2018. Like other programs and agencies, however, CREATE BRIDGES administrators had to reassess their objectives in 2020 while facing the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We agreed that consumers’ needs and desires may have changed as a result of the pandemic and that it would be beneficial to small retail businesses to know what their customers sought,” Vickie Williamson, economic development director for Little River County, said.
Williamson and Tiffany Maurer, economic development director for Sevier County, generated a short list of questions in January for consumers to answer online.
All respondents were entered into a drawing for a gift card as an incentive to participate. There were 199 responses across the three counties, providing helpful data and comments for local businesses. The complete survey results are available at www.uaex.uada.edu/createbridgesresources.
For more information about CREATE BRIDGES, visit www.uaex.uada.edu/createbridges or contact Julianne Dunn at 501-671-2158 or jbdunn@uaex.edu.
To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.
Howard Memorial Hospital Survey
Howard Memorial Hospital needs your help in conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment. We recently visited with Debra Wright HMH CEO, and Bill Craig CFO to talk about the importance of this survey.
Survey participants must meet the following criteria:
1) Will represent the broad interests of the community served
2) Will complete and return the survey to ASU timely
(Surveys must be completed and returned to ASU by May 21, 2021)
Each participant should represent one or more of the following populations; please check all that apply:
____Adult age 65 or older
____African American or Hispanic
____Parents of children under age 18; Female head of household with children under age 18;
Grandparents who are responsible for raising grandchildren
____Works in Public Education or Public Health
If you are interested in participating in a focus group meeting, please contact Kim Turbeville at 870 845-8006 and give her your name, contact number, address and the population(s) you are representing based on the list above. She will forward the survey to you along with your stamped, addressed envelope and $15 gift certificate for participating.
Survey Shows Arkansas Restaurants Are Struggling To Stay In Business
A new survey conducted by the Arkansas Hospitality Association shows that restaurants are still struggling as the coronavirus continues spreading through the state. According to the survey, 36% of restaurant operators believe it is unlikely they will still be in business six months from now without additional federal aid.
Arkansas restaurants are currently limited to two-thirds capacity for dine-in service, but the trade group’s CEO Montine McNulty says many eateries aren’t seeing even that much business as people are afraid to go out to eat while the virus continues reaching record levels in the state.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/survey-shows-arkansas-restaurants-are-struggling-stay-business
More than one-third of restaurants surveyed by the Arkansas Hospitality Association say that without new assistance for businesses by the federal government, it's unlikely they will still be in business six months from now.
CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS
UA Professor Seeks To Understand Obstacle To Organic Farming In The South
A research project by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is hoping to understand why more farmers in the south don't produce organic crops. Professor Michael Popp from the Fayetteville campus designed a survey to collect information about types of crops and obstacles to organic farming in the region.
"There are weed control issues. There are production method issues. There's uncertainty about price premiums [farmers] can attain," Popp said. "There are worries about whether those premiums would erode if you produce too much organic food."
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/ua-professor-seeks-understand-obstacle-organic-farming-south
UA Professor Seeks To Understand Obstacle To Organic Farming In The South
A research project by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is hoping to understand why more farmers in the south don't produce organic crops. Professor Michael Popp from the Fayetteville campus designed a survey to collect information about types of crops and obstacles to organic farming in the region.