Released March 28, 2008

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- People who attend the annual Breakthrough Solutions Conference on May 1 at Little Rock will hear lessons about community development in the global economy and learn how Arkansas communities and businesses are taking advantage of opportunities in this new era.

The conference will be held at the Hilton Little Rock Metro Center, I-630 and University Ave., from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

"With the theme 'It's All Connected - Linking Your Local Economy to Global Opportunities,' the conference will focus on the interconnectedness of workforce preparation, creating jobs and wealth and quality of life and place," said Dr. Mark Peterson, extension community development professor with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

"The ultimate connector is high-speed telecommunications - broadband connectivity that enables communities and businesses to strengthen their local economies, work force, and quality of life," Peterson said.

Keynote speaker is Jane Smith Patterson, executive director of e-NC Authority, the Internet agency for the state of North Carolina. "She will discuss the outstanding job North Carolina has done to bring telecommunications infrastructure to rural communities, helping them create jobs and improve their quality of life," Peterson said.

The conference will also feature a panel on developing and harnessing the power of broadband in Arkansas, with representatives from the Arkansas Capital Corp., the Arkansas Broadband Advisory Council and Hempstead County Economic Development Corp.

The panel will discuss what's happening with broadband in Arkansas and the opportunities for greater broadband deployment in the state. Many rural areas of the state don't have access to high-speed telecommunications outside of the city limits.

Speakers from local communities, businesses, state agencies, universities and non-profit organizations will address:

• Economic success stories in the global economy,
• Meeting community needs through technologies,
• Developing a top notch workforce, and
• Job creation in the 21st century.

Peterson said the topic of preparing for 21st century jobs become more important as baby boomers retire, creating a significant shortage of skilled workers. "More and more communities tell us they have jobs - they just don't have skilled workers to fill the jobs," he said.

For more information on the conference and lodging and to register, go to http://www.vworks.org/conference, or call Maureen Rose at (501) 671-2066. Registration is $60, with an early bird reduction of $10 until April 21. The conference is sponsored by the U of A Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service.

This meeting is open to all interested persons without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information should notify the county extension office as soon as possible prior to the activity.

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http://www.uaex.edu/news/march2008/0328solutions.htm

Contact: Lamar James, (501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207, ljames@uaex.edu