Center For Economic Development
Your success is our mission
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith Center for Economic Development is your destination for workforce and personal training, planning, and advising. We provide you with the resources and experienced partners you need to advance your business and your career. Whether starting your own business, expanding into new markets, or accelerating your career 鈥� the AV抖阴 Center for Economic Development (CED) can help you achieve your goals.
Workforce and Professional Training
Delivers customized training and onboarding services to meet your company goals. You
set the goal, we create the program, and together we get results.
Family Enterprise Center
Offers family businesses a learning community to meet their unique needs. Members
have access to workshops, quarterly breakfast meetings, and peer groups.
Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center
Helps with every aspect of business creation, management, and operation for new and seasoned entrepreneurs. Receive confidential consulting and market research at no charge.
Click Here For CED Excellence Awards
Keynote Speaker
Willie Robertson
We're thrilled to announce that Willie Robertson, CEO of Duck Commander and Buck Commander and star of Duck Dynasty, will be gracing us as the keynote speaker at the inaugural CED Excellence Awards Oct. 24!
This event is dedicated to honoring the achievements of regional family-owned and small businesses. Additionally, we celebrate a significant milestone as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Jim Walcott Family Enterprise Center, which has been instrumental in offering education and support to family businesses throughout the region.
Official EDA University Center
The AV抖阴 Center for Economic Development is proud to have been designated an official University Center Program by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The CED is one of only two recognized University Center's in Arkansas and one of 73 in the United States. As a University Center, the AV抖阴 CED is able to collaborate with other EDA partners by providing expertise, applied research, and technical assistance to develop, implement, and support regional strategies that result in job creation, high-skilled talent pools, and business expansion
Compass Regional Economic Report
The AV抖阴 Center for Economic Development is proud to partner with Talk Business & Politics to produce The Compass Regional Economic Report, the only independent economic analysis of Arkansas鈥� top four metro areas. Kendall Ross, CED executive director, provides narrative and analysis for the quarterly report, read by business and industry leaders throughout Arkansas.
Host your next board meeting or corporate retreat at the AV抖阴 Center for Economic Development!
Located in Fort Smith's vibrant Bakery District, our 10,000-square-foot facility features customizable classroom space for 120 collaboration spaces, state-of-the-art multimedia capabilities, and an executive boardroom. Our downtown location provides convenient access to excellent catering and lodging options.
The AV抖阴 Center for Economic Development offers multiple opportunities for workforce and personal education and special events. Browse our offerings to find the sessions that's right for you.
Your partners at the Center for Economic Development make up XXX years of experience in workforce and personal training, planning, and advising in River Valley industry. You鈥檇 be hard-pressed to find a challenge this dynamic team can鈥檛 help any business overcome!