Regional NewsFriday, November 13
Northwest Arkansas will likely have to solve its infrastructure needs on its own, the NWA Council hears
The Daily Bentonville team
Council President Nelson Peacock told 180 members at the annual meeting in Bentonville that the region faces $6 billion in road and transportation needs between now and 2050. "It's likely we're going to have to solve these problems on our own," he said. Infrastructure is also the top priority for 55% of council members.
Infrastructure is the region's top worry
- $6 billion
- in road and transportation needs through 2050
- 55%
- of council members chose infrastructure as the top priority
The other big topic was jobs. The region has more than 10,000 open jobs, and a new Gallup survey for the Walton Family Foundation found students often don't know their options. About a third said they can job shadow at a company.
Few students say they know about apprenticeships or certifications
Source: khbs
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Know a lot: apprenticeships | 13% |
| Know a lot: certifications | 11% |
| Have internship access | 27% |
- Employers expecting Arkansas graduates as most workers: about 96%
- Employers interested in a school-business initiative: 83%
- Survey timing: September and October
Peacock said the council's next step is mapping what each school district teaches and matching it to employer needs. Bentonville Schools' Ignite Professional Studies program already lets students explore health care, aviation and technology careers.