Quarterly Breakfast Focuses on Infrastructure

Jeff Collins, director of the University of Arkansas’ Center for Business and Economic Research, put it bluntly April 29 at the center’s recent quarterly business analysis breakfast:

“Infrastructure is going to be the death of us,” Collins said during the event at Embassy Suites in Rogers.

Noting the lack of major highway arteries, along with the population and economic booms in Northwest Arkansas, Collins said the area’s ability to sustain its rampant prosperity will come down to meeting infrastructure needs.

“I have heard anecdotes about companies creating jobs in other markets rather than here, because of the infrastructure concerns,” Collins said.

“If you lose one job, you’re really losing a job and a fraction because of the ripple affect. The point is when you start thinking about our potential, there’s a whole lot of good things that can come with quality growth.

“Where we actually end up will depend on how well we address these highway issues now.”

The breakfast was sponsored by the Northwest Arkansas Chambers of Commerce. The center is a division housed in the UA’s Sam M. Walton College of Business.