UAFS, Arvest partner on economic forum

The Fort Smith Regional Economic Outlook Forum on July 10 at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith will include a presentation from Kevin Kliesen, business economist and research officer for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
 
The luncheon forum, hosted by UAFS and Arvest Bank, will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Reynolds Room of the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, according to Dr. Kermit Kuehn of Fort Smith, director of the Center for Business Research and Economic Development at UAFS. Kuehn will give an update on the regional economy as part of the forum.
 
Kuehn said Kliesen’s presentation will focus on the performance of the U.S. economy to date, as well as look at the prospects for the economy for the balance of the year. Kliesen said he is looking forward to the July economic forum at UAFS.
 
“I hope to provide attendees with an overview of the U.S. and regional economic outlook and briefly discuss the Federal Reserve’s ‘exit strategy,’” Kliesen said.
 
In addition to updating participants on the area economy, Kuehn will also highlight the findings of the most recent research by the center on economic clusters, giving some implications of this research. This study is to be reported in the forthcoming Fort Smith Regional Economic Outlook Report to be released by mid-June.
 
“I’m really looking forward to this mid-year forum. I think our presenters represent unique perspectives on what’s going on in the economy and hopefully that will provoke some good discussion,” said Craig Rivaldo, Arvest Bank president.

Tickets for the luncheon are $15, with reservations required by July 8. To register, contact the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce at 783-3111 or email [email protected].