Batesville Stakeholders Launch IMPACT Independence County

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC), Lyon College, and the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) announced Wednesday the launch of IMPACT Independence County.

The program is a county-wide strategic plan that calls on the citizens of Independence County to determine the community’s needs and create an action plan that meets those needs, officials said.

Both Lyon College and UACCB are also hosting a meeting with BACC, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and keynote speaker Gov. Asa Hutchinson on July 1 at 6 p.m. in Independence Hall on the UACCB campus.

The meeting will feature the official launch of IMPACT Independence County, and those in attendance will be the first to complete the IMPACT Independence County survey.

The survey will be available throughout the county following the community meeting. BACC, Lyon College, and UACCB strongly encourage all Independence County residents to complete and return the survey. Childcare will be available at the meeting.

“IMPACT Independence County seeks to improve economic opportunities for all residents of Independence County,” said BACC President/CEO Crystal Johnson.

Lyon College President Dr. Donald Weatherman stated, “Independence County is a remarkable place with natural beauty and gifted people. IMPACT Independence County is a community-based initiative designed to mobilize the resources in this area so we can get the most impact from them for the people who are already here and for those who will discover this area in the future. We have a remarkably strong entrepreneurial spirit in Independence County and one of our hopes is to foster an environment that encourages that to grow and flourish.”

UACCB Chancellor Deborah Frazier said of the strategic plan, “IMPACT Independence County is unlike anything that has been tried before in Independence County. This strategic plan will not only allow the citizens of our county to voice what is important to them in terms of the development of Independence County, but it will also make us more appealing to funding outlets such as state and federal grant committees and private investors. IMPACT Independence County is unique in that it allows everyone to make an impact on our great county, whether that impact is in education, transportation, entrepreneurial efforts, county beautification, or some other area in which Independence County citizens see a need.”

The IMPACT Independence County strategic plan will be created by volunteer committees using the survey results.