ASU Delta Center for Economic Development names Jarrett Free to post

Jarrett Free has been named as the new director of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) University Center at the Arkansas State University Delta Center for Economic Development.

The EDA-supported University Center program is specifically designed to marshal the resources located within colleges and universities to support regional economic development strategies in regions of chronic and acute economic distress.

It makes the resources of universities available to the economic development community, including specialized research, outreach, technology transfer, and commercialization capabilities, as well as recognized faculty expertise and sophisticated laboratories.

EDA awarded the ASU Delta Center for Economic Development $564,240 over five years to support university-community collaboration in the following 12 counties: Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, Randolph, Sharp and St. Francis.

Free previously worked as the financial aid coordinator and associate director for ASU’s online services department. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Delta State University and his Master of Public Administration degree from ASU.

“As a native of the Mississippi Delta, Jarrett fully understands the challenges and opportunities in the Delta region. This understanding coupled with his knowledge of university resources sets Jarrett apart and will ensure the success of the program,” said Andrea Allen, executive director of the Delta Center.