Metropolitan

Ross DeVol and Angie Cooper
We are all invested in the idea of upward economic mobility, grounded in the notion that with hard work, we can build a better life for ourselves, our communities and our children. Unfortunately, the analysis in this report makes it clear that the distribution of opportunity has been and continues to be uneven.

Entrepreneurs and young firms are the future major employers and they need support.

Young firms and the entrepreneurial ecosystems that spawned and nurtured them determine the economic destiny of communities.

This industry-specific platform provides a single source for recommendations on how you can help the Arkansas economy recover from the effects of COVID-19. The information provided here is based on science, data, and the decision making of our state leaders and industry experts. Working smart, safe, and together makes Arkansas Ready for Business.

Manufacturing faces increased job losses due to COVID-19, but this presents the industry an opportunity to re-evaluate supply chains, introduce new products, and innovate – to leverage the Heartland’s resources and build resilient economies.

Because of the digital divide, not all parts of U.S. have benefited from the utility of broadband connectivity during the coronavirus pandemic

Ross DeVol
The most extensive negative consequences of COVID-19 on the Heartland will be attributable to the related, but indirect impacts, of reduced oil and gas exploration and extraction operations

The Heartland is home to a significant portion of the United State’s airlines and aerospace manufacturing. Given the huge drop-off in airline travel and the significant role that travel, tourism, airlines, and aerospace manufacturing play in the Heartland's economy, we wanted to dive into this area further.

How COVID-19 will impact communities in the Heartland and beyond, and how policymakers can respond

Recent federal changes to the unemployment insurance (UI) program authorized employee eligibility under certain conditions related to COVID-19

The contributors address a fundamental topic for future economic success
in the Heartland: Will Millennials return and remain at higher rates?

Our Most Dynamic Metropolitan Index, and the analysis contained in this report provides objective insight into the communities providing economic opportunity for their residents, separating high performers from the low. Most Dynamic Metropolitans provides fact-based metrics on near-term and medium-term performance and prospects for long-term growth.

The American research university is the nation’s best defense against economic competition from the rest of the world. Research shouldn’t be confined to a library, lab, or lecture hall. When it comes to America’s research universities, across the Heartland and beyond, data show that when universities and communities collaborate, the positive impacts on the workforce, tax base, startup activity and economy opportunity grow exponentially.