The Community and Economic Development division of the Delta Center provides technical support, strategic planning services, research and analysis, training and leadership development for local government, chambers of commerce and development organizations.  Strategies that are innovative and sustainable are redefining economic development in the 21st century. The Delta Center works closely with community leaders to explore and create awareness of how assets can be best utilized and great ideas transformed to build the community and grow the economy.  We believe equally in the importance of regional development and that strong communities provide the foundation to bring major new investment into the area and state.  In addition to the Delta Center staff with a combined 60 years of experience in the community and economic development field, College of Business faculty provides a wealth of intellectual capital and expertise for studies and analysis.  

The Delta Center is privileged to serve the region as an “EDA University Center” project. EDA is the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the federal government’s lead agency for economic development with a focus on communities and regions suffering from economic distress. The University Center Program is a partnership of federal government and academia that makes the varied and vast resources of universities available to the economic development community. Only 50-60 universities receive this particular designation by EDA. We are proud to say that 2009 marks our 20th year of successfully reapplying on an annual basis to be funded as an EDA University Center project. Our building, built with EDA assistance, is a testament to the legacy of our long partnership and commitment to helping economically distressed communities in the Arkansas Delta.