The Institute of Economic Advancement in the UALR College of Business is hosting a statewide business and economic discussion Wednesday, Aug. 18, with a focus on the state’s workforce.

The Arkansas Economic Breakfast Series links educational institutions throughout the state via videoconferencing, and provides an interactive setting for learning about the latest economic trends that affect businesses in the state.

The event will be from 7 to 9:15 a.m. The Little Rock site will be in Room 103 of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business and Economic Development, located on 28th Street and South University Avenue on the UALR campus. Parking will be available in Lot 13, in front of the Jack Stephens Center, across the street from the Reynolds Center.

The program is the third in the series and will focus on matching the needs of business and industry with the skills of the Arkansas workforce. Michael Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster for the Institute for Economic Advancement, and Kathy Deck, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville will provide the latest data and trends about the state’s economy.

Charisse Childers, executive director of Accelerate Arkansas, will make the business case for being concerned about student and worker capability in science, technology, engineering, and math. After her presentation, faculty, staff, and business leaders from around the state will engage participants among the seven sites in discussion about workforce readiness. Accelerate Arkansas is a statewide group of leaders volunteering their time and resources to focus on how to move the state forward in the 21st century economy.

Cost is $20 for the breakfast event, and reservations are required by Aug. 16. Registration is limited. Reservations for any of the seven locations can be made on the Arkansas Business website. For more information, contact Neva Wayman, 501-569-8551.

The Arkansas Economic Issues Breakfast Series is coordinated by UALR’s Institute for Economic Advancement in cooperation with the Center for Business and Economic Research in the Walton College, College of Business at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, Delta Center for Economic Development at Arkansas State University, Economic Research and Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas at Monticello and Southern Arkansas University. The series is sponsored by Arkansas Business.