The University of Arkansas (U of A) has joined the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) as an education member, providing faculty, staff, and students access to ORR's network of recreation associations, state offices of outdoor recreation, and businesses [19022311]. U of A's partnership with ORR aims to prepare students for the recreation economy through immersive opportunities. ORR represents over 110,000 outdoor businesses and promotes the growth of the outdoor recreation economy. U of A is focused on outdoor recreation with programs such as the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP), outdoor leadership minor, and infrastructure like the UREC Outdoors shop and soft surface trails. Arkansas' outdoor recreation economy generated $4.1 billion in 2022 and 43,422 jobs. U of A's Outdoor Products and Services Program is expected to contribute to the industry and transform Northwest Arkansas into a hub of outdoor innovation and entrepreneurship. U of A is Arkansas' flagship institution, offering over 200 academic programs and contributing over $2.2 billion to the state's economy [19022311].
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville's Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP) will expand statewide with a $1.2 million grant [45aaa3be]. The grant, matched by an additional $1 million from the State of Arkansas, will support the development of the outdoor recreation economy in four designated opportunity zones: Queen Wilhelmina State Park, Petit Jean State Park, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, and the Delta Heritage Trail State Park. The GORP ARound the State program will provide business development workshops, industry events, and mentors to entrepreneurs in these communities. GORP will also partner with the University of Arkansas School of Law to offer entrepreneurial law sessions. GORP has already made an impact on the outdoor economy in Northwest Arkansas, supporting startups and entrepreneurs through its cohort program and a la carte services. The expansion of GORP is expected to bring high-paying jobs, visibility, and tourism dollars to the state. The Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation is supportive of GORP's mission to grow the state's outdoor recreation economy. GORP is one of several programs launched by the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which focuses on sectors with economic impact such as outdoor recreation, healthcare, and emerging technologies [45aaa3be].
Ozark Green Roofs is the first and only green roof company in Arkansas, founded by landscape architect and arborist Emily Porter [ee87d824]. The company designs, installs, and maintains green roofs, which help replace the green space lost during construction. Green roofs provide insulation, reduce the urban heat island effect, slow stormwater runoff, and increase biodiversity. Ozark Green Roofs has installed 11 roofs, maintains 17 roofs, and has designed or bid on over 30 projects. Most of their work has been in Fayetteville, with significant projects at the JB Hunt headquarters in Lowell and the Alice Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville. Green roofs come in two main categories: extensive and intensive. Extensive roofs are simpler and cheaper, with a thin soil profile and shallow-rooted plants. Intensive roofs are more complex and can include larger plants, benches, lighting systems, and water features. As Arkansas grows and becomes more urbanized, there will be greater opportunities and needs for green roofs.
The Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents has approved a request to draft construction plans for new facilities at the OSU Agronomy Research Station in Stillwater. The project's first phase will involve selecting architectural and construction management firms to design and construct new greenhouses and a headhouse at the site, with an expected cost of $10 million. The current OSU agronomy farm houses one of the top wheat breeding programs in the world and has commercialized 34 wheat varieties since 2000. The aging structures at the farm have been deemed in need of repairs or replacement, and the freezing weather in February 2021 caused significant damage to the main greenhouse, resulting in a loss of 70% of potential new plant lines for the year. The project aims to update or replace dilapidated research facilities and stretch out the growing season to nine months. The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities has reported that $11.5 billion in repairs and renovations are needed at schools authorized to receive USDA research funding. The OSU project is seen as a promising step towards improving the agronomy farm and supporting the agricultural industry [8261c603].