Latest news with #WaltonFamilyFoundation
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Action still needed to address Northwest Arkansas housing issues, study shows
(Photo by Getty Images) The need for regional leaders to work together to address Northwest Arkansas' worsening housing crisis is more urgent than it was five years ago, according to a report released Tuesday. The new study, 'Our Housing Future: A Call to Action for Northwest Arkansas,' builds on a 2019 report, finding that housing priority needs identified five years ago — a lack of regional housing policies, need for diverse housing options, limited choices for low-income households and weak links between housing and transportation — remain 'even more acute.' 05.27.25 NWA Housing Report The 2025 report also identified a new need: more intentional planning beyond the region's four largest cities — Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville. Independent, nonpartisan national housing consultancy Enterprise Advisors wrote the report, which the Walton Family Foundation commissioned. 'While progress has been made in some areas, the challenges outlined in 2019 have only grown,' Walton Family Foundation Home Region Program Director Robert Burns said in a statement. 'Our region is at an important juncture, requiring action to ensure affordable and accessible housing for all residents.' Northwest Arkansas, one of the 20 fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country, is expected to have more than 1 million residents by 2050, according to the Arkansas Economic Development Institute. The region is home to Fortune 500 companies like J.B. Hunt, Tyson Foods and Walmart, which unveiled its new 350-acre Bentonville campus in January. Northwest Arkansas' economic development has spurred population growth that has outpaced housing availability, according to the report. The University of Arkansas Center for Business and Economic Research reported a 70.9% increase in home prices over a five-year period, significantly higher than price increases in peer regions. According to U.S. Census data, between 2017 and 2022, median rent increased 30% in Rogers, 38% in Bentonville and 27% in Fayetteville, higher than the statewide increase of 22%. Meanwhile, the area median income has increased by 35%, from $69,900 to $94,400 for a family of four. The most recent numbers released in May by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development show the average median income is now $101,800. While the four largest communities' populations keep growing, land is finite, according to the report. Several affordable housing developers have focused on smaller nearby towns as land costs skyrocket in cities. According to the 2024 Skyline Report, 61% of growth is happening outside Northwest Arkansas' four largest cities. Critical actions identified in 2019 remain relevant today, according to the latest report, including establishing a regional housing vision, creating a regional housing trust fund, introducing development incentives to promote participation in regional and local housing initiatives, using publicly owned land for housing, and expanding and leveraging federal, state and local resources for affordable and workforce housing. Though work remains, strides have been made, including in local land use reforms, the creation of a regional housing organization and the philanthropic investment in more than 1,000 attainable housing units, said Stacy Jurado-Miller, a WFF Home Region Program senior program officer. Northwest Arkansas officials to address growth challenges with regional strategy 'But progress on the five critical actions identified in 2019 has been limited,' Jurado-Miller said in a press release. 'Challenges like clarity on legal parameters, limited funding, accessible resources, and unclear responsibility and accountability will require regional collaboration and a shared plan for creating the tools to build a better housing future.' Limited progress was also made on previously identified critical actions because many resources were focused on pandemic response efforts and development costs have increased, according to the report. Parts of Benton County are also being rebuilt after being struck by large tornadoes last May. Economic development has attracted people to Northwest Arkansas, but that trend could reverse if residents can't find affordable housing. Regional employers and employees have indicated housing 'is critical to economic competitiveness, workforce retention, and business growth,' according to the report. A recent nationwide survey found that 42% of employees have declined better job offers due to higher housing costs, the report states. 'Safe and affordable housing is critical infrastructure, essential to preserving the quality of life that makes Northwest Arkansas unique,' Burns said. 'Housing is a cornerstone of community stability and economic prosperity, and regional leaders will need to work together to adopt bold, collaborative measures to secure a sustainable future.' The full report is available here. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Action needed' calls report to address housing issues in Northwest Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A report from the Walton Family Foundation has found increases in renting and housing in Northwest Arkansas, and calls for action in a Tuesday news release. An updated report of 'Our Housing Future' shows that there has been a nearly 50% rise in median rent for multifamily housing and a 70.9% increase in home prices in Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, and Springdale. 'Northwest Arkansas continues to face a growing housing challenge,' the release states. The 2019 report revealed that household income growth has not kept pace with rising rent and home prices in three of the four largest cities. Consequently, nearly 2,500 people, including over 1,000 children, lack permanent housing on any given night. Today, it is estimated that the region needs to have 9,300 rental units for low-income residents, up from the 7,100 estimated in 2019. Nearly 30,000 residents have to spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. Fewer people's incomes were affected in 2019. 'While progress has been made in some areas, the challenges outlined in 2019 have only grown,' said Robert Burns, director of the Walton Family Foundation's Home Region Program. 'Our region is at an important juncture, requiring action to ensure affordable and accessible housing for all residents.' NWA 2050: School districts anticipate growth, seek millage increase The foundation is listing five action plans to help create affordable homes in the area. Establishing a regional housing vision including smaller, rapidly growing towns outside the four major cities – Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale. Creating a housing trust fund Utilizing publicly owned land Leveraging federal and state funding Introducing development incentives to address the housing shortfall The area is at risk of losing 3,233 subsidized housing units by 2040 due to expiring federal subsidies, the report states. Housing authorities in the region still have long waitlists for housing assistance programs, totaling 472 in Siloam Springs (Benton County) and 304 in Springdale, leading the Springdale Housing Authority to close its waiting list. Per publicly available reports, the utilization of housing choice vouchers has decreased over the last five years. Local housing officials say public housing authorities are struggling to place families in units with low enough rents to qualify for federal voucher programs. Our Housing Future report states. Since 2019, cities have not offered any incentives to increase affordable housing in the area. The report states that there has been a 'lack of any regionwide housing policies and has limited housing policies at the municipal level.' Northwest Arkansas is expected to exceed 1 million by 2050, making it one of the 20 fastest-growing metro areas in the nation. 'Safe and affordable housing is critical infrastructure, essential to preserving the quality of life that makes Northwest Arkansas unique,' said Burns. 'Housing is a cornerstone of community stability and economic prosperity, and regional leaders will need to work together to adopt bold, collaborative measures to secure a sustainable future.' Read the full report here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Gen Z is anxious about using AI, too
A new survey shows young Americans feel uneasy about AI. Despite their concerns, Gen Z knows AI is here to stay. Survey respondents want AI training but say schools aren't prepared. Young Americans feel uneasy about AI — and a new survey shows they're not getting much help from their schools. Four in 10 Gen Zers say they feel anxious about using AI, according to a Gallup poll by the Walton Family Foundation and GSV Ventures. Nearly half worry it's hurting their ability to think critically. At the same time, Gen Z knows AI isn't going anywhere. About 44% say they'll need to know how to use it for their future careers. The survey looked at how Gen Z uses AI in daily life and how they think it'll shape the future. It found that while nearly half of young people use generative AI weekly, many say they're doing so "without a map." The findings are based on a web survey last month of nearly 3,500 13- to 28-year-olds living in the US. Gen Z's feelings about AI echo broader national concerns. A separate survey by Pew Research Center last year found that more than half of US adults say they're more concerned than excited about AI's impact on the country over the next 20 years. According to Pew, about 43% of adults said they think AI will harm them, while one-third said they weren't sure what to expect. Only 23% of adults think it'll have a positive impact on how people do their jobs. That survey was conducted in August last year with over 5,000 people ages 18 and over. Despite the clear demand for AI know-how, there's a gap between what Gen Z students want and what schools offer. While over half of students think schools should be required to teach AI skills, 28% say their schools explicitly allow AI use. Nearly half either don't know their school's policy or say it doesn't have one. Even when policies do exist, they're often confusing. Just one in three students said their school's rules around AI were "extremely clear." That uncertainty is leading students to avoid AI altogether. About 47% said they skipped using AI for schoolwork because they weren't sure if it was allowed. "AI is only becoming more embedded in the future of work and learning, and schools will play a critical role in helping students navigate it," said Stephanie Marken, a senior partner at Gallup, in a press release on Tuesday. "These findings point to a clear opportunity for educators to guide Gen Z in using AI with purpose and confidence." In response to the demand for AI education, the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School recently unveiled a new MBA major and undergraduate concentration in AI. Faculty began discussing a new AI curriculum last year, Wharton professor Giles Hooker told Business Insider. "We are at a critical turning point where practical AI knowledge is urgently needed," said Eric Bradlow, the vice dean of AI and Analytics at Wharton, in a university press release announcing the changes. In China's capital, Beijing, AI education is compulsory for students — including elementary schoolers. Starting this fall, schools in the city must provide at least eight hours of AI instruction per academic year, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission said last month. Read the original article on Business Insider
Axios
08-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Gen Z is still anxiously using AI: Poll
Gen Zers are apprehensive about artificial intelligence, but they continue to use the tools, according to a Tuesday report from the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup. Why it matters: Students and young professionals may be digital natives, but they still crave clear policies around AI—especially as employers increasingly value experience with the tools. "Both at school and in the workplace, Gen Z students and workers whose institutions implement clear AI use policies are notably more likely than their Gen Z peers to use AI on a regular basis," the report said. By the numbers: The results are based on a web survey of nearly 3,500 13- to 28-year-olds living in the U.S. conducted March 6-13, 2025. 52% of Gen Zers said schools should be required to teach students how to leverage AI. 49% said they believe AI will harm their critical thinking skills. 41% said AI makes them anxious, while 36% said it makes them excited. What they're saying: "Navigating these concerns will be important to earning Gen Zers' buy-in for school and workplace AI initiatives," the report said. When AI policies are unclear, students who want to follow the rules may be "unnecessarily cautious" in avoiding AI, while their peers may be gaining an advantage. The other side: 72% of Gen Zers agree that AI can help them find information more easily. 66% said it can help them work faster, and 53% said it can help them learn faster. Zoom in: Students in more urban and wealthy communities are more likely to attend schools with AI policies. "If artificial intelligence is going to be a 'great equalizer,' ensuring young people in underserved communities have equitable access to and support in learning these technologies will be critical in preparing them, as well as their peers, to join the workforce of the future," the report said.
Axios
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Walton Family Foundation artist grant ends after 7 years
A grant program that supported NWA artists will end after the Walton Family Foundation did not renew funding. Why it matters: Mid-America Arts Alliance's Artists 360 program provided grants to artists of different mediums and was broader in the costs it covered than similar grants, Mid-America Arts Alliance spokesperson Sarah Mote told Axios. It wasn't tied to specific projects and could go toward expenses like studio space, Mote said. What they're saying:"As priorities evolve, we regularly assess and refine grantmaking," Walton Family Foundation spokesperson Kathryn Heller told Axios in an emailed statement. "We deeply appreciate Mid-America Arts Alliance for leading a remarkable program that has positively impacted artists across the region." By the numbers: The program received $2.4 million in grants since 2018, and gave money to 157 artists in Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Sebastian and Washington counties, according to the alliance. Zoom out: Mote expressed gratitude for the program's lasting effects on the art community, noting the professional development and mentorships it helped facilitate. Mid-America Arts Alliance will continue to grow its other programs in NWA and is always looking for funding for art programming, she said. What's next: A showcase to celebrate the grant recipients is set for April 27 at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.
