1. Tonya Hass serves the role of the Director of Community Outreach and Grants, where
she works directly with the Executive Director, Jim Youngquist. Before coming to
UALR, Tonya worked for U.S. Senator Mark Pryor in Constituency Services primarily in
the second and fourth congressional districts of AR. In addition, she has worked with
various non-profit organizations. Tonya is a graduate of the Delta Regional Authority
Delta Leadership Institute, OU Economic Development Institute (EDI), and has attained
her Mid-South Economic Development Professional (MSEDP) certificate. She received
her Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in
2003. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in
1991.
Her efforts focus on the United States Department of Commerce Economic Development
Administration and the Delta Regional Authority. Recently she has been involved in the
written development of numerous EDA Grant Proposals namely the 2013 University
Centers Grant Renewal, The Arkansas Louisiana Transportation Corridor Regional
Coordinating Council Grant, The Arkansas Comprehensive Economic Development
Strategy Grant. She spends her time fulfilling the responsibilities of the above grants.
Tonya was instrumental in the execution of the EDA Disaster Recovery and Preparedness
Plan for Arkansas, serving as one of the community outreach liaisons for the Institute.
She is also participating in the Continuing Education/Professional Development Program
for the Executive Directors of Regional Development Organizations in the Southwest
Federal Region, and the South East Regional Development Organizations (SERDI).
Recent public programs:
• Facilitated a session on behalf of the National Association of Development
Organizations and the Housing and Urban Development Sustainability Grantees
• Organized the UAM Public Private Partnership Summit in Monticello, AR
• Executed Interviews for the NACO Legislative Partners
• Wrote an EDA Grant for the Arkansas CEDS
• Wrote the EDA University Centers Grant Proposal for continued designation as a
University Center (5 year designation)
• Wrote an EDA Grant Proposal for the AR-LA transportation corridor Regional
Coordinating Council
• Wrote an EDA Grant on behalf of the City of Marked Tree, AR and Awesome
Products for a rail spur
• Organized and participated in 8 EDA Disaster Response and Preparedness Plan
(DRPP) Understanding Sessions with all 8 Development Districts across the state
• Submit quarterly reports to EDA on the status of all EDA grants
• Organized and participated in 8 EDA Disaster Response and Preparedness Plan
(DRPP) Strategies Sessions in 6 of the Development Districts in the state.
• Organized and participated in the Center for Economic Development Education
Quarterly Issues Forums from 2009-2013
• Assisted in the Mid-South Basic Economic Development annual course 2008-
2011
• Event Planner and Organizer of the Economic Forecast Conference 2010- to
present