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ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThe primary objective of the project was to develop a PC-based Kit allowingusers to evaluate the economic impact of existing rural inland waterways ports andterminals. By using the Kit the importance to a community of a port and terminals can bequantified. The Kit is designed so that users can follow a step-by-step procedurefocusing on the economic impact of the totality of a port or terminal operation andlinkage to the community’s industrial structures and transportation systems. The originof the design is Maritime Administration Port Economic Impact Kit developed in the1970s.Two documents accompany the Rural Inland Waterways Kit. A User Guide hasbeen prepared to guide the user through the operation of the Kit. By following the step-by-step procedures in the Guide, the user is led through an economic impact analysis of the various activities at a port or terminal. An Analysis Manual has also been prepared toassist the user. The Analysis Manual focuses on the details and processes that will benecessary when using the Kit to perform an economic impact analysis of a port orterminal. Included in the discussion are data collection requirements, methodologyissues, and the interpretation of the findings.Several people and institutions provided valuable support to this project. DavidRasmussen preformed the computer programming tasks and the industrial classificationdetails. Xiaogin Zeng a graduate student assistant, worked on data collection.Appreciation is expressed to the Planning and Research Division of the ArkansasHighway and Transportation Department for initiating and supporting for the project.
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