BENTONVILLE — NorthWest Arkansas Community College officials will hold four focus group sessions to get feedback on what programs are most needed at the future center in Springdale.

The sessions will take place between Jan. 9 and Feb. 4 in the Northwest Arkansas Council conference room in Springdale.

Bob Arthur with Employer Advantage will lead the meetings. Members of the college cabinet will be present as well to provide information and address questions, said Evelyn Jorgenson, college president. Jorgenson also will attend the sessions.

There were 134 invitations sent to area business and community leaders Dec. 23, according to Miranda Smith, executive assistant to the college president and board. There have been 15 who have said they plan to attend as of midday Thursday.

“We certainly hope for a good participation,” Jorgenson said, adding she hopes for 30 to 40 people a session. “Our goal is to just listen and find out what businesses and industries need.”

Business and industry leaders have said they’ve had difficulty finding employees who have specific skill sets they need, Jorgenson said. One of the best things the college can do is offer career and technical programs that equip people with those skills and prepare them to enter the work force upon completion of a program.

The focus groups are an opportunity for the college to ask “what types of needs to they have, and how can we help them address those needs,” Jorgenson said.

Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse plans to attend the first session. He said work force development is an area that needs to continued to be looked at.

The sessions are a positive and a needed step toward making the college center, which has been discussed for years, a reality, he said. It’s front-end work and a way to get community input to make sure the services needed will be provided.

“We’re happy to be a part of that,” Sprouse said.

It’s also important to know program specifics as they will affect the details and planning of the building, Jorgenson said. Officials need to know the programs going to be offered before they can start the design of the building.

Buying land is planned to happen in the spring, according to Jorgenson.

The college has eyed 39 acres, owned by Philip Taldo, just west of Arvest Ballpark to build on in Springdale. The college’s board approved negotiating for the land in May 2012. Officials estimate the facility being between 40,000 and 50,000 square feet.

The college leases two spaces in Springdale and one in Farmington to serve Washington County residents. About 40 percent of the college’s students live in Washington County.