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2012-2013 Annual Report Members

2012-2013 Annual Report Members

Northwest Council

4100 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 205, Springdale, Arkansas 72762 2012-2013 Annual Report www.nwacouncil.org Members

Jay Allen, Jay Allen Communications Peter Lane, Arts Center Rick Allen, Allen Canning Company Randy Laney, Empire District Electric Co. Don Bacigalupi, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Randy Lawson, Lawco Exploration Dick Barclay, Beall Barclay Greg Lee, (retired) Susan Barrett, Consultant Jim Lindsey, Lindsey Management Co., Inc. Rick Barrows, Multi-Craft Contractors, Inc. Jef Long, Nef Basore, Cooper Communities, Inc. Bill Mathews, McDonalds of Fadil Bayyari, Bayyari Construction and Properties David Matthews, Matthews, Campbell, Rhoads, McClure & Thompson Rob Boaz, Carroll Electric Cooperative Corp. Wayne Mays, Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce Ed Bradberry, B & B Resources Tim McFarland, Elevate Bill Bradley, Regional Medical Center Dan McKay, Northwest Health System Rosalind Brewer, Sam’s Club Jef Milford, AEP SWEPCO Mary Beth Brooks, Bank of Fayetteville Elise Mitchell, Mitchell Communications Group Tim Broughton, McKee Foods Mike Moss, Moss Financial Group John Brown III, Windgate Foundation Becky Paneitz, NorthWest Arkansas Community College Frank Broyles, University of Arkansas Neal Pendergraft, Donald W. Reynolds Foundation Raymond Burns, Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce Gene Pharr, Arkansas Farm Bureau Wayne Callahan, H.J. Heinz Company Philpot, Foundation Steve Clark, Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Chip Pollard, Ed Cliford, The Jones Trust Ken Reeves, FedEx Freight John Cooper III, Cooper Communities Inc. John Roberts, J. B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Dana Davis, Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce Reynie Rutledge, First Security Bank Rich Davis, SourceGas Arkansas Maggie Sans, Stores Tommy Deweese, AEP SWEPCO (retired) Nick Santoleri, Rockline Industries Lee DuChanois, APAC-Central, Inc. Archie Schafer, Tyson Foods Eric Edelstein, Rich Operations Charles Scharlau, Southwestern Energy John Elrod, Conner & Winters Jef Schomburger, Procter & Gamble Danny Ferguson, Southwestern Energy Anita Scism, Endeavor Foundation Greg Fogle, Nabholz Construction Services , Walmart Stores Cathy Foraker, AT&T Mark Simmons, Simmons Foods Alan Fortenberry, Beaver Water District Steve Staford, 1st National Bank of Green Forest Wallace Fowler, Liberty Bank of Arkansas Cameron Smith, Cameron Smith Associates Ed Fryar, Ozark Mountain Poultry Scott Street, Mercy Health Systems of Northwest Arkansas G. David Gearhart, University of Arkansas Philip Taldo, Weichert Realtors, The Grifn Company Stan Green, Lindsey Green Properties Jim Taylor, First Security Bank Mary Ann Greenwood, Greenwood Gearhart Inc. Kirk Thompson, J. B. Hunt Transport Services. Scott Grigsby, Group Kenny Tomlin, Rockfish Interactive , former U.S. Congressman Walter Turnbow, Beaver Water District (retired) Howard Hamilton, Liberty Bank of Arkansas John Tyson, Tyson Foods Gary Head, Signature Bank of Arkansas Scott Van Laningham, Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Dan Hendrix, Arkansas World Trade Center Eddie Vega, EZ Spanish Media Tom Hopper, Crafton Tull & Associates Jerry Vest, Regions Bank of NWA Dina Howell, Saatchi & Saatchi X Fred Vorsanger, UAMS AHEC Board Dennis Hunt, Stephens , Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Walter Hussman, WEHCO Media Inc. Jim Walton, Arvest Bank Group Mitchell Johnson, Ozark Electric Cooperative Corp. Rob Walton, Walmart Stores Eli Jones, University of Arkansas Perry Webb, Springdale Chamber of Commerce Robert Jones III, Conner & Winters John White, University of Arkansas James Keenan, The Raven Foundation Wayne Woods, Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods Jef Koenig, Upchurch Electrical Supply Company Dean Worley, Dillard’s Department Stores Peter Kohler, UAMS Northwest Charles Zimmerman, Walmart Stores Bob Lamb, Consultant Randy Zook, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce

2 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 19 John Tyson, the 2012-2013 presiding co-chair of the Northwest Arkansas Council, is chairman of the board at Tyson Foods. He was chairman and CEO of the company from 1999-2006. Mr. Tyson also served as the Council's presiding co-chair in 2007-2008.

Mark Simmons, the 2013-2014 presiding co-chair of the Northwest Arkansas Council, is chairman of the board at Simmons Foods. He has served as chairman and CEO of the company since 1987. Mr. Simmons serves as Chairman of the steering committee for the Greater Northwest Arkansas Development Strategy.

Ofcers of the Council

Position Held Ofcer Presiding Co-Chair (2012-2013) John Tyson

Presiding Co-Chair (2013-2014) Mark Simmons The World Trade Center Arkansas is located in a thriving retail area west of Interstate 540 in Rogers. Opened in 2007, the center helps Arkansas Past Presiding Co-Chair (2011-2012) G. David Gearhart companies do business around the globe. Vice Chair Scott Van Laningham Secretary / Treasurer Mark Simmons Table of Contents Chair Emeritus Alice Walton Entrepreneurs 4 Chair Emeritus John Paul Hammerschmidt Northwest Arkansas creates excellent environment for new, rising companies EnergizeNWA 6 EnergizeNWA sets out to make healthy choice into easy choice Members of the Executive Committee BRE Update 8 Type of Appointment 2012-2013 Companies expect to provide 965 jobs, increase payroll (term of appointment) Executive Committee Presiding Co-Chair John Tyson Mid-Point Review 10 (1-year term) Council on course toward 55 actions; mid-point review on the agenda Vice Chair Scott Van Laningham (indefinite term) Graduate NWA 12 New program sets out to increase college degrees Secretary / Treasurer Mark Simmons (indefinite term) RazorCOACH 13 President of NWA Perry Webb Team helps 323 students in first year; two years to go Chambers of Commerce (through January 2014) Infrastructure 14 Co-Chair’s Appointees Rick Barrows Council plays key role in sharing Issue No. 1 facts with voters (1-year term) Cathy Foraker Nominating Committee Becky Paneitz Honorary Lifetime Members 17 Representative #1 (3-year term) (term expires in 2014) Clinton, Walton, and Hammerschmidt honored by Northwest Arkansas Council Nominating Committee Cameron Smith Leadership 18 Representative #2 (3-year term) (term expires in 2013) Transition puts one of region’s top businessmen in charge for 2013-2014 Nominating Committee Chip Pollard Representative #3 (3-year term) (term expires in 2015) Members 19 Council’s members include region’s top business, civic leaders

18 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 3 Entrepreneurs Life Members

Northwest Arkansas Creates Excellent Honorary Lifetime Members Environment for New, Rising Companies Northwest Arkansas is on a good course for startups, and mentoring and expertise to help entrepreneurs with new outsiders are starting to notice the region’s fast developing technology companies that support retail, logistics, and food The Northwest entrepreneurial support system. processing become successful long-term businesses. Arkansas Council Evidence of that arrived in a single week this spring when “When we looked at our two-year proposal, part of our has three people three out-of-state venture capital firms invested nearly $100 proposal was to create 60 jobs,” said Balleza Collins, who said The who were million in three Northwest Arkansas companies. ARK Challenge is on course to meet the 60-job goal. “We’re The region is also successfully building on the regional, continuing to create these jobs. We count that as a win. People selected as national, and international success achieved by startup companies have options to come here from other places, and they are honorary lifetime mentored by Carol Reeves in the University of Arkansas graduate staying here because they see opportunities.” members of the entrepreneurship program. Reeves’ program is one of the most Members of the second ARK Challenge class were announced organization. successful graduate launchpads for scalable ventures in the this month. The 10 teams selected will present at Demo Day on nation. This year, four of her teams received numerous business Sept. 5 where they’ll describe what they accomplished, show of plan competition wins, and two — HomeDX and Picasolar — their work to potential investors, and try to win one of the two received early-stage $150,000 top prizes, Balleza Alice Walton John Paul Hammerschmidt investments. Collins said. The region as a whole is In addition to The ARK The Arkansas governor was The first chair of the Northwest Hammerschmidt served in the building the kind of Challenge, there’s also elected U.S. president in 1992 Arkansas Council’s Executive U.S. House of Representatives economic assistance and business expansion and and served two terms. In 2010, Committee when the from 1967-1993 and become the mentorship that small growth assistance coming former President Clinton was organization started in 1990, Council’s chairman soon after company founders didn’t find from Innovate Arkansas, an named the Council’s first Walton founded Crystal Bridges leaving Congress. He served as in Northwest Arkansas just a Arkansas Economic honorary lifetime member. Museum of American Art in 2011. the Council’s chair for 13 years. few years ago. Development Commission- She was named an honorary He became an honorary lifetime Jef Amerine, the supported efort to assist lifetime member in January 2012. member in January 2013. University of Arkansas early-stage, technology- technology venture director based companies. Since and an Innovate Arkansas starting five years ago, adviser, said the region is Innovate Arkansas has The ARK Challenge Demo Day at Crystal Bridges Museum of American establishing programs, place- assisted about 100 clients, Art in December 2012 provided potential investors and community THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS making, events, and networks leaders their first chance to see the work of the teams that participated supporting $193 million in that young companies need to in the 14-week program. private and public investment. grow. “They all address a key Those clients include objective in the Greater Northwest Arkansas Development Northwest Arkansas companies such as TTAGG, CrossFleet, Strategy that includes enhancing ‘Northwest Arkansas’ culture of Acumen Brands, Field Agent, BlueInGreen, NextGen Illumination, entrepreneurship by expanding the scale and scope of small Red Clay Design, Silicon Solar Solutions, BiologicsMD, Boston business support services in the region,’” Amerine said. Mountain Biotech and all of The ARK Challenge participants. The Northwest Arkansas Council and its members are playing The initial place-making goal was achieved by the Northwest important roles in all four critical areas that must be supported Arkansas Entrepreneurship Alliance with the 2011 opening of The for new companies to develop successfully in the region,. Iceberg, a low-cost, co-working facility near in Acumen Brands, NanoMech, Collective Bias, Field Agent, and Fayetteville where The ARK Challenge is based. There is presently A Dollar Invested is Worth $298 to Region TTAGG are examples of innovative companies gaining solid an efort to create a similar facility in Bentonville. The mission of the Northwest Arkansas Council expanded in 2011, but the annual goal of giving Council members a high return footholds in the region, and they are being joined by at least 10 of The Natural State Angel Association was the first formal angel on their investments didn’t change at all. the 15 companies that completed The ARK Challenge last year. network in Northwest Arkansas when it formed in 2011. It has The rate of return on the membership’s investments from July 1, 1990 through May 31, 2013 is more than 29,800 percent. For every MineWhat, Truckily and Btiques, participants in the first of grown to 150 members, and those members are invited to attend dollar invested in the Council by members, the region has received at least $298. two, 14-week entrepreneurial boot camps and competitions, are bi-monthly meetings where they see presentations and consider This year’s math looks especially good, largely due to the November 2012 passage of Issue No. 1, a half-cent sales tax approved excellent examples of new companies establishing operations in local companies as investment possibilities. During this year’s first by voters that will lead to major highway and transportation improvements. Northwest Arkansas after participating in The ARK Challenge four months, members invested $1 million in projects. The Council often looks at member investment in the organization compared to the money the region receives to improve boot camp, said ARK Challenge Director Jeannette Balleza Collins. “The members are passionate about supporting early-stage highways, water systems, universities and other key parts of the Northwest Arkansas community as a way to evaluate impact. The business accelerator’s primary purpose is to provide companies,” Amerine said.

4 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 17 Rick West, co-founder and CEO of Field Agent in Notable Initiatives Fayetteville, said Northwest Arkansas provided the perfect setting for his company that launched in 2010. DCI, Council Work to Move RAZORBACK GREENWAY The mobile research and retail data collection company, Minneapolis Boston 17 14 which has 25 full-time equivalent employees, has added Region from ‘Blank Slate’ Accomplishment: Construction on the 13 10 workers in the past six months. The company’s Chicago 84 Ensuring that site selectors and business decision makers know about Northwest Arkansas Razorback Greenway 29 customers include Walmart, Target, , Sam’s Northwest Arkansas is the central part of a targeted marketing campaign started in June 2012 and now major sections 31 San Francisco 18 Club, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble. being pursued by the Northwest Arkansas Council. of the trail are complete in Benton . Washington D.C. “We knew the supplier community was going to Working with New York-based Development Counsellors The trail, funded by a federal grant and Northwest bring great people to Northwest Arkansas,” West said. International (DCI), a survey commissioned by the Council last year Walton Family Foundation gift, will be a 36- 3 “We think those companies bring the best and the showed Northwest Arkansas is a “blank slate” in the eyes of site selectors. mile cycling and pedestrian path from Lake Arkansas 15 brightest, and Northwest Arkansas is a great feeding The site selectors, who help companies evaluate places for possible Bella Vista to Fayetteville. spot for us. You have tremendous access to Dallas 19 expansions, indicated they don’t have a positive or negative perception of How it helps: One of the strategic actions entrepreneurs and great thinkers. I can pick up the Northwest Arkansas. Instead, they have no perception at all, said Andy under Objective 4 of the Greater Northwest 24 phone and talk to the people I need to reach.” Levine, DCI’s president and chief creative ofcer. Houston Arkansas Development Strategy is to “build Meanwhile, those interested in assisting Now, the Council entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs are able to the trails system detailed in the Northwest and DCI are making sure “When information and facts about Arkansas Heritage Trail Plan, including the take part in business-idea events that include “Gone in site selectors and the region are shared, key influencers regional Razorback Greenway and projects in Despite having far fewer Fortune 500 companies than larger metros, Northwest Arkansas is 60 Seconds,” an elevator pitch contest launched in 2011. business decision local communities.” one of just 11 regions in the U.S. where the revenue of Fortune 500 companies exceeds $300 While the first contest was in Fayetteville, “Gone in 60 makers know are intrigued and want to learn more.” billion annually. The number of Fortune 500 companies in each region is indicated. Seconds” events have occurred in Rogers, El Dorado, Northwest Arkansas’ What’s next: Guided by the staf of the Pine Bluf, Little Rock, Conway, Jonesboro and even in best attributes. Andy Levine, DCI Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Canada under the Pitch101 banner. The event has Additionally, DCI is Commission, the entire path remains on connected startup founders, creative, techies, investors, reaching out to national schedule to be complete by the end of 2013. NW Arkansas Shines in All Sorts and service providers and serves as a feeder to The media outlets, telling about specific projects and companies in Northwest Cities, particularly Fayetteville, continue to ARK, Innovate Arkansas, Natural State Angel Association Arkansas that would be good story topics. make expansions to their own trail systems to of Fortune 500 Ways and the other funds around the state. “Northwest Arkansas is currently not top of mind when site selectors connect to the greenway’s spine. The business community in Northwest Arkansas looks at the Fortune 500 list Other events are bringing business people together research locations for their clients, media look for places to write stories, closely each year because there’s often a question as to whether Bentonville-based so they can build their knowledge. Groups hosting or companies look to relocate or expand,” Levine said. “However, when NW ARKANSAS REPORT CARD Walmart or Irving, -based Exxon Mobil will hold the No. 1 position. regular events include Creatives United, Tech Drinks and information and facts about the region are shared, key influencers are Walmart Stores came out on top this year. Exxon Mobil held the top spot last the Northwest Arkansas Entrepreneurial Alliance. Accomplishment: An education report card intrigued and want to learn more.” year. The availability of local talent creating exciting new published by the Ofce for Education Policy Among the steps was a May trip to New York where site selectors, However, “Who’s No. 1?” is the easy, quick way to evaluate the Fortune 500 list. companies has bred interest in generating funding at the University of Arkansas, in partnership company executives and some of the nation’s largest media outlets met A deeper look at the Fortune 500 shows Northwest Arkansas’ economic strength sources beyond the angel level of investing. Discussions with the Northwest Arkansas Council, shows with DCI’s staf and Mike Harvey, the Council’s chief operating ofcer. and just how important the largest companies are to the regions’ amazing success. are underway for the creation of a regional venture students in Northwest Arkansas outperform “Mike made a point of communicating with everyone he met that the Northwest Arkansas has No. 1 Walmart, No. 93 Tyson Foods and No. 486 J.B. capital (VC) fund to take advantage of the deal flow in their peers elsewhere in Arkansas. The 2012 region knows what it’s good at and what it is not,” Levine said. “Many site Hunt Transport Services, the region’s new member of the Fortune 500. But consider this area. The hurdles to creating VC funds may be high, Northwest Arkansas Report Card shows selectors who met with Mike said that focus on areas where the region these unique ways to look at Northwest Arkansas’ Fortune 500 companies: but the advantages of a local fund to deploy significant public schools in Benton and Washington can be competitive is by and far the way to go.” • With three Fortune 500 companies, Northwest Arkansas has as many on the levels of risk capital are strong motivators to investors counties are outstanding in several areas DCI has drawn media attention to Northwest Arkansas by engaging list as regions with far more people, including City, Indianapolis, Tampa, in Northwest Arkansas. The entrepreneurial eco-system when compared to other districts statewide. news reporters, editors and producers who work for major newspapers Louisville and Memphis. Bigger metropolitan areas, including City, has developed to the point that the time is right for a Among the report’s findings is that 13 of 17 and magazines, national television networks, radio networks, news Austin, Orlando, Tulsa, San Diego and Portland, have just two Fortune 500 regional VC fund. school districts had a higher National websites and blogs. The region in the past five months has received companies. “There has never been a more dynamic, exciting Percentile Ranking (NPR) on the Tests of positive national exposure in publications such as Upstart Business Journal, • The annual revenue of the three Fortune 500 companies in Northwest time in Northwest Arkansas for new business creation Basic Skills (ITBS), which helps to compare Solar Today, AltEnergyMag and Startup 50. Stories in larger publications are Arkansas ($507 billion last year) was 25 percent of the $2.06 trillion in revenue as evidenced by over $100 million in out-of-state students and districts across state lines, than scheduled for later this year. for New York’s 84 companies on the Fortune 500 list. venture finance for Arkansas startups in the past year,” the state as a whole. “Going from zero awareness to high-level positive awareness will take • Just five regions — New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston and Dallas — Amerine said. “Through the will and belief of the time, and we acknowledge the challenge of having to build Northwest How it helps: The report, which includes have more revenue produced by their Fortune 500 companies. All five regions startup founders, the support of the Northwest Arkansas’ position from the ground up,” Levine said. “We do think the information about secondary and higher have at least 6 million residents, meaning they are all at least 12 times larger Arkansas Council, local business leaders, the University region is moving in the right direction and is in position to promote education, provides a single place for people than Northwest Arkansas. of Arkansas, Innovate Arkansas and the state, this region Northwest Arkansas’ key attributes and strengths.” to learn about the region’s outstanding • Tyson Foods would be the largest Fortune 500 company if it were located in is poised for a startup-led renaissance that will continue Harvey said trips later this year to Kansas City, Dallas, Chicago and schools. larger metropolitan areas, including Denver, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and to make Northwest Arkansas one of the best places to present opportunities to share Northwest Arkansas’ story. Phoenix. live and work in the country.” What’s next: The report, which was published “I’ve worked in economic development for 18 years, and I’ve never • The revenue of Walmart, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt exceeds the revenue of in December, is due to come out later this encountered this level of market unfamiliarity,” Harvey said. “It’s a great the 21 Fortune 500 companies in , the 18 in Washington, D.C., the year. opportunity, but it’ll require an aggressive, sustained ground game to make 17 in Minneapolis and the 15 in Atlanta. an impression on our audiences. We have a great story to tell, and we’re implementing a plan to do that in the most efective manner.”

16 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 5 EnergizeNWA unprecedented,” said Craig Douglass, helps create jobs. Jobs and economic Notable Initiatives who led the Move Arkansas Forward opportunity, in turn, fosters population Notable Initiatives program. growth that, ultimately, leads back to the Volunteer work groups and the “We are not aware of any statewide need for more infrastructure. It is a constant EDUCATION CONSORTIUM stafs of the Northwest Arkansas issue campaign that has enjoyed the level of battle. But it is a constant battle forward, not Council, Endeavor Foundation and active and financial investment as was backward. Accomplishment: The University of the five largest Northwest Arkansas provided to Move Arkansas Forward by the “Arkansas residents made a decision that Arkansas, Northwest Technical chambers of commerce pursue an Northwest Arkansas Council and the they want a certain quality of life. Taking on Institute, University of Arkansas for impressive list of projects, interests it represents. some additional taxes to ensure they have Medical Sciences Northwest, completing some entirely and “Not only did the financial commitment less roadway congestion and more reliable NorthWest Arkansas Community establishing others for long-term allow targeted campaign media primarily in trips will help them to maintain this quality College and John Brown University success. A synopsis of some of Benton, Crawford, Sebastian and Washington of life.” formed the Northwest Arkansas those projects starts here and counties, it freed up funds contributed by A $10 million federal grant helped fund Education Consortium in 2012. A sixth continues throughout this report. others to be distributed more efciently the start of the U.S. 71 Bypass of Bella Vista member – the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith – was added in April 2013. LEADERSHIP/VOLUNTEER FAIR statewide. Further, the support of Northwest and now Issue No. 1 money will build a two- Arkansas helped promote the fact that Issue lane version of what will eventually be a How it helps: The consortium creates Accomplishment: The Northwest No. 1 was bi-partisan, a mechanism to work together on Arkansas Leadership Council held the appealing to Republicans projects. The agreement calls for first regional volunteer fair in May and Democrats. The collaboration on student retention and 2012 in Rogers, bringing more than 70 collaboration with the college degree completion programs nonprofit organizations together to Northwest Arkansas such as Graduate NWA. promote their organizations. The goal Council allowed Move What’s next: The consortium was to help working professionals Arkansas Forward to members identified student retention identify organizations they may be execute a winning Dr. John Agwunobi, Walmart Stores’ president of health and wellness and a former U.S. assistant as a paramount concern, and so much able to assist with their knowledge campaign.” secretary for health, was the keynote speaker at the EnergizeNWA Summit, a January event that of the group’s energy will go toward and expertise. Meanwhile, two board The Council also launched a regional efort to improve access to healthy food and physical activity. programs to retain students and to service training programs ofered commissioned primary provide the region with a well- through Emerging Leaders occurred research in mid-2012 that educated workforce. this year, and there were 48 total EnergizeNWA Sets Out to Make showed how much participants. Northwest Arkansas DIVERSITY GUIDE needs major highway How it helps: Objective 12 of the Healthy Choice into Easy Choice improvements, and the Accomplishment: The Diversity Team, Greater Northwest Arkansas Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan and community leaders research was shared with celebrated the start of a project to allow drivers going north on part of the Northwest Arkansas Development Strategy is to “develop Arkansans rate poorly in measures of blueprint for regional success made public in the public last fall. The College Avenue to more easily reach Interstate 540. Although Council's Community Vitality Work the next generation of leadership in wellness when compared to their peers 2011. research by the Texas A&M federal money is helping with the overpass project, Northwest Group, launched the online guide in Northwest Arkansas by promoting across the nation, but EnergizeNWA has a Commissioned by the Northwest Transportation Institute Arkansas communities such as Fayetteville lead the state when it June 2013. A memorandum of citizen engagement, volunteerism goal to change that over the long term Arkansas Council, the strategy outlines 16 showed trafc congestion comes to investing local dollars in projects to improve highways. understanding with the NorthWest and leadership training.” through a series of healthy living objectives and more than 50 strategic recommendations and actions. actions to be pursued over a five-year costs Northwest Arkansas Arkansas Community College for data What’s next: Organizers evaluated EnergizeNWA launched the healthy period. One of the strategic actions is to $103 million annually. An annual cost had not four-lane, 14-mile highway around Bella Vista. collection and upkeep of the guide the first volunteer fair and will make living efort in January with a summit “develop a healthy lifestyle and physical been assigned to the region’s congestion Five additional bypass miles are planned in was signed prior to the launch date. adjustments for a second fair, which prior to the TTI research. . focused on providing Northwest Arkansas activity initiative – Energize Northwest How it helps: The guide addresses the includes holding it in the fall. A third To put that severe congestion in The Bella Vista Bypass will be one of the residents with better access to healthy food Arkansas – that supports child and adult gap between perceived and actual program Emerging Leaders board perspective, some larger regions have trafc first projects in the state funded by Issue No. and physical activity. fitness and wellness.” diversity identified in the Northwest service training event is also planned congestion that costs about $60 million 1, and the portion of the work related to “As someone who has been involved in Endeavor Foundation’s staf began Arkansas Competitive Assessment by for the fall. Additionally, there are annually. Four of the highways studied in Issue No. 1 should start in 2014. the healthy food and healthy lifestyles branding the work as EnergizeNWA, and is assembling information about the eforts to engage working Northwest Arkansas would rank in the Texas The widening of Interstate 540 is conversation for over decade, I know we are engaging and connecting key partners to diversity programs and services in a professionals via social networking 100, a measure of that state’s most expected to be among the first Issue No. 1 really at a tipping point in our region and accomplish some of the community vitality single place. It allows corporate opportunities, such as the May 30 congested roads. Far larger Texas metro projects too. Much of that work is expected Energize has the potential to bring together goals in the strategy. Jill Kaplan, Endeavor’s recruiters to access diversity event called Thursday Squared, a areas, including El Paso and McAllen, didn’t to occur in 2015. the voices and resources to change our vice president for strategy and information in an efcient manner downtown dining event in have as many highways in the Texas 100. The state began collecting the sales tax region for the better, both for today's communications, said the EnergizeNWA when cultivating relationships with Bentonville. Similar networking “Investment in roadway infrastructure to on June 1 this year, and local governments citizens and for the generations to come,” Summit, which included presentations by recruits, and it gives new residents events are planned later this year in achieve safe, fast, and reliable travel is about expect to receive the first payments in the said Margie Alsbrook, a food policy and small the state’s surgeon general and national information they need to become Springdale and Fayetteville. New creating economic growth and opportunity,” fall. Benton and Washington counties and business attorney who’s a volunteer on the leaders in healthy living initiatives, set out to involved in diversity programs. attention later this year will be put EnergizeNWA Advisory Board. build excitement about the healthy and said David Schrank, one of the the cities of Fayetteville, Rogers and toward developing a mentoring and The accomplishments of EnergizeNWA active living lifestyle that’s possible in transportation institute trafc researchers Springdale are expected to receive $1 million What’s next: Work will focus on leadership circle for mid-level and align with the goals identified in the Greater Northwest Arkansas, catalyze a regional who evaluated conditions in Northwest or more in additional annual revenue. That’ll marketing and promoting the site. senior company executives. Northwest Arkansas Regional Strategy, a conversation and facilitate the development Arkansas. “The economic success fostered be the case for the next 10 years. The sales by sound roadway infrastructure investment tax is scheduled to expire in 2023.

6 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 15 Infrastructure of a common agenda incorporating the best policies and changes in the way we design Notable Initiatives Notable Initiatives ways to increase access to healthy food and our communities are critical to making REACH OUT NWA physical activity opportunities. healthy lifestyles accessible. The only way to XNA COMMERCE PARK “We’re excited to report we met these change behavior and improve health is to Accomplishment: The Northwest Accomplishment: In September 2011, goals, and now the real work of bringing make the changes easy and part of everyday Arkansas Regional Airport hired a Reach Out Siloam allowed Siloam ideas to action will begin,” Kaplan said. life.” consultant to start updating the Springs High School administrators, Tracy Fox, policy advisor to the Robert David Wright, Bentonville’s Parks and airport’s master plan as it relates to a teachers and community volunteers Wood Johnson Foundation and president of Recreation Department director, said potential commerce park. Feasibility, to contact high school students who Food, Nutrition & Policy Consultants, shared EnergizeNWA brings a regional approach to financial options and preliminary didn’t return to class and encouraged best practices from other communities a “Get Out and Play” efort started a couple development are issues that are being them to return to school. That pilot when she spoke at the January summit in of years ago in his community. addressed by the consultant, which program, which became Reach Out Northwest Arkansas. “It’s get out and run and swim and bike,” started the work in September 2012. NWA, was expanded to other high “EnergizeNWA has the potential to Wright said. “We encourage our citizens to schools through Benton and influence policy and infrastructure changes be as healthy as we can be, and it’s similar to How it helps: A strategic action in Washington counties in August 2012. that afect every day decisions impacting the Energize movement. the Greater Northwest Arkansas How it helps: An objective in the our health, such as the decision to walk our “I hope that [healthy living as] a regional Development Strategy is to “develop Greater Northwest Arkansas kids to schools because there’s a safe route approach becomes a message that all the a multi-modal industrial park adjacent Development Strategy is to reduce to get there, or to purchase fresh produce major cities begin to sing. Maybe Energize is to XNA.” at a local market the umbrella that engulfs us the high school dropout rate. Among What’s next: A preliminary draft of because it’s available all. The importance of making the goals is to ensure that as many the feasibility work for a 2,000-acre and afordable,” Fox the healthy choice the clear, students as possible become high commerce park at XNA is expected Arkansas Highway Commissioner Dick Trammel thanked regional leaders for their Issue said. “We’ve seen easy choice becomes a school graduates. later this year. No. 1 support at a January meeting of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Mobility Authority. significant results in message to Northwest What’s next: Twelve high schools are Trammel spoke to dozens of organizations statewide about Issue No. 1 before voters other communities Arkansas residents rather than STATE OF REGION REPORT expected to participate in Reach Out approved it on Nov. 8, 2012. across the country just to Springdale or Accomplishment: The Northwest NWA. It’s currently scheduled for that have embraced a Bentonville or Rogers.” Arkansas Council partnered with the Aug. 19-24. culture and Within days of the summit, University of Arkansas Center for Council Plays Key Role In Sharing environment EnergizeNWA started the WAYFINDING Business and Economic Research to supportive of a website: EnergizeNWA.org, a create the region’s first “State of the Accomplishment: A grant is allowing Issue No. 1 Facts with Voters healthy lifestyle. portal to help people Northwest Arkansas Region Report” seven Northwest Arkansas cities to Given the severity of determine where and how to Historians may well look back at Now comes the construction of the in 2011. The second report, made create a regional wayfinding system the health challenges get active and eat healthy in Arkansas’ approval of a half-cent sales tax to first two lanes of the US. 71 Bypass of Bella public in September 2012, showed patterned after signs already in place facing Arkansas, the the region. support $1.3 billion in highway construction Vista, the widening of Interstate 540 to six employment growth had returned to in Bentonville and many of those diverse leadership that In addition to awareness as one of the most important transportation lanes between Bentonville and Fayetteville, pre-recession levels. “Northwest signs will be going up this summer. assembled for the created by the website, an decisions in the state in the past 30 years. and the first portion of the U.S. 412 Bypass Arkansas continues to outpace The system will help residents and summit, and resources One of the region’s best places interactive, regional map is The projects, which will kick of in of Springdale. Additionally, millions of competitor regions in producing job visitors navigate the region, and the like the Razorback for physical activity is The Jones being developed by the Northwest Arkansas next year, will be the dollars will go to Northwest Arkansas cities opportunities, which is the key to signs will promote key destinations. Regional Greenway and Center in Springdale. The Center for Applied Spatial largest regional highway investments since and counties to address transportation continued prosperity,” reported Kathy Participating cities are Bella Vista, an abundance of farm 220,000-square-foot center Technologies at the University 1999 when the Arkansas Highway and needs. Deck, the business and economic Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Lowell, fresh produce, I’m opened in 1995, and has an ice- of Arkansas, the Northwest Transportation Department spent about The Northwest Arkansas Council research center’s director. Deck said Rogers, Siloam Springs and excited to see the skating rink, swimming pools, a Arkansas Regional Planning $450 million to build Interstate 540 from supported the eforts of Move Arkansas court, meeting rooms the region’s relatively low level of Springdale. possible become a Commission and Alta/ Alma to Fayetteville. Forward, a statewide efort to inform voters and educational facilities. educational attainment is a constraint reality in Northwest Greenways with oversight and How it helps: The Greater Northwest When Issue No. 1 was approved Nov. 6, about Issue No. 1, and it launched its own that needs to be overcome to enjoy Arkansas.” support from Endeavor Arkansas Development Strategy’s 2012, the $1.3 billion in spending that was information sharing in Northwest Arkansas. future economic gains. Objective 4 suggests improving permitted by voters accounted for 75 The Council created a MoveNWAforward At the summit, Endeavor Foundation Foundation. “multi-modal mobility throughout percent of all the transportation-related website and Twitter account related to Issue announced it would provide $400,000 in As a community foundation, Endeavor's How it helps: The report serves as a Northwest Arkansas.” Within that funding approved nationwide that day. No. 1. Highway Commissioner Dick Trammel, grants later this year to support community- primary role in advancing EnergizeNWA will benchmark for how the region objective, a wayfinding system is Scott Bennett, the Highway other Council members and the Council led programs, policies and infrastructure be centered on grant making that results compares to other successful recommended. Department director, said counterparts in staf spoke to city councils and civic that promote increased access to healthy from the request process supporting the metropolitan areas. Comparison areas other states were impressed by Arkansas’ organizations throughout the region about eating and active living opportunities for $400,000 funding announcement at the are Tulsa; Kansas City; Omaha; What’s next: The wayfinding pilot passage of Issue No. 1. Missouri and other Issue No. 1 in the weeks leading up to the Northwest Arkansas residents. summit. Huntsville, Ala.; and Knoxville, Tenn. project signs will be installed by July states have examined Arkansas’ ballot issue Nov. 6 vote. “We are fortunate here in Arkansas that "Endeavor is excited to invest in what 31. Five of the seven cities plan to What’s next: The third annual State success, and they consider the campaign to “The organized and efective support of policymakers and many others are willing to can be a long-term culture shift that install their entire sign system by Nov. of the Region Report will be released be a model for what they might pursue. business interests in Northwest Arkansas on work together on efective solutions,” supports a healthy future for everyone in 30. later this year. “We had a clear and very consistent, behalf of the Issue No. 1 campaign was Arkansas Surgeon General Joe Thompson Northwest Arkansas,” said Endeavor easy-to-understand message,” Bennett said. told summit attendees. “Outside-the-box Foundation CEO Anita Scism.

14 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 7 Notable Initiatives BRE Update Razor COACH Team Helps 323 Students REGIONAL BRAND in First Year; Two Years to Go Accomplishment: Four advertising and public relations firms worked Business Retention: Companies Plan Career coaches and “Thank you so much for with Procter & Gamble to develop a program leaders believe they helping me throughout the year regional brand made public in July are making a positive impact by Ms. Spickard, sincerely,” the boy 2012. Since that time, Council staf to Provide 965 Jobs, Increase Payroll helping students take full wrote in a text message. “I has worked with firms to show how advantage of high school while would not have been able to Northwest Arkansas is “Great for The first-year results from the setting their sights on graduate without your help and Business. Great for Life.” Northwest Arkansas Business attending college. encouragement. You’ve been Retention and Expansion program Josh Raney, director of the nothing but wonderful to me How it helps: Market Street Services, arrived earlier this year, showing Razor COACH program, said and I thank you deeply for not the company that helped create the the region’s companies have plans the career coaches work with only wishing to help but for Greater Northwest Arkansas to increase their presence here. 323 at-risk sophomores, juniors, being there to listen as well.” Development Strategy, determined The Northwest Arkansas and seniors at 17 Northwest Whitney Farrar, a coach who Northwest Arkansas lacked a brand Council worked with five area Arkansas high schools. worked with Gravette and to promote the region. Objective 8 chambers of commerce to Organized and funded Bentonville students, is of the strategy recommends a establish the BRE program, through a partnership between sentimental about the coaches’ regional brand to “attract new collecting data from 459 the Walton Family Foundation, work with students. business investment by more companies in Benton and the University of Arkansas Josh Raney of the Razor COACH program updated the Educational “I think of this program not efectively marketing the region to Washington counties. They met College of Education and Health Excellence Work Group on the program at a Feb. 19, 2013 meeting. only as an investment in target audiences.” the goal of contacting 450 Professions, the Northwest children's futures, but also within What’s next: The region’s brand — companies in 2012 and are on Chung Tan, economic development director for the Arkansas Council’s Educational Excellence The coaches, meanwhile, gain the student's families, the community and Great for Business. Great for Life. — course to contact 450 companies Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, is an important part Work Group and the Northwest Arkansas experience working in an environment careers,” Farrar said. “Many times the sad is being used in the marketing again in 2013. of the team that collects information as part of the Education Service Cooperative, Razor that many plan to spend their careers in truth is that students fall through the materials shared with companies From large manufacturing region’s Business Retention and Expansion program. COACH was made possible by a generous, — working with high school students. cracks, meaning that they go without interested in expanding, site selectors operations to small retail outlets, three-year grant from the foundation. While program leaders won’t finish notice until graduation. This program gives who help companies decide where to restaurants and banks, Northwest Arkansas businesses. The responses are entered into The program, which completed its compiling all of the information evaluating students a chance to shine and find out expand, and individuals interested in businesses expressed optimism about their the Synchronist Business Information System first full year this spring, put 15 University the first year of Razor COACH until the end what their potential is.” advancing their career who are prospects and were pleased to visit with database maintained by the Northwest of Arkansas students pursuing master’s of June, they have anecdotal evidence that The 323 students in the Razor COACH considering jobs in Arkansas. chamber outreach specialists about their Arkansas Council. The Synchronist database degrees into high schools in Benton and students, the career coaches, and the program represent a cross section of operations. allows the Council and outreach specialists Washington counties. Modeled after Gov. program itself are on good courses. Northwest Arkansas. Many participants are CAREER READINESS Significant findings in the BRE research in to closely track the information provided by Mike Beebe’s “Arkansas Works” program, For instance, a career coach assigned to high school juniors (44 percent). Hispanics Benton and Washington counties included: the companies and periodically review the the career coaches work with at-risk West Fork High School reported that one represent a large percentage (34 percent). Accomplishment: A Workforce • Businesses plan to hire 965 new feedback. students and their families to determine student didn’t have a specific career idea, Eleven percent of students have Development Team, part of the employees in the next three years. "We want to achieve two objectives each student’s best opportunities after but a Kuder career assessment helped focus parents who obtained four-year college Northwest Arkansas Council’s • Businesses plan to invest $808 million in with the BRE program," said Mike Harvey, the high school. the student, who now plans to attend the degrees. One-third of the parents didn’t Educational Excellence Work Group, expansions in the next three years. Northwest Arkansas Council’s chief COACH stands for “Creating Northwest Technical Institute. complete high school; many didn’t attend has worked with members of the • Northwest Arkansas companies of all operating ofcer. "First, we want to provide Opportunities for Arkansans’ Career “West Fork High School chose him to high school (13 percent). Governor's workforce cabinet and sizes are selling more often to assistance to individual companies as Hopes.” The program runs to July 2015. receive the scholarship to NTI,” the career Lauren Jones, a career coach at Pea legislators to develop a plan for state- international customers. needed. Second, we want to identify data in The coaches who work with coach wrote in an email to Raney. “This kid is Ridge High School, said she recognized the sponsored job training. • Businesses identified three times as the aggregate to identify negative trends. If sophomores and juniors monitor why we have this program!” hard work of full-time counselors and How it helps: The program would many "community strengths" as those negative trends are something we can academic performance to ensure that Meanwhile, a Springdale Har-Ber understands they don’t have time to help allow community colleges to issue "community weaknesses" when asked mitigate, we improve the region’s business they remain on a path toward high school student will receive $21,000 in scholarships all student determine their plan after high bonds for employee training with about Northwest Arkansas. climate for everyone. graduation, set up job shadowing to an Oklahoma college, and a Razor COACH school. currently expanding companies. The • The respondents gave Northwest “Another benefit to the BRE program is experiences, and discuss each student’s helped pursue the funding. “There are not enough hours in the amount of the bonds issued would Arkansas high marks for business that it builds on the strong relationships our possible career path. When working with Heather Spickard, a Razor COACH who day, especially when you're in charge of up be established by the contracts climate, quality of life, and education. chambers of commerce have with the seniors, the coaches turn their attention worked at Rogers High School, shared a story to 400 students,” Jones said. “I was between the community college and • The respondents identified businesses in their communities. It’s a way to toward helping the students prepare to with Raney about a boy who started the successful in college because I had parents companies receiving the service. infrastructure and the availability of remind businesses that the chambers and take the American College Testing (ACT) 2012-2013 school year as a junior. He who had been through the post-secondary skilled labor as top concerns. the Northwest Arkansas Council want to assessment exam, applying for college accomplished his goal of earning enough education system but for students who What’s next: The Council will work The BRE program allows outreach help make businesses of all sizes more scholarships, setting up college campus credit to catch up with his original could succeed in college but don't have with partners to advocate for specialists to conduct structured, successful." visits, and submitting college applications. classmates, who were seniors. He credited the support or the know-how, this workforce program funding. confidential, face-to-face interviews with The outreach specialists, who work for Spickard for helping him catch up. program is doing wonders.” managers, executives and owners of area the chambers of commerce in Bentonville/

8 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 13 Graduate NWA Bella Vista, Fayetteville, Rogers-Lowell, Siloam Springs and Notable Initiatives Springdale, are helping solve very specific problems as they make their rounds collecting data from businesses. BUSINESS INTERNSHIP The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce took several SURVEY FINDINGS actions after meetings with businesses last year, said Chung Tan, Accomplishment: In 2012, AT&T the chamber’s economic development director. provided a grant for students to New Program Sets Out to Among the biggest steps was an efort to assist businesses in participate in a small business Companies cited positive factors 3-to-1 when the Fayetteville Industrial Park after learning about their needs. internship program. It placed 20 selecting the region’s strengths and weaknesses. Increase College Degrees The businesses were interested in street lights, and 29 were University of Arkansas and John installed. They wanted sidewalks, and the chamber of commerce Business climate, quality of life, and the regional Brown University students as interns. If Northwest Arkansas leaders want the The website (www.GraduateNWA.com) worked with the city to ensure that they are built later this year. economy were cited as the region’s strongest Several companies hired the interns region to remain among the nation’s is the gateway to the regionwide efort. It The BRE interaction with the businesses in the park led to the attributes. Infrastructure, skilled labor, business after the 12-week program ended. economic elite, Northwest Arkansas will provides information to adults interested in city’s mayor and chamber president meeting regularly with the climate topped the charts as challenges. How it helps: The program need to increase its supply of college returning to school, including resources for park’s tenants. introduces high-achieving students to graduates to compete in an increasingly them to learn more about paying for college, The Fayetteville chamber also helped a day-care business that area businesses. It’s important to competitive global economy. employers’ tuition assistance programs, and was having difculty attracting customers by sending an email establish pipelines between regional That’s the primary reason the Northwest juggling the responsibilities of family and blast out about the business to its members. That efort COMMUNITY STRENGTHS colleges and universities and Arkansas Council is working with six colleges work while in school. It guides visitors to a helped the day-care business attract new customers. businesses where graduates can work. and universities person at each of the partner schools who Chamber of commerce employees in Rogers and on Graduate can answer questions specific to each Springdale worked with businesses already in their What’s next: The internship program NWA, a program individual’s situation. communities needing larger faciltiies. Those businesses are 160" is placing students with 14 businesses established to The Arkansas Department of Higher now in larger buildings that better service their needs. this summer. Six more internships are 140" encourage Education, Windgate Foundation, Northwest More unique was the help Tom Ginn provided to a planned for fall and there’s still time adults with Arkansas Council and the chambers of Bentonville company with about 200 employees. Ginn, the 120" for businesses to request interns. some college commerce in Bentonville/Bella Vista, 100" LOW-COST CARRIER credit to return Fayetteville, Rogers-Lowell, Siloam Springs 80" to school and complete their degree. The and Springdale are assisting in the efort. Accomplishment: The Northwest program, which includes a website as well as Last year, the state Higher Education 60" Arkansas Council surveyed employers a marketing campaign to ensure that people Department started Come Back 2 Go to determine how high fares afect 40" age 25 or older understand the value of a Forward, a program to help people complete their businesses. The surveyed 20" college degree, was launched in September. degrees. “Graduate NWA and Come Back 2 companies represented about 12 Graduate NWA first included five Go Forward provide excellent opportunities 0" percent of the Northwest Arkansas schools: the University of Arkansas in to improve Arkansas and also help us move Business" Quality"of"Life" Strong" Leadership" Educa@on" Regional Airport’s 565,000 passengers Climate" Economy" Fayetteville, NorthWest Arkansas closer to Gov. Mike Beebe’s goal of doubling last year. They said low-cost flights to Community College in Bentonville, the number of degrees by 2025,” ADHE Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, Chicago Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale, interim director Shane Broadway said last and New York would be of the most John Brown University in Siloam Springs and year. “We know 22 percent of people have benefit, but they recognized the the University of Arkansas for Medical some college credit, but they don’t have competition created by any low-cost COMMUNITY WEAKNESSES Sciences-Northwest in Fayetteville. The degrees. Having people complete college carrier would reduce the XNA’s high University of Arkansas – Fort Smith joined in creates a sense of accomplishment in people fares to most destinations. Stephanie Flores of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce April. and enables degree recipients to earn a listens as Tom Ginn, vice president of economic development at 60" How it helps: A strategic action in Research shows individuals with college better living.” the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, explains how the Greater Northwest Arkansas degrees are in a better position than those A goal in the Greater Northwest he helped a company deal with an H1-B visa issue after a BRE visit. 50" Development Strategy is to “attract without degrees to earn higher incomes. Arkansas Development Strategy was to new airlines to XNA, particularly More degree holders will make Northwest increase the percentage of residents with vice president of economic development at the Bentonville/ 40" discount carriers.” Although the Arkansas more attractive to expanding and degrees so the region “can more efectively Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, learned some of the airport provides excellent service to relocating companies. compete for 21st Century jobs.” company’s employees were driving to Little Rock just about 30" 16 destinations, XNA has one of the “We need to increase the In April 2010, Market Street Services, the every week to renew driver’s licenses because they were in highest average fares in the nation. competitiveness of our region by increasing Atlanta firm that put together the strategy, the U.S. on H1-B visas. Ginn convinced the state to train an 20" Reducing the average fare benefits the number of people who’ve advanced completed a competitive assessment. A employee in a Bentonville ofce to handle those renewals, businesses and the community. their education beyond high school,” said finding in the assessment was that the eliminating the more-than-three-hour drive to Little Rock. 10" John Brown III, the chair of the Northwest Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan What’s next: Council staf is “It certainly saved the company travel time, employee Arkansas Council’s Educational Excellence Statistical Area trailed peer regions in 0" supporting XNA administrators in the time and lost production,” Ginn said. “It also added a positive Work Group. “To attract high-quality, high- bachelor and associate degrees. Infrastructure" Skilled"Labor" Business" Business" Loca?on" efort to bring a low-cost carrier to to their ability to recruit new employees to Bentonville.” wage jobs, we must demonstrate to Climate" Services" the airport. The administrators lead companies that we can provide the the efort. workforce they need to be successful.“

12 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 9 Mid-Point Review • BRE. The Council worked with five Forward and the Arkansas Highway and Notable Initiatives chambers of commerce to establish a Transportation Department to ensure Notable Initiatives Business Retention and Expansion that voters knew the benefits of Issue THE ARK CHALLENGE program. First-year results showed No. 1, a huge highway improvement DOWNTOWN ENHANCEMENT companies like being in Northwest ballot measure approved by voters in Accomplishment: The ARK Challenge, Arkansas, and a significant portion plan November. Its passage will mean Accomplishment: The Built an entrepreneurial boot camp, to expand gradually in the region over Interstate 540 will be widened to six Environment Task Force, part of the completed its initial program in 2012. Council on Course toward 55 Actions; the next three years. lanes and major portions of the U.S. 71 Community Vitality Work Group, is Winners MineWhat, Btiques, and • EnergizeNWA. The Endeavor Bypass of Bella Vista and the U.S. 412 creating a way to evaluate the overall StackSearch each received $150,000. Foundation, one of the Council’s Bypass of Springdale will be built. health of the region’s downtowns. Mid-Point Review on the Agenda The envisioned report will include How it helps: The ARK Challenges and partners, launched a healthy living • Entrepreneurial ecosystem. The data on commercial and residential The Iceberg support the Greater The annual initiative that should improve the lives Council has supported partners to areas in downtowns as well as public Northwest Arkansas Development meeting of the of Northwest Arkansas residents. develop and expand eforts to assist and private investments. The report Strategy objective of “enhancing Northwest • Education programs. The Council new companies in the region. The ARK will provide information to assist in Northwest Arkansas’ Council worked with partners to start a Career Challenge, a 14-week boot camp for planning for downtown areas, and it entrepreneurship by expanding the marks the halfway Coaches (now called Razor COACH) entrepreneurs, finished its first year in could be similar to Arvest Bank’s scale and scope of small business point toward program focused on helping at-risk 2012. The 2013 class was announced Skyline Report, an analysis of the support services.” The ARK Challenge achieving 16 high school students. It also created earlier this month. Meanwhile, eforts region’s housing market that’s continues to focus on bringing in objectives and Graduate NWA, a program to to provide capital investments to new completed by the University of startup companies dedicated to dozens of encourage nontraditional students to companies so they can expand are Arkansas Center for Business and building a new scalable web-based or strategic actions finish college, and Reach Out NWA, a finding success in the region. program to encourage high school Economic Research. mobile technology service or product described in the The Council, its partners and volunteers dropouts to return to class. serving the retail, logistics or food Greater Northwest are pursuing four dozen other strategic How it helps: Objective 9 in the processing industry clusters. Arkansas actions outlined in the regional strategy. Greater Northwest Arkansas Development What’s next: Teams were selected to “We knew we could only tackle so Development Strategy is to “enhance Strategy. participate in the second boot camp much at once and some of it had to be the quality of the region’s That five-year that’s already started. Demo Day will delayed,” Simmons said. “We also need to infrastructure and the region’s strategy guides be Sept. 5 at Crystal Bridges Museum know what are new things we should downtown and population centers.” much of the work of American Art. consider doing too.” What’s next: There are three tasks taken on by The Council’s executive committee at that leaders focused on the success FLINT CREEK POWER PLANT Council staf, its the request of long-time Council member of the region’s five largest downtown partners and its Long-time Northwest Arkansas Council members Tom Hopper (left) and Tom Hopper added one new strategic Accomplishment: The Northwest areas will attempt to complete this wide network of Mark Simmons remain involved in the efort to complete all the strategic action in April. That action has Council staf Arkansas Council worked to inform the year. Those three tasks are to ensure volunteers who actions recommended in the Greater Northwest Arkansas Development and a subcommittee facilitating regional Arkansas Public Service Commission Strategy. that each city has a downtown contribute hundreds meetings focused on the possibility of about the importance of the Flint master plan backed by the city of hours each year compressed natural gas being made Creek Power Plant. The University of government, to create a downtown toward achieving the regional goals. available in Northwest Arkansas. Arkansas Center of Business and dashboard that provides an “We’re made a lot of progress, but I’m not the definitive opinion,” said Mark Simmons, All 55 strategic actions are being Economic Research examined the economic snapshot of each chairman of the steering committee that worked with a consultant to establish the regional pursued simultaneously. Some of the consequences of losing the power downtown, and to establish objectives and strategic actions. “We do need to reconvene the people who worked on the strategic actions, such as establishing a plant, and the economic benefit that a professional, downtown-focused strategic plan and measure how we are doing. We need to assess and revise the plan as regional brand and creating the Graduate will come if the plant is allowed to be organization in each of the five necessary.” NWA program, will require constant retrofitted at its current location near cities. “Downtowns are a That re-evaluation and measuring will occur in the next few months, said Simmons, who attention for many years by the Council or Gentry. Mike Malone, the Council’s community’s canary in the coal will be the Council’s presiding co-chairman in 2013-2014. one of its partners. president and CEO, ensured that the mine,” said Daniel Hintz, executive Ted Abernathy, who didn’t know the Council planned an assessment of how the By the end of 2012, the Council was commission members understood how director of Downtown Bentonville strategic plan is going at the midway point, suggested in an email that such a review is pursuing 51 of the original 54 strategic important the plant is to the region. Inc. “You can instantly assess the important. Abernathy is executive director of the Southern Growth Policies Board, and he actions. The last three strategic actions were health of a city by how it develops How it helps: The Flint Creek Power assisted the Northwest Arkansas Council and the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce’s Fifty started earlier this year. and supports its downtown, the Plant is the region’s only baseload for the Future organization in their discussions last year about ways the two organizations • Regional brand. The Council in “We can report that all 55 actions are in heart of any vibrant community.” electric power source and losing that can collaborate. mid-2012 announced its new brand: the works as we reach the halfway point of After completing the three tasks, would harm the region’s ability to “Fully implementing plans are rarer than you might think,” Abernathy wrote. “The ones “Great for Business. Great for Life.” The the strategy,” said Council President and each city will publish individual attract new companies that need a on the shelves surely outnumber those that have checked every box. A mid-plan check-in message and a regional logo are being CEO Mike Malone. “We’re on a good course, reports that will feed an aggregate reliable power supply. and passionate ‘and miles to go before we sleep’ get-together always helps.” used to tell people and companies but that’s not to suggest we’re about to regional downtown development Each of the council’s four volunteer work groups — community vitality, economic across the nation about Northwest finish. Some actions take months and some What’s next: The Arkansas Public development, educational excellence and infrastructure — can report a level of success strategy. Service Commission as of early June Arkansas. take years. There’s lots of work to be done.” toward achieving their specific goals. They are determined to check every box. • Highway upgrades. The Council was considering whether to allow the Among the most notable successes were: plant’s retrofit. worked closely with Move Arkansas

10 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 11

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