Annual State of Northwest Arkansas Region Report Set for Oct. 24

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Mervin Jebaraj

The Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the Sam M. Walton College of Business is partnering with the Northwest Arkansas Council to release the annual State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 11:30 a.m. 

The event will take place at the Fayetteville Town Center, located at 15 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72701.

First released in 2011, the State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report is viewed as one of the best measures of the area's economy, comparing NWA to peer regions such as Madison, Wisconsin; Raleigh, North Carolina; Provo-Orem, Utah; Des Moines, Iowa; and Austin, Texas.

Mervin Jebaraj, the director of CBER, will also share economic data from CBER's Quarterly Business Analysis. 

"The program will discuss projections for the national and regional economy during a period of economic uncertainty," Jebaraj states. "Timely economic information is vital to good business decisions and policymaking, especially during times of uncertainty."

The Northwest Arkansas Council will host a panel discussion on how the establishment and growth of innovative companies, alongside the contributions of established businesses, will shape the future of the region's economy. The conversation will highlight the critical role both new and established companies play in driving sustainable economic development and ensuring long-term prosperity. Panelists are expected to be announced soon.

The cost for the program and luncheon is $50. Register for the luncheon here or by calling 479-575-4151. Preregistration is required, and the deadline is Friday, Oct. 18.

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: Founded in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business is AACSB-accredited and ranks among the top business schools in the nation. Walton College is the largest college at the University of Arkansas, serving nearly 9,000undergraduate, master's and doctoral students. Walton College is recognized among U.S. News & World Report's 2023 "Best Business Schools," and its undergraduate supply chain management program was ranked No. 1 in North America by Gartner. The college's Master of Business Administration program was also ranked No. 11 for best return on investment by The Wall Street Journal. The Princeton Review ranked the college's graduate entrepreneurship program as one of the top in the country for the first time in the 2022-23 year. And in partnership with the Global Campus, the U of A's online business degree program ranked No. 12 nationally among 214 institutions by U.S. News in 2023.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.