The Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business and the Northwest Arkansas Council will mark 15 years of partnership on the State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report during this year’s event, Friday, Oct. 23.
The gathering will take place at the Fayetteville Public Library, 401 W. Mountain St. in Fayetteville. Registration and networking will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the program at 11:30 a.m.
Mervin Jebaraj, CBER director, will release the annual State of the Northwest Arkansas Region Report and provide an update on the national and regional economic outlook. First released in 2011, the report serves as a highly valued annual benchmark that tracks the area’s economic performance and compares it to peer regions such as Madison, Wisconsin; Raleigh, North Carolina; Provo-Orem, Utah; Des Moines, Iowa; and Austin, Texas.
"Access to timely economic data is crucial for informed business decisions and effective policymaking, particularly during periods of uncertainty,” Jebaraj said.
The program will also highlight Arkansas Issue 3 on the November ballot. If approved, the measure would give local communities new tools to support economic development and invest in projects tied to future growth.
The regional growth strategy released by the Northwest Arkansas Council earlier this year will also help frame the program. As Northwest Arkansas prepares for a population projected to reach 1 million by 2050, the strategy’s six priorities address:
- Regional collaboration
- Strong town centers
- Housing
- Transportation and
- Infrastructure. A guest speaker will build on the strategy and explore issues tied to the region’s continued growth. Additional details will be announced soon.
The cost for the luncheon is $60. Registration is open to the public here or by calling 479-575-4151. The deadline to preregister is Friday, Oct. 16.
Sam M. Walton College of Business: The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is a nationally recognized public business school located in Northwest Arkansas—home to Walmart, Tyson Foods, J.B. Hunt and one of the nation’s most dynamic business ecosystems. More than 10,000 students benefit from direct access to the companies, leaders and challenges shaping the future of business.
For 100 years, Walton College has combined academic excellence with real-world application, earning national recognition in areas including supply chain management, entrepreneurship and data analytics.
As it begins its second century, Walton College is advancing an ambitious vision to become a Living Laboratory for Business—where experiential learning, applied research, industry collaboration and an entrepreneurial mindset connect the classroom to the marketplace and prepare leaders to shape what comes next. The next 100 starts now.
About the Northwest Arkansas Council: Founded in 1990 by Sam Walton, J.B. Hunt, Don Tyson and several other business leaders, the Northwest Arkansas Council serves as a regional convener for economic and community initiatives. The council excels at identifyingchallenges and championing solutions to enhance the prosperity of the Northwest Arkansas region. Key initiatives include work to advance quality of life, attract talent, improve the region's workforce, create job opportunities, upgrade infrastructure and keep up with the region's impressive growth. For more information, visit www.nwacouncil.org.