Over the past year, our business community has proven to be resilient and played a crucial role in combatting the pandemic from shutdown and survival to reopening safely.  Most recently, businesses have been navigating unprecedented challenges of the recovery in progress. As the pathway to economic recovery unfolds, outcomes from the Chamber’s mission-work are helping our community recover more quickly. This story features some of our recent work.

Whether in times of prosperity or times of crisis, you can trust that your Chamber is leading the way to grow business, activate leaders and build community so we all emerge stronger, together. From the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis to today, we have been your trusted source for essential information and resources for business assistance and safety guidelines.

Now, as the pathway to economic recovery unfolds, outcomes from our mission-work are critical. We are continuing to push forward on our five, key mission-work areas: Economic Development, Small Business & Entrepreneurial Development, Community Development, Destination Marketing & Management, and Advocacy & Government Affairs.

Mission-Work | Economic Development
Our Economic Development mission work attracts, retains and expands business and industry. This helps grow the tax base to fund education, public safety and infrastructure. We are helping to create jobs and career opportunities by developing the talent pipeline required for world class businesses to thrive.

Economic Development Week
The Chamber celebrated Economic Development Week May 9-15 via a social media campaign using these hashtags: #EconDevWeek, #economicdevelopment and #EDW2021. Governor Asa Hutchinson also supported the effort with a Proclamation.

The goals were to increase community awareness of local programs and development projects that contribute to jobs creation, advance career development opportunities, and improve our communities’ quality of life.

The Rogers-Lowell Area continues to be a great place for businesses and residents to thrive. There is well over $60 million in private development occurring within our two cities, not including public funded projects like road construction and quality of life amenities. Rogers leads Benton County in job growth and population growth. Benton County leads the nation in wage growth and the average household income in Rogers has grown by over $8,000 in three years.

Northwest Arkansas Employment Showcase (Online)
The Chamber’s Northwest Arkansas Employment Showcase has been featured on RogersLowell.com and promoted in local media since April. This free, online event has been a success connecting job seekers with local businesses to learn about career opportunities and available jobs. Based on our members’ feedback, the Chamber has extended this opportunity through June and opened it up to include non-member participation helping the business community with hiring needs during the recovery.

Hospitality Outreach | Restaurant Revitalization Fund
In March, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 created the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide grants for restaurants sustaining financial losses due to the pandemic. The Chamber has been helping the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) communicate details to local restaurants the past two months. The SBA will be administering the program and issuing federal rules, regulations and applications before the grant funds are distributed. Read the National Restaurant Association’s FAQ.

Mission-Work | Small Business & Entrepreneurial Development
This is another key focus area of the Chamber’s mission-work. We curate essential resources for starting, running and growing business. Our work opens doors to new connections for small businesspeople and entrepreneurs through educational programs and networking events. We listen to our Small Business Council who guides us as the Voice of Small Business.  Our work also includes advocating for business-friendly legislation by representing small business needs to our legislators.

Small Business Week
The Chamber celebrated Small Business Week May 2-8.  Small businesses account for half of America’s workforce, and more new jobs come from small business than any other source. The Chamber showcased various small businesses throughout the area in social media with the hashtag #SmallBusinessWeek. During April, the Small Business Council visited local member businesses to learn more about what they do and help the Chamber write “business spotlights” recognizing the vital roles these businesses play in our local economy.  These social media posts were featured during Small Business Week.

Small Business Toolkit
Starting, running and growing a business is not easy. About two-thirds of businesses survive two years in business, half of all businesses will survive five years, and one-third will survive ten. The Chamber launched new content in its Small Business Toolkit during April and May. This is our free online resource that provides helpful resources and information with links to articles other information on relevant topics.

Chamber to Community (C2C) Webinar Library
Early in the pandemic, the Chamber conducted its Road to Recovery Survey.  In response to our members’ survey feedback, we launched a new Back to Business NWA online professional development webinar series with subject matter experts throughout our community. These were delivered in online sessions and are still available on demand.

Mission-Work | Community Development
The Chamber’s mission-work for Community Development helps to build a vibrant, safe and welcoming community.  We activate a diverse generation of business and community leaders and prepare them to face future regional challenges.  Read more about our Leadership Programs.

For 45 years, the Chamber has honored outstanding high school students in the Rogers-Lowell Area during its Academic Awards ceremonies. During April, we held the Academic Awards and recognized educators for their excellence in education.

Academic Awards Educators of the Year
This year, the Chamber presented 1,181 students with Academic Awards, the most that have ever been presented. Three teachers were selected for the 2020-21 Educator of the Year: Wesley Faith, Joe Mathias Elementary; Rebekah Mann, Elmwood Middle School; and Lea Ann Moss, Rogers Heritage High School.

The Chamber also recognized during the 99^th Annual Celebration of Business & Community in April all the Rogers-Lowell Area teachers, volunteers, and support staff in our school district with the Dick Trammel Good Neighbor Award (Rogers community’s highest honor) and the Elbert S. Graham/Elza Tucker Award (Lowell community’s highest honor).  They were the heroes of our community during the pandemic. Watch the video here.

Mission-Work | Destination Marketing & Management
The Chamber’s mission-work in Destination Marketing & Management is branded Visit Rogers. We activate quality experiences for both visitors and residents and market our destination by targeting leisure, meetings, sports and relocation markets to visit and conduct their business here. Our work cultivates tourism to create economic and community development opportunities. Building a place people want to visit also builds a place where people want to live and work.  It all starts with a visit.

National Travel and Tourism Week & Tourism Talk
The 38^th annual National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) was May 2-8. Nationally, it recognized the Power of Travel and the critical role the travel industry will play in bringing back our vibrant communities, restoring the economy, rebuilding our hospitality workforce, and reconnecting America.

Visit Rogers participated in NTTW by highlighting the Power of Travel on social media throughout the week, hosting the Northwest Arkansas Travel Meeting Professionals Q2 meeting, and hosting the Visit Rogers Annual Tourism Talk at the Walmart AMP May 6. The theme was Power of Travel:  Defining Northwest Arkansas’s Way Forward.  It featured two panel discussions on “Navigating Forward” and “Rebuilding Communities” with a special presentation from Ryan Thompson from Miles Partnership, industry experts who work closely with destination marketing organizations, including Visit Rogers.

Mission Work | Advocacy & Government Affairs
The Chamber serves as the regional link between business and government to ensure that the Voice of Business is represented and heard. We engage the community in the political process from contacting a legislator to registering to vote. We also work with our members to be their voice for influencing positive legislative outcomes for business-driven, public policy.

Northwest Arkansas Regional Legislative Agenda
Some of the successful legislation passed as part of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Legislative Agenda at this year’s session included:  Class Protection (SB622); Tax Measures for Business; DACA Teacher Certification and Bilingual Education; and ARHOME funding.  Learn more details about each at the Voice of Business Blog.