2022 was an exciting year celebrating our Centennial as the trusted source for growing business, activating leaders, and building community in our region. And to top off the year, we introduced a new and modern brand identity to better position the Chamber for the future with our next generation of community leaders. In our Annual Report, you’ll learn more about our 2022 accomplishments and highlights. We encourage you to review it so you can discover how you can engage with us this year as we continue working together to create a cohesive and connected community where people are excited to visit, live, invest, work, and play.

Government Affairs

Our Government Affairs & Advocacy division serves as the link between members and local, state and federal government by advocating for pro-business and quality of life issues that are important to Northwest Arkansas. They also engage in activities that produce long-term positive impacts including voter registration and education, engagement of members in the political process and continuously improved outreach efforts.

2022 Goals | Government Affairs

1. Serve as the regional link between business and government by defining legislative priorities that help our local community.
2. Ensure the voice of business is heard and represented on local, state, and national legislative policy issues.
3. Advocate for business-driven policy that impacts businesses of all sizes (taxation, regulation, infrastructure, etc.).
4. Engage the community in the political process including registering to vote, contacting legislators, hosting educational forums, and organizing calls to action.

Community Development

Programs in our Community Development division impact and enhance the quality of life in Rogers, Lowell and the region. They are committed to expanding our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to better welcome the growing number of residents, workers, and visitors from all backgrounds. They also support educational programs and help develop our leaders for the future.

2022 Goals | Community Development

1. Positively Impact Future Leaders.
2. Ensure Leaders Represent the Entire Community.
3. Increase and Activate Next Gen Leaders with Programming through Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders (NWAEL).
4. Monetize Chamber’s Spanish Seminar Series quarterly educational opportunities.
5. Increase Minority Small Business Membership.
6. Improve Graduation Rates for Minority Students.
7. Serve as the Welcoming Coordinator for the City of Rogers.

Economic Development

New job creation and business expansion impact businesses by creating meaningful opportunities to sell goods and services to new businesses and residents. Our Economic Development division works with industries both large and small to increase job growth and business expansion. They also work with individuals to support and increase our growing small business community.

2022 Goals | Economic Development

1.Be a Business-friendly Community focused on Business Growth and Commercial Development in Rogers and Lowell.
2. Invigorate Commercial Development in Lowell through business expansion and new retail opportunities through $5 million in new capital development.
3. Create Workforce Development Opportunities in Our Community.
4. Engage the Small Business Community.
5. Engage Minority Communities within Northwest Arkansas with Programs and Offerings.
6. Continue to Create Quality of Place Initiatives to Attract a Diverse, First-Class Workforce.

Downtown Development

Our Downtown Development division is the primary point-of-contact for economic development in Downtown Rogers and provides resources and help implementing the Downtown Rogers Initiative Plan. They focus on increasing the number of businesses, employees, and residential properties in the downtown core. They also cultivate strong relations with existing businesses and government entities, identifying opportunities to activate underutilized properties, connecting potential partnerships and facilitating business relations to maximize resources for downtown and the surrounding community.

2022 Goals | Downtown Development

1. Increase Multi-Family/Mixed-Use Residential Development in Downtown Rogers.
2. Attract Supplier, Professional Services and Light Manufacturing Employers and Jobs to Downtown Rogers.
3. Establish the Chamber as the Primary Point-of-Contact for Doing Business in Downtown Rogers.
4. Connect All Activities to the Mission of Economic Development and the Master Plan with at Least Six Public Announcements.
5. Showcase Why Downtown Rogers is an Ideal Place to Conduct Business, Raise a Family and Enjoy Quality of Life Amenities and Activities.
6. Develop and Promote Downtown Rogers as a Destination for Arts, Music, Dance and Other Interactive Experiences.
7. Build Community Value through Effective Activation of Under-Utilized Properties.

Destination Marketing & Management

Destination Rogers creates economic opportunity for our community by attracting meetings, conventions, tournaments, events and leisure visitors to the city of Rogers and Northwest Arkansas. Overseen by the Rogers Advertising and Promotion Commission, Destination Rogers is our Destination Marketing Organization responsible for marketing the city to visitors.

2022 Goals | Destination Rogers

1. Promote Rogers as a World Class Destination, generating tourism revenue that funds investment in building the destination’s strength and quality of place.
2. Build Awareness of Rogers as a World-Class Destination through Digital, Print, and Social Media Marketing Strategies.
3. Align the Rogers community around a shared value vision for tourism.
4. Champion Destination Leadership Principles and Practices in Rogers .
5. Support Chamber Goals and Objectives with Destination Rogers (formerly Visit Rogers) Destination Leadership.