Northwest Arkansas, the Center for Global Business
Northwest Arkansas, the Center for Global Business Northwest Arkansas is not just a beautiful place to live; it is also emerging as a center for global business. With global giants like Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt having their headquarters in this region, it is no surprise that the area has become a thriving hub for commerce. In addition to these established companies, Northwest Arkansas is also attracting a growing number of consulting and startup tech companies, making it an exciting place for both buyers and sellers in the real estate market. For buyers, Northwest Arkansas offers a unique combination of a vibrant business environment and a high quality of life. The presence of these major corporations means plenty of job opportunities and a strong economy, which is always a good sign for property values. Additionally, with a diverse range of housing options from single-family homes to luxury apartments, there is something for everyone in this region. Whether you are a young professional looking for a trendy downtown loft or a family searching for a spacious suburban home, Northwest Arkansas has it all. On the other hand, sellers in Northwest Arkansas are benefiting from the influx of businesses and professionals moving to the area. The demand for housing is on the rise, and properties are selling quickly. With a competitive market, sellers have the opportunity to make a profit and move on to the next chapter of their lives. Whether you are downsizing, upgrading, or relocating, now is an excellent time to sell your property in Northwest Arkansas. Beyond the business opportunities, Northwest Arkansas offers a fantastic lifestyle for its residents. The region is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, with picturesque landscapes and outdoor activities readily available. From hiking and biking trails to crystal-clear lakes, there is no shortage of recreational opportunities. Additionally, the area boasts a vibrant arts and culture scene, with museums, galleries, and live performances to enjoy. In conclusion, Northwest Arkansas has established itself as the center for global business. With Walmart, Tyson Foods, J.B. Hunt, and a growing number of consulting, vendors,and startup tech companies, the region offers incredible opportunities for both buyers and sellers in the real estate market. The combination of a strong economy, diverse housing options, and an exceptional lifestyle make Northwest Arkansas an attractive place to call home. If you are considering buying or selling in this area, now is the time to take advantage of the thriving real estate market in Northwest Arkansas.
2023 in Review: The Year’s Top 10 Highlights in NWA
With big developments in infrastructure, athletics, housing and even food, it’s hard to think of a subject that didn’t bring some good news to Northwest Arkansas in 2023. Since each year’s successes serve as a foundation for the next, we’re highlighting our picks for 2023’s Top 10 highlights. Here are the selections in chronological order. 1. NWA and its residents excel on the national stage Our first highlight is the exception to chronological order because it’s a year-round fact: Northwest Arkansas, as well as its individual residents, businesses and organizations, are among the country’s best, most skilled and most noteworthy in their respective arenas. The proof is in the rankings: NWA is among U.S. News’ Top 10 places to live for 8th year, the No. 2 most cutting-edge mid-size metro – The Wall Street Journal, 9 on Milken’s ranking of nation’s best cities, No. 34 in Heartland Forward’s most dynamic metros, and the No. 5 market in the U.S. – Synergos Technologies Inc. Bentonville’s the No. 2 best small town for adventure – USA Today, is one of the South’s best cities – Southern Living, and its street arts scenes is one of America’s most exciting – Fifty Grande. Fayetteville’s one of Southern Living’s best college towns. U of A Graduate Entrepreneurship Program ranks No. 1 in SEC, Top 50 internationally. New Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design named Future Project of the Year. AcreTrader is Fast Company’s No. 2 most innovative company in personal finance. George’s Majestic Lounge is one of America’s favorite local music venues. TheatreSquared wins design and architecture awards and is the first Arkansas theatre honored by the Obie Awards. Bentonville’s Sweet Freedom Cheese is one of America’s 10 most iconic cheese shops – Wine Enthusiast. Chef Rafael Rios is the sole Arkansas rep in 2023 James Beard Awards semi-finals. 2. AWSOM breaks ground Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) in March celebrated the start of construction on 14 acres of land dedicated to the new medical education facility east of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Pending programmatic accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the school plans to welcome its first class of 48 students in 2025. “This building will be a place for community and a bridge to the future of medical education,” said Dr. Sharmila Makhija, founding dean and CEO. “The school is poised to be a state-of-the-art learning facility, connected to nature and the community. Alongside our health system partners and neighbors, we’ll activate students and reshape medical education by addressing mental, physical, social, and emotional health.” 3. USA Cycling holds Bentonville grand opening USA Cycling opened a satellite office and made Bentonville the new home of the U.S. Mountain Bike National Team during a kickoff event in April at Ledger, the world’s first bikeable building. The organization announced the move in December 2022 as young athletes set their sights on success leading into the 2028 Olympic Games. 4. NWA joins the Top 100 biggest U.S. metros The NWA metropolitan statistical area, which consists of Benton, Madison and Washington counties, saw its population increase to 576,403 people by July 1, 2022, the latest public estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau showed in May. That moved NWA up two spots to reach No. 100 in population, passing Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Census estimate also makes clear just how fast Northwest Arkansas is seeing its population go up, increasing by 36 people a day between April 2020, when the official U.S. Census was taken, and July 2022. 5. NWA will be home to its own professional soccer team Professional men’s and women’s soccer teams are coming to Northwest Arkansas, with players taking to the field as soon as 2026. The United Soccer League (USL), the largest professional soccer organization in North America, announced in July that it’s partnering with locally-based USL Arkansas to bring the world’s most popular sport to the state for the first time. The partners plan to build a 5,000-seat multipurpose stadium in Rogers’ Pinnacle Hills entertainment district near Bellview and New Hope roads. 6. Leading by example: Groundwork, WFF help finance mixed-income housing project Groundwork, previously the Northwest Arkansas workforce housing center, in July announced its first investment in an attainable housing development to be constructed in Springdale. The development is supported with $6.75 million from the Walton Family Foundation. The project, dubbed “Big Emma,” is a 77-unit mixed-income apartment development located on Emma Avenue downtown. The investment from Groundwork ensures 30 of the units will be permanently reserved for households earning below the area median income. 7. Washington Regional top hospital in Arkansas again Washington Regional Medical Center is the top hospital in the state for the third year in a row and the best in the Ozark region for a fifth year, according to the latest ranking by U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News, which also ranks the nation’s best schools and places to live, evaluates thousands of hospitals based on patient outcomes, staffing, physician referrals and other measures. Washington Regional was designated “high-performing” in a dozen categories, including maternity care, lung cancer and heart attacks, meaning its rate of success was in the top 10% of hospitals evaluated. 8. $25 million gift benefits Arkansas Children’s Northwest Arkansas Children’s Northwest in August received a $25 million donation from the Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation, the largest gift ever received by the hospital or given by the foundation. Half of the gift will go toward the Springdale hospital’s previously announced expansion, which will focus on boosting ear, nose and throat services, orthopedics, gastroenterology and urology. The other half will create an endowment to help recruit medical specialists, purchase equipment and meet other needs. 9. XNA turns 25 The past 25 years brought airline bankruptcies and mergers, the 2001 terrorist attacks that crippled the aviation industry, a massive economic downturn in 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic. But they also brought new flights and low-cost airlines, a parking deck and other expansions, a redesignation from a regional airport to a national one, and passenger numbers nearing 1 million this year. The airport in November celebrated a quarter-century with help from Alice Walton, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former President Bill Clinton. 10. ARDOT approves $181M bid to extend Springdale Northern Bypass The Arkansas Department of Transportation in November approved Emery Sapp & Sons Inc.’s $180.87 million bid to extend Arkansas 612, or Springdale Northern Bypass, from Arkansas 112 to U.S. 412. The first bypass segment from Interstate 49 to Arkansas 112 opened in 2018. The contractor expects the second phase of 612 to begin in spring or early summer and for construction to take about 28 months. The four-lane, divided freeway will include 16 bridges and three interchanges, including one for the connector road to XNA. Honorable Mentions Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research makes strides in prosthesis, other areas The University of Arkansas’ Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I³R) in August was awarded a $4.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to expand a clinical trial for an innovative neural-enabled prosthesis currently occurring at the university campus and including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as an additional clinical trial site. The program is one of several at the Institute, whose state-of-the-art, 144,000-square-foot facility is expected to open late next year. Razorback Greenway is designated a National Recreation Trail The Razorback Greenway was one of nine new national recreation trails in nine states designated by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland in June. These trails are jointly coordinated and administered by the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, in conjunction with certain federal and nonprofit partners. “National recreation trails, including these new designations, are some of our country’s highest caliber trails and provide close-to-home recreation opportunities and the benefits of spending time outdoors,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in the announcement. “They can be used by everyone and provide for the ever-increasing recreation needs of our growing population, especially in urban areas.”
Paint firms offer their picks for the hottest paint colors in the new year.
Find inspiration for your next paint project. Each year, the major paint firms announce their choices for the “Color of the Year.” In 2024, expect to see more blues and earth tones as paint firms move away from last year’s reddish and pink hues. Here’s a list of the 2024 Colors of the Year from the major paint firms. Chime in with your favorite! Pantone: Peach Fuzz Photo credit: Kira-Yan / Getty Images Sherwin-Williams: Upward Photo credit: Sherwin-Williams Behr: Cracked Pepper Photo credit: Behr Benjamin Moore: Blue Nova Photo credit: Benjamin Moore PPG/Glidden: Limitless Photo credit: Glidden HGTV Home: Persimmon Photo credit: HGTV Home C2: Thermal Photo credit: C2 Dunn-Edwards: Skipping Stones Photo credit: Dunn-Edwards Valspar: Renew Blue Photo credit: Valspar Ironside: Dutch Boy Paints Photo credit: Dutch Boy Paints Graham & Brown: Viridis Photo credit: Graham & Brown
