February 2020 | Vol 15 Issue 2
GROWING BUSINESS. BUILDING COMMUNITY.
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020
A Letter from the Chairman The Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 98th year as the trusted source for growing business, activating leaders and building community in our region. Over the years, we have built a strong reputation of being influencers for responsible growth, catalysts for positive change and conveners of the community to facilitate collaborative solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Our mission’s work is making a big impact on economic development, downtown development, workforce recruitment and retention (developing the next generation workforce pipeline), government affairs (advocating for business-driven public policy), community development (leadership and education programs), destination marketing (attracting visitors) and long-range community strategic planning (focusing on quality of place). For the past three years, the Chamber has gone through an evolution with its Chamber 3.0 initiative. This has been an intentional effort for us to be more cohesive internally and externally, to invigorate our programming and mission work, and to influence outcomes that benefit our community’s quality of life. Last year, we finalized our roadmap to 2022 (our 100th anniversary date) that includes a new Vision 100 Community Action Plan, a three-year Strategic Plan (2020-21-22) and a redefined vision, mission and set of core values to ensure we’re relevant, necessary and competent in a new decade of rapid change. Let’s look back together at some of 2019’s highlights. Last year, new business growth and expansions resulted in significant job creation and created opportunities for our members and partners to sell their goods and services to new businesses and residents. Over 2,200 jobs were created, an increase of over six (6) percent versus a year ago. At the end of last year, the unemployment rate was at 2.2 percent in Rogers, well below the national and state average. Sales tax collections in Rogers amounted to over $20 million in 2019 which is over $1 million more than the previous year. Over $250 million in new commercial development projects were announced or began construction in 2019 including large-scale projects like Topgolf, Transplace, the Walmart AMP expansion, Pinnacle Heights, One Uptown, and the District Phase 2. The Pleasant Grove area also saw tremendous commercial growth with new restaurants, retail and the new Arkansas Athletes Outreach (AAO) sports complex. The Chamber worked hard last year to promote our downtown’s attractions and amenities like The Railyard Bike Park, Lake Atalanta Park, the Parks and Trails System and the Downtown Rogers Farmers Market. The Downtown Rogers, Inc. division (formerly Main Street Rogers) produced 45 downtown events with over 40,000 participants helping to create experiences that brought our community together to have fun. Downtown Rogers also saw the opening of 52 new businesses in 2019 including The 1907 which is the new home to Onyx Coffee, Yeyo’s and Heirloom. Another newcomer to downtown was Moonbroch Brewing Company.
2
The Government Affairs division collaborated with the NWA Council, NWA Chambers and Arkansas State Chamber to develop the Northwest Arkansas Legislative Agenda which will help us advance issues key to the continued prosperity of the region. Workforce Education and Training legislation was the priority for the legislative agenda last year and it was passed in both Chambers. The Community Development division increased minority participation in leadership programs by 25 percent last year (Leadership Benton County, Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders and ARVEST First Leadership). The team also launched planning for an exciting new Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) program that will be expanded this year. Tourism positively impacted the Rogers-Lowell economy in 2019. The Visit Rogers division helped our community host numerous events that enjoyed record attendance and provided revenue for area businesses. The team also announced a marketing partnership with the Walmart AMP to promote Rogers as the entertainment center of Northwest Arkansas while also creating brand awareness and enhanced marketing opportunities. On behalf of the entire Chamber, I would like to sincerely thank our community, members, partners and investors for their involvement this past year. We couldn’t have achieved this success without you. You inspired the ideas and hard work and invested your time and resources to enable us to create the ideal environment for businesses of all sizes to prosper. In this Annual Report, we’ve outlined 2019 accomplishments and highlights of the Chamber’s leadership in our region. I hope you will be impressed by our achievements of the past year and join us this year as we continue working together to create a cohesive and connected community where people want to visit, live, invest, work, and play.
Greg Fogle
2019 Chairman of the Board Nabholz Construction
The Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce is one out of just 125 chambers of 7,000+ nationwide accredited with Five Stars.
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020
CHAMBER STAFF Raymond Burns, CCE President/CEO rburns@rogerslowell.com
J.R. Shaw, IOM
Executive Director/Executive Vice President | Visit Rogers jr@rogerslowell.com
Katie Burns
Vice President of Operations katie@rogerslowell.com
Shelle Summers, IOM
Senior Vice President of Membership Services ssummers@rogerslowell.com
Steve Cox
Senior Vice President of Economic Development steve@rogerslowell.com
Brad Phillips
Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications brad@rogerslowell.com
Jon Moran
Senior Vice President of Government Affairs jon@rogerslowell.com
Vickie Grotts, IOM
Vice President of Accounting & Finance vickie@rogerslowell.com
Geovanny Sarmiento
Vice President of Community Engagement & Inclusion geovanny@rogerslowell.com
Karen Wagaman
Loretta Gomez Finance Manager loretta@rogerslowell.com
Sheree Barnes
Operations Manager | Downtown Rogers, Inc. sheree@rogerslowell.com
Lauren Hildreth
Ronnie Webb, Jr.
Destination Sales Manager | Visit Rogers ronnie@rogerslowell.com
Justin Freeman
Marketing Communications Specialist justin@rogerslowell.com
Lance Lloyd
Vice President of Downtown Development karen@rogerslowell.com
DTR Market Manager | Downtown Rogers, Inc. lauren@rogerslowell.com
Ross Phillips
Jacque Eakins Account Executive jacque@rogerslowell.com
Sales & Marketing Coordinator | Visit Rogers luz@rogerslowell.com
Shey Bland
Marni Rogers, IOM
Ashley Matsumura
Vice President of Community Development ross@rogerslowell.com
Executive Director | Downtown Rogers, Inc. shey@rogerslowell.com
Nick Smith
Creative Services Director nick@rogerslowell.com
Jeff O’Neill
Director of Special Events jeff@rogerslowell.com
Member Relations Manager marni@rogerslowell.com
Community Relations Manager lance@rogerslowell.com
Luz Palmerin
Customer Relations Manager ashley@rogerslowell.com
Kelly Parker
Marketing Communications Manager | Visit Rogers kelly@rogerslowell.com
Luke Wiggins
Meetings & Conventions Sales Manager | Visit Rogers luke@rogerslowell.com
WHAT WE BELIEVE MISSION
CORE VALUES
We are influencers, catalysts and conveners; the trusted source for growing business, activating leaders and building community.
VISION
The center of world-class business, welcoming communities, and opportunities for all.
3
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chairman of the Board Greg Fogle Nabholz Construction
Chairman-Elect Angie Tucker-Ridley Tucker’s Furniture & Appliance
2019 DIRECTORS
Payne Brewer, Arvest Bank Jill Bright, Grand Savings Bank Corry Hull, OneDigital Health and Benefits Erin Kiefer, Assembled Products Denten Park, Northwest Health Chris Sultemeier, Walmart (retired)
Treasurer Jeff Milford AEP/SWEPCO
Past Chairman Eric Pianalto Mercy NWA
RIDC President Jerry Vest Regions Bank
2020 DIRECTORS
Leah Acoach Danny Beck, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Joe Donaldson, Sam’s Furniture Brad Hicks, J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. Mike Power, First Security Bank David Vaden, Ernst & Young LLP
President/CEO Raymond Burns, CCE
2021 DIRECTORS
Tom Allen, Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners Ron Branscum, Arvest Bank David Kimball, Benchmark Group Jerra Nalley, Runway Tanya Smith, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge Melissa Turpin, Honeycomb Kitchen Shop
EX-OFFICIO DIRECTORS Daizy Andrade, University of Arkansas Dr. Marlin Berry, Rogers Public Schools Kristen Boozman, Portfolio Sotheby’s International Realty Jerry Carmichael, 3C Retail Solutions Irma Chavez, Conexion de Negocios Latino Larry Cooper, Embassy Suites NW Arkansas Russ Daniel, McLarty Daniel Group Rich Davis, Black Hills Energy
Mike Dodge, Carroll Electric Coop. Corp. Sandy Edwards, Crystal Bridges Museum David Faulkner, Pinnacle Hills Promenade David Foster, APAC-Central, Inc. Angela Grayson, Precipice IP Dan Hendrix, World Trade Center Arkansas Greg Hines, Mayor, City of Rogers Tom Hopper, TallChamps, LLC Dr. Evelyn Jorgenson, NWACC
DIVISION CHAIRS
Community Development - Leah Acoach Membership Services - Jill Bright Economic Development - Payne Brewer Government Affairs - Jerry Carmichael Convention & Visitors Bureau - Larry Cooper
Peter Lane, Walton Arts Center Chris Moore, Mayor, City of Lowell Barry Moehring, Benton County Judge John-Michael Scurio, George’s Inc. Curt Stamp, Cox Business Dick Trammel, Chairman Emeritus Emma Willis, Mangan Holcomb Partners Jeff Wood, Tyson Foods
AUDIT COMMITTEE Jill Bright David Vaden Ron Branscum
January 30: Construction began on the first phase of the $100 million Pinnacle Heights development in Rogers
January 4: State and city leaders celebrated completion of Highway 265 (Dick Trammel Highway).
01
4
05
10
15
20
TIMELINE: January 2019
25
30
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020
Celebrating a Successful 2019
4th
BEST
2nd
BEST
12th BEST
† „
Â
40th BEST
3rd
BEST
4th
( Â Â?%) Â?Â?Â?Â? Â?Â?Â?Â?
BEST
€  ‚ ‰
LARGEST ‡‚ ˆ ‰ † „  ‚ ‰
February 2: Northwest Arkansas honored Mr. Dick Trammel at the Chamber’s 97th Annual Celebration of Business & Community.
05
„ …
01
BEST
Â
25th
€‚ ƒ Â
10
20
4th
MOST
th
SAFEST
February 19 & 26: The Chamber hosted Chamber Night Receptions at Lowell City Hall and Rogers City Hall providing members opportunities to learn more about local government and meet elected city officials.
15
20
TIMELINE: February 2019
February 23: The Chamber’s Government Affairs division hosted Arkansas General Assembly Legislative Forums as public service for citizens of Benton County.
25
30
5
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020 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.
EMPLOYMENT in Rogers grew
6.2% | 2,200+ Jobs
Unemployment
2.2%
in Rogers was at below both STATE & NATIONAL Averages
At the end of 2019, over
$250 MILLION in
2019 Goals | Economic Development Goal #1: Be a Business-friendly Community focused on Business Growth and Commercial Development in Rogers and Lowell Goal #2: Invigorate Commercial Development in Lowell
PRIVATE CAPITAL INVESTMENT was under construction or beginning construction in Rogers.
Sales tax collections in Rogers amounted to over
Large scale projects such as
$20 MILLION
Topgolf, Transplace, the Walmart AMP expansion, Pinnacle Heights, ONE Uptown, and the District Phase 2 broke ground
in 2019 which is over $1 million more than 2018 and a 78% increase from a decade ago in 2009.
Goal #3: Create Workforce Development Opportunities in Our Community
or were announced in 2019
Goal #4: Engage the Small Business Community Goal #5: Engage Minority Communities within Northwest Arkansas with Programs and Offerings Goal #6: Continue to Create Quality of Place Initiatives to Attract a Diverse, First-Class Workforce
Record enrollment in
Rogers Public Schools
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION COURSES this school year – increases access for students to be put on career paths for in-demand careers
March 6: Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission approved a timeline to complete 4.81-mile segment of Interstate 49, between Pineville, Mo., and Arkansas state line.
01
6
05
10
Downtown Rogers saw the opening of
52 NEW BUSINESSES in 2019, including ONYX COFFEE LAB, YEYO’S, & HEIRLOOM (all of
which occupy The 1907), MOONBROCH BREWING COMPANY, and two members of the Consumer Packaged Goods community.
March 8: Visit Rogers hosted its annual Tourism Talk event, offering a glimpse into destination marketing and the state of tourism in Rogers.
15
20
TIMELINE: March 2019
March 27: Transplace announced its relocation of Northwest Arkansas operations from Lowell to a new $46 million building In Rogers.
25
30
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020 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.
There have been
CORE States announced construction of offices for
2019 Goals | Downtown Development
50-75 PEOPLE
Goal #1: Increase Commitments for Multi-Family/ Mixed-Use Residential Development Downtown Rogers Goal #2: Attract Supplier, Professional Services and Light Manufacturing Employers and Jobs to Downtown Rogers
Goal #5: Connect All Activities to the Mission of Economic Development and the Master Plan Goal #6: Showcase Why Downtown Rogers is an Ideal Place to Conduct Business, Raise a Family and Enjoy Quality of Life Amenities and Activities Goal #7: Build Community Value through Effective Activation of Under-Utilized Properties
Convened 136 meetings promoting Downtown Rogers as an IDEAL COMMUNITY to conduct business, establish a residence and enjoy leisure experiences
01
05
RLACC partnered with DTR, Inc. to promote Latin music and dance
1907 property opened
in conjunction with
Art on the Bricks Art Walk
to the alleys and parks of Downtown Rogers
11 MULTI-FAMILY APARTMENTS in 2019
Three vacant commercial properties were featured in
4
promotions and press releases as part of their participation in Art on the Bricks Art Walk.
MULTI-FAMILY PROJECTS
TWO have since leased.
April 11: The Chamber’s Community Development division launched planning for a new Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) program.
10
since November 2017
POP-UP BALLET PERFORMANCES
are in planning stages
April 9: U.S. News & World Report named Northwest Arkansas the 4th Best Place to Live in America for 2019.
50 DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES
RLACC partnered with NWA Ballet Theatre to bring
Goal #3: Establish the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce as the Primary Point-of-Contact for doing business in Downtown Rogers Goal #4: Develop and Promote Downtown Rogers as a Destination Location for Arts, Music and Other Experiences
923 POP-UP ART ON THE BRICKS ART EXHIBITS in
15
April 24: Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) holds a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the 8th Street interchange at I-49.
April 14: Onyx Coffee Lab announced it will relocate headquarters to The 1907 building in Downtown Rogers.
20
TIMELINE: April 2019
25
30
7
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020 Membership in the Chamber is a direct investment in the work we do to grow business and build community. Our Member Services Division helps you understand how to connect, invest and grow with us. Whether you are a community partner, member, or both, we provide “over-the-top” customer service by offering valuable information, services and programs to deliver value and return on your investment with the Chamber.
52% of the businesses who joined
from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 were located in Rogers and Lowell.
14% 8%
A total of 76% of the new member businesses were located in Benton County.
2019 Goals | Membership Services
Rogers
Bentonville
Springdale
Fayetteville
Lowell
Other
Top 3 Reasons new members joined in 2019:
Goal #1: Increase Annual Member Investment Goal #2: Provide Five-Star Customer Service to Retain and Gain New Members
46%
14% 6%
There were
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ADVERTISING NETWORKING
Goal #3: Provide Value-Added Member Benefits
12%
120 Member
125 Coordinated
Engagement Calls in 2019
Business Events & Programs for Members and the Community
Goal #4: Develop a Plan to Become a Data-Driven Sales Team
2,089 members 284 new memberships
Finished 2019 with which included
sold during 2019
May 5-11: The Chamber’s Small Business Council celebrated Small Business Week through a social media campaign highlighting many of the region’s small businesses.
May 4: DTR Market kicked off its 2019 season and launched a new mobile app to provide easy access to food and local growers.
01
8
05
10
15
May 17: Walmart announced plans for a new headquarters campus that will spread over 300 acres.
20
TIMELINE: May 2019
May 21: Leadership Benton County class celebrated 17 new graduates.
25
30
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020
Provided 78 BUSINESS-BUILDING NETWORKING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES in 2019 which allowed members to GROW THEIR PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS and GENERATE BUSINESS LEADS.
4
12
events
12
events
50
events
Members of the
AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE helped to host
123
events
RIBBON CUTTINGS/GROUND BREAKINGS in 2019
April 2019 | Vol 14 Issue 4
The 97th Annual Celebration of Business & Community was held February 2 at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers. This was a special evening for Northwest Arkansas as OVER 800 PEOPLE came together to honor Mr. Dick Trammel’s life
2019 saw a Retention Rate in our membership of
90%
achievements and contributions to our local communities.
CELEBR ATING Mr. Northwest Arkansas
See Story on Page 4
Central Referral Connection,
in its first year as a Chamber of Commerce program, averaged almost 50 attendees each week for a final total of over
2,130 ATTENDEES in 2019
05
attended the inaugural
Taste of Rogers event
August 22 at the DTR Market to listen to live music and sample delicious food and drinks from
21 restaurants
June 3: Visit Rogers announced a 10-year, $1 million marketing partnership with the Walmart AMP to support the AMP’s new expansion and help position Rogers as an entertainment destination.
June 1: Northwest Arkansas Chambers of Commerce donated $5,000 to support Arkansas flood relief efforts.
01
100+ Guests
10
15
June 3: The Northwest Arkansas Council announced Fare Flight NWA, a program dedicated to helping air travelers find the best fares and encouraging passengers to fly from Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA).
20
TIMELINE: June 2019
June 11: The Chamber hosted a groundbreaking event for ONE Uptown, a mixeduse development near Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers.
25
30
9
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020 Visit Rogers creates economic opportunity for our community by attracting meetings, conventions, and leisure visitors to the city of Rogers and Northwest Arkansas. Overseen by the Rogers Advertising and Promotion Commission, Visit Rogers is our Destination Marketing Organization responsible for marketing the city to visitors.
Visit Rogers’ partnership with the Walmart AMP promotes Rogers as the
2019 Goals | Visit Rogers
ENTERTAINMENT CENTER OF NWA
, creating brand awareness and enhanced marketing opportunities. Immediate results include 20 meeting planners hosted for concerts, and 3,691 new users referred to VisitRogersArkansas.com from waltonartscenter.org.
Goal #1: Market Rogers as a Premier Destination for Leisure Travelers, Conventions and Sporting Events Goal #2: Promote Rogers as a World-Class Destination through Digital, Print and Social Media Marketing Strategies Goal #3: Promote Rogers as a World-Class Destination through Public Relations and Media Campaigns Goal #4: Provide Incentives and Services to Existing and Potential Customers that Insure Successful Events and Enhance Return Business Opportunities Goal #5: Provide Destination Marketing Excellence to Rogers and the Northwest Arkansas Community Goal #6: Support Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce Goals and Objectives
10
05
10
continues to outpace 2018. 2019 hotel occupancy was up 5.2% to
69.8%
, and demand continues to increase, up 6.8% from last year. Increased occupancy and demand are two hotel performance measures that Visit Rogers sales and marketing efforts can positively influence.
Visit Rogers sales efforts resulted in
65,568 future room nights sourced, leading to 26,724 definite room nights, 8,209 of which are new.
July 1: The Rogers-Lowell community launched its Vision 100 Community Action Plan in anticipation of our area reaching a population of 100,000 before 2035.
01
HOTEL PERFORMANCE
Visit Rogers digital marketing strategies increased web traffic to VisitRogersArkansas.com over 2018. Users increased 48.4% to 263,627 and page views increased 29% to 520,277. Traffic from branded portal on Arkansas.com resulted in 13,942 PAGEVIEWS and 10,163 USERS in the first year of partnership.
July 10: Mundo-tech announced its plan for an $800,000 expansion in Rogers.
15
20
TIMELINE: July 2019
25
30
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020 Our Government Affairs 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.
WORKFORCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING LEGISLATION was the priority for the Legislative
Developed the
NWA REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
2019 Goals | Government Affairs Goal #1: Implement Measures to Drive Support
for Key Issues Contained in the Northwest Arkansas Regional Legislative Agenda
with the NWA Chambers, the NWA Council, and the Arkansas State Chamber
Agenda and worked out with the Arkansas State Chamber, the State of Arkansas, and Senator Jane English during the session and PASSED in both Chambers.
Goal #2: Expand the Advocacy Efforts of the
Government Affairs Division through Social Media Platforms
Federal funding for the
Efforts to
Goal #3: Increase Future Legislative and Local
Candidate Recruitment and Prepare the NWA Chambers and Business Community for the Redistricting Process in 2021
PROMOTE EXTENDING the ½ CENT SALES TAX
COMPLETION OF I-49 to the Missouri border was announced during our Washington D.C. Fly -In.
for state highway funding and maintenance were a legislative priority.
Goal #4: Prepare for the 2020 and 2022
Elections with an Emphasis on Fundraising for NPAC in 2019 and 2020
Government Affairs worked with McKee Foods to secure the
Goal #5: Continue to Expand the Influence
SINGLE SALES FACTOR as a major
of the Chamber through Regional and Statewide Strategic Partnerships. Goal #6: Expand the Interest and Influence of
the Chamber as a Regional and Statewide Voice on Federal Issues Affecting Business
August 7: The Chamber-toCommunity (C2C) program featured a popular Business Cybersecurity and Fraud Seminar for small businesses.
01
05
component of the Governor’s Tax Package introduced during the legislative session.
August 7: The Chamber hosted its Thank-A-Teacher Celebration at Rogers High School, celebrating educators and giving away door prizes to local teachers.
10
15
Passage of
E-FAIRNESS LEGISLATION had been a long-standing priority for the region and was secured in the 2019 legislative session.
August 15: Ready, Set, Run was hosted by the Chamber’s Government Affairs division and Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders to answer questions about running for political office.
20
TIMELINE: August 2019
August 22: The Chamber launched its inaugural Taste of Rogers event at DTR Market, offering the community a sampling of some of the area’s best restaurants.
25
30
11
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020 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.
30 residents
The Chamber’s Education Committee recognized
Linda Giesen of Reagan Elementary, Stacy Schmidt of Lingle Middle School, Elizabeth White of Rogers High School, and Frankie Jackson of Frank Tillery Elementary
of Benton County participated in
LEADERSHIP BENTON COUNTY CLASS 17 where they became more knowledgeable and engaged in their community.
as Educators of the Year.
2019 Goals | Community Development Goal #1: Impart Best Practices on Current and
Future Business and Community Leaders to Positively Impact our Region
Hosted Thank-A-Teacher Celebration | the Chamber gave
OVER 100 PRIZES $8,500
totaling to teachers making a big difference with the children in our local community.
Goal #2: Ensure Future and Current Leaders
Sam’s Furniture also gave Kathy Wright a
Represent the Entire Community
$10,000 home makeover
Goal #3: Increase Member Engagement with
.
Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders (NWAEL)
Chamber Night Reception
Goal #4: Revitalize Education Committee
The Community-based Scholarship Program awarded 174 students in the amount of
was held in conjunction with the Rogers Public Schools Board Meeting on October 15 –
$347,622
45+ Chamber Members
with the support of 90 donors.
were in attendance.
September 10: Hustle In Heels – LADIES LEAD NWA presented The Balancing Act – How to Successfully Integrate Your Life and Your Work luncheon at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
01
12
05
10
September 25: The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals announced plans to build its new Supply Chain Hall of Fame in Rogers, which is where the first Walmart store opened.
15
20
TIMELINE: September 2019
September 28: Bikes on the Bricks celebrated its 3rd year in Downtown Rogers in conjunction with the Bikes, Blues & BBQ nonprofit charity motorcycle rally.
25
30
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020
20 Students within the Rogers School District signed up to participate in ARVEST FIRST LEADERSHIP.
Created the first ever
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION COUNCIL
a leadership program designed to educate High School students on community-based issues and help them become more engaged in their community.
to ensure the Chamber’s events, programs, staff, and board is reflective of the community we serve.
These students are set to graduate from the program in April 2020. Partnered with the
Chamber Night Reception was held in conjunction with the Rogers City Council Meeting on February 26 as well as one in conjunction with the Lowell City Council Meeting on February 19. There were 75+ Chamber Members in attendance.
Lowell A&P Commission to develop and launch a new
Discover Lowell marketing campaign
Relaunched the
ACADEMIC AWARDS CEREMONIES took place in the Spring of 2019 for Rogers High School, Heritage High School, and Rogers New Technology High School where
1,160 Students for HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.
October 15: Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) held a groundbreaking for the final two projects that will complete Bella Vista Bypass.
October 2: The Chamber hosted its Northwest Arkansas Fall Job Fair at Frisco Station Mall in Rogers.
01
05
10
Leadership Benton County Alumni Program
and hosted kickoff event on October 15, with over
50 LBC ALUMNI
were awarded
in attendance.
October 17: The 2019 Leaders Conference unveiled the Rogers-Lowell community’s Vision 100 Plan for the future of the region; Rogers and Lowell Mayors also signed a proclamation signifying Chamber of Commerce week in the two cities at the conference.
October 17: The Chamber hosted its Networking with a Purpose nonprofit showcase at the Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s in Rogers.
15
20
TIMELINE: October 2019
25
30
13
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020
Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders (NWAEL) exists to engage and connect Northwest Arkansas young professionals through personal and professional development experiences.
NWAEL held two
NWAEL Held 6 CONNECT
seminars in 2019 with a total of
Leisurlist with a total of 478 attendees.
Board Service Certification
63 participants 2019 Goals | NWA Emerging Leaders in the region with professional development programs that focus on volunteerism, leadership skills development, board service, and entrepreneurship.
with other community leadership development organizations from across the region.
78 MEMBERS
hosted the 4th Annual NWA Young Professional Summit.
NWAEL held the 6TH ANNUAL
395
ROGERS CYCLING FESTIVAL with 650 participants competing in eight different events. The Festival raised over $16,000 for local cycling non-profit organizations.
Over Young Professionals attended the 2019 event.
NWAEL hosted six (6)
NWAEL hosted
Ready, Set, Run
a free seminar, designed to educate and answer questions about running for political office. The event is open to any individual in Northwest Arkansas interested in running for political office now or in the future.
53 Emerging Leaders attended.
November 4: The Chamber began planning with the Complete Counts Committee to ensure a complete and accurate count in the 2020 Census.
14
NWAEL MEMBERSHIP rose by
NWAEL in Conjunction with Rotary Clubs across Northwest Arkansas
Goal #2: Increase membership by partnering
05
Connect is an informal event that allows members and potential members the opportunity to connect with others, connect with the organization, and connect with Northwest Arkansas.
in 2019 to 1038 total
Goal #1: Engage young business professionals
01
events in partnership with
November 11: Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas opened its $133 million expansion in Rogers.
10
15
Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion trainings
and seminars. Topics included Diversity in the Workplace, Diversity in NWA, Creating Cross-Cultural Dialogue, Building Inclusive Teams, Unconscious Bias Training, Creating More Effective & Diverse Boards and Councils, and Choosing Respect in the Workplace.
November 21: Data from U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that Benton County had the largest second quarter yearly wage gain among nation’s 355 largest counties.
November 18th: Hunt Ventures announced plans for a five-story office building (129,000 square feet) and attached six-story parking deck (209,000 square feet) for Pinnacle Hills in Rogers.
20
TIMELINE: November 2019
25
30
2019 Annual Report | FEBRUARY2020 Downtown Rogers (DTR), Inc. creates experiences designed to bring our community together in the downtown district to celebrate the past and embrace the future. They work hard to make downtown a destination where people can explore our historic brick streets and buildings and enjoy fun, recreational activities. It’s all about uniting the downtown area’s unique mix of creatives, artisans, cuisine, and entertainment.
Positioned the Chamber of Commerce as the Go-To Source for “What’s Happening” in Downtown Rogers
2019 Goals | Downtown Rogers, Inc. 17% increase
Goal #1: Increase Day-to-Day Activities in
in subscribers to its weekly DTR Newsletter
Downtown Rogers, Developing a Denser Program Rhythm
21% increase
31% increase
in likes on DTR Inc. Facebook (11,000+)
in likes for the DTR Market Facebook
80% increase
in Instagram followers for DTR Inc.
DTR, Inc. and the Market had
The local community was engaged in DTR, Inc.’s main events with
Goal #2: Gain Stronger Support from the
Community for Program Funding Goal #3: Develop and Sustain the
over
Farmers Market
1,000
VOLUNTEER HOURS
Goal #4: Increase Train Activities
25 PARTNERS last year including REGIONAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, CITY DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOLS and more.
DTR, Inc. produced
45 events with over
40,000
Goal #5: Barks & Brews
participants.
Goal #6: Community Meals
Launched free DTR Market
PHONE APP
Goal #7: Live Music
BRUNCH and FARM TO TABLE featured
DTR, Inc. surveyed visitors to the DTR Market and found the top 3 reasons folks visited DTR Market:
10
for year-round shopping
Goal #8: Christmas Town
VENDORS ATMOSPHERE BRUNCH
chefs/restaurants/food trucks.
December 1: Lowell Mayor Chris Moore was a featured guest on the Chamber Voice of Business Podcast to discuss community planning for the future of Lowell.
December 1: Natural State Beer Company opened its brewery and taproom in Rogers.
01
05
69% increase
in Instagram followers for DTR Market
10
15
20
TIMELINE: December 2019
December 11: Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) changed its name to Northwest Arkansas National Airport.
25
30
15
317 West Walnut Street Rogers, Arkansas 72756 RogersLowell.com
Paid for through Periodical “Chamber Voice” (USPS 492950) is published monthly in January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December; semimonthly in April by the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc., 317 West Walnut, Rogers, AR 72756. Periodical postage paid at Rogers, Arkansas. POSTMASTER send address changes to: ROGERS-LOWELL AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWSLETTER, 317 West Walnut, Rogers, AR 72756.
Rogers Chamber Office 317 West Walnut Street Rogers, Arkansas 72756 479-636-1240
Lowell Chamber Office
506 Enterprise Drive, Ste. 105 Lowell, Arkansas 72745 479-770-4400
February 2020 | Vol 15 Issue 2