Q1 2022 Mission 5 Report

Mission 5 Report | Quarter 1 – 2022 released June 10, 2022

Thank You for Investing in Our Community’s Future The Mission 5 Report is a quarterly report highlighting results, accomplishments, and other outcomes from the Chamber’s efforts to be influencers, catalysts, and conveners; the trusted source for growing business, activating leaders, and building community.

Whether you are an investor in our mission-work through Vision 100 or through membership in the Chamber, or both, you are helping to fuel these important outcomes for the Rogers-Lowell Area. Thank you for your investment in our community’s future and taking time to learn more about our mission-work highlights in this first quarter report.

Our Vision is for the Rogers-Lowell Area to be the center of world-class business, welcoming communities, and opportunities for all. This Vision drives our mission-work.

The Chamber’s five key focus areas for its mission-work, called the “Mission 5”, include Economic Development, Community Development, Small Business & Entrepreneurial Development, Destination Marketing & Management, and Advocacy & Government Affairs.

Economic Development This mission-work creates a pro-business, pro-growth economic environment. It spurs economic growth as a key driver for increasing the sales tax base which funds education, public safety, and infrastructure. We also develop talent pipelines for current and future workforce needs by connecting educators and students with industry. Our resources and support help our community sustain responsible economic development growth from Downtown Rogers to Uptown Rogers and Lowell.

Q1 2022 Highlights: • Worked with 30+ developments out of the 67 large-scale projects currently under construction in Rogers valued at an estimated $70 million.

• Rogers reported record sales tax collections in the first quarter and is on track to match last year’s record-setting collections.

• Staff spoke to the Rogers Public Schools Parents Night to talk about workforce needs and showcase high paying careers not requiring college degrees across the region.

• Rogers’ unemployment rate remained just over two percent, which is the second lowest rate in the state, currently at 2.3 percent.

• Launched new, branded Go Downtown Rogers communication channels providing the community and businesses with one trusted source for merchant news/promos, events, and downtown economic development news.

Community Development This mission-work activates a diverse, next generation of business and community leaders.

We champion community engagement and inclusion initiatives by convening and engaging the right people at the right time. Our work also improves our community’s quality of life by supporting quality of place initiatives.

Q1 2022 Highlights: • Kicked off Leadership Benton County Class of 2022 convening 35 business and community leaders to learn more about the community and ways to give back and get involved.

• Launched in partnership with the Rogers Public Schools a new Leadership, Education, Activation and Development (LEAD) program reaching over 100 students. LEAD prepares our community’s youth with tools, training, and direction in their pursuit of higher education, and clears a path to career opportunities so participants are workforce ready. This provides local businesses with workforce development. The project is made possible by a grant from the American Electric Power Foundation to the Rogers Development Foundation.

• Staff helped with the launch of the Feed Rogers Food Pantry (a program of NWA Food Bank) to help serve those in our community experiencing food insecurity.

• Collaborated with Salvadorans United to help the Consulate of El Salvador find a permanent home for office in our region.

Small Business & Entrepreneurial Development This mission-work includes curating essential resources for starting, running, and growing business. We open new doors to new business connections for small businesspeople and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds by delivering educational and networking events. We also listen to our Small Business Council who guides us as the Voice of Small Business and helps understand and represent their needs.

Q1 2022 Highlights: • Staff assisted 64 small businesses seeking resources and assistance in the first quarter.

This included providing guidance, mentoring and access to professional help to 38 minority owned business entrepreneurs.

• Staff helped 27 entrepreneurs learn “How to Start a Business in Arkansas” presented in Spanish language as part of the Chamber’s quarterly Spanish Seminar Series.

• The Chamber partnered with Business and Industry Training to host a 3-part “Soft Skills Certification” program teaching them how to deliver constructive criticism, make better presentations, and improve hiring skills with the available workforce.

• Over 230 member businesses took advantage of the Chamber’s business connect events and programs, providing them opportunities to network, build relationships and exchange referrals.

• Our Member Engagement Committee conducted 72 visits to Chamber member businesses in the first quarter, surpassing their goal of 66 calls. This dedicated group of 11 business professionals volunteer to help businesses get the most out of their membership by connecting, informing, engaging, and supporting them.

• The 100th Annual Celebration of Business & Community was held on March 29 with over 900 business and community leaders attending. The event raised $72,000 ($28,000 over projected budget) to help fund the mission work of the Chamber.

Destination Marketing & Management This mission-work activates quality experiences for both visitors and residents and markets our destination by targeting leisure, meetings, and sports groups to visit and conduct their business here. We cultivate tourism to create economic and community development opportunities. Our destination leadership and stewardship help balance responsible economic growth with sustainable tourism and quality of life.

Q1 2022 Highlights: • Rogers hosted the 2022 Emery Sapp Annual Meeting in March, welcoming over 2,500 guests to the Embassy Suites, Rogers Convention Center, and Topgolf over a fast two-day itinerary.

This major corporate event generated over 1,500 room nights for Rogers’s hotels, over 2,000 room nights to the region, and over $1.5 million in direct spending to the Rogers economy.

Events such as this generate investment in our community that supports local businesses.

• Visit Rogers sales efforts in the first quarter resulted in almost 7,000 new business definite room nights booked and 11,700 future definite room nights booked. Future sales bookings ensure sustainable tourism growth and quality of life for our hospitality partners and community.

• Destination Marketing gains over Q1’21 included total social media posts of 1,388 (80% increase) generating a reach of 1.225 million (up 169%) and 2.13 million impressions (up 408%) delivering almost 52,000 engagements (up 110%). Our robust social media presence increased awareness of Rogers as a desirable destination to key markets and consumers.

Advocacy & Government Affairs This mission-work 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 by educating voters, providing contacts for legislators, and influencing the community to get registered and vote.

Q1 2022 Highlights: • Tracked and reported outcomes to our members from the 2021 Special Legislative Session.

• Provided Government Affairs updates on important news like the initial approval in March for a $6 billion state budget for the coming year. The bill calls for a nearly 3 percent increase in state spending with most increases going toward the state’s public schools and the Department of Human Services.

• Provided updates on the 2022 Primary Election including the number of candidates seeking office after the filing period, location and timing of primaries, and announcement that some voters would receive new registration cards after the Arkansas redistricting.