3 minute read
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
WELCOME TO BENTONVILLE
Photo by Ironside Photography, Courtesy of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
As Chair of the 2022 Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, it’s my pleasure to welcome you to the Bentonville area!
My family and I moved to Bentonville eight years ago, having lived world-wide, and we still remark on how incredibly fortunate we were to discover and live in this community. In our time here, we’ve moved homes, started businesses, and changed schools several times, but have always considered ourselves lucky to continue calling Bentonville home.
Reflecting on the unique circumstances of the past two years, I wouldn’t have wanted to live in any other place in the world. Bentonville — and the Bentonville area — has always been a secret gem for work and play. Despite the unknown waters we find ourselves charting lately, the core of our community remains strong and stable, providing an extraordinary place to start and grow a business.
There are so many conversations happening nationally and globally about “cities of the future.” Ours is a place where you can live and experience the promise of that future today. We are at the nexus of world-class industry, internationally renowned arts and culture, culinary experiences, and unparalleled outdoor trails.
All these incredible resources add to the unique quality of life we enjoy, but the true magic of Bentonville and its surroundings is the people who live, work, and play here. We believe that collaborative support leads to the highest form of entrepreneurial and economic disruption – the kind that provides every individual with equitable access to opportunity and success.
This is why Bentonville is the premier place to build your business.
The Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce is a key contributor to our regional ecosystem. Chamber-led events like the Northwest Arkansas Tech Summit and the Business Women’s Conference provide newcomers with an experiential welcome and offer platforms to diverse thought leaders. These two programs alone reached an audience of more than 2,000 participants last year. The Chamber’s efforts are mirrored by our community partners, each lending their own strengths to better our region. In 2022, EforAll is launching its inaugural Northwest Arkansas accelerator, designed to support home-grown entrepreneurs. The 17 business owners in this cohort — nine English-speaking and eight Spanish-speaking — will shape the Bentonville area’s economy for years to come.
Two of Bentonville’s leading institutions, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Scott Family Amazeum, have recently announced plans to expand their respective campuses. Their investment signals an understanding of our region’s potential for continued growth and a commitment to welcoming and engaging guests from across the globe.
Of course, the Bentonville area’s trail systems are growing, too – to the tune of approximately 13 miles of new trails a week. In addition to being the “Mountain Biking Capital of the World,” Bentonville is emerging as a center for industry related to outdoor recreation. The launch of the University of Arkansas’ Bentonville education and research hub, the Collaborative, along with Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program, will foster a new generation of startups here in our own backyard.
Your Chamber membership positions you squarely at this intersection of community and economy. Like you, the more than 1,100 members of our organization share an interest in the demands and opportunities of a 21st century economy. As we anticipate what’s to come in 2022 and beyond, I encourage you to look to this network — and to your Chamber team — for support.
We look forward to serving you!
Monica Kumar
“Covid-19, focus on
Diversity, equity, [and] inclusion, and broad uncertainty has created the necessity to focus on people... A key lesson is that you need to be open to ‘disrupt or be disrupted.’” —Donna Morris, Executive Vice-President,
Chief People Officer, Walmart
