kibitz: (chat) with Julie Petree, Manager of Marketing and Communications for United Way of Northwest Arkansas

This week we had an opportunity to chat with Julie Petree, Manager of Marketing and Communications for United Way of Northwest Arkansas.

We felt it important that in a blog series centered around economic development and business growth that we also highlighted the impact that businesses are also having through their corporate giving efforts.

Thanks, Julie, for taking time to chat with us!





Tell us about the mission of United Way, and how many organizations are supported through your efforts.

How do I put into a few words what United Way of Northwest Arkansas (UWNWA) is all about? UWNWA’s mission is to build a stronger Northwest Arkansas by identifying needs around education income, and health, then mobilizing resources to effectively meet them – but that summed up mission statement is so hard to capture all that we do. We are an information hub, we are a resource for nonprofit agencies to get everyday essentials, we are a volunteer center – I could really go on and on. I think that gives you an idea though of what UWNWA does.  We support over 67 area nonprofits through grant funding in Northwest Arkansas, and over 76 programs that give back in our community.

How many companies are involved in corporate giving?  How many individuals?

Over 250 companies, 300 In-House Coordinators and campaign volunteers, and over 15,000 donors participate in United Way's annual campaign.  All money given and raised in Northwest Arkansas, stays in Northwest Arkansas and goes back into area nonprofits.

What has United Way seen in terms of growth or decline in giving?  How does this effect our community?

Really we have seen giving to UWNWA remain flat. A lot of our donors understand the tough times our economy is facing, and when possible have increased their donations. So that kind of offsets those who are experiencing the pressures of a down economy.  Through a survey sent to our partner agencies, we saw that need has gone up in our community, but funding sources have decreased for a lot of agencies. We are currently working with our partner agencies to see how UWNWA can help them better serve our community. We all have to come together and realize that our impact as a group – as a community – will have a much greater affect than if we all try to do our own thing. That is kind of where the whole LIVE UNITED them comes from. We need to LIVE UNITED as Northwest Arkansas. It is more important now, more than ever, to reach out a hand to your neighbor, your friends, your family, even a stranger. 

What were of some the major accomplishments in 2011?  What are some of your goals for 2012?

I would have to say that a couple of our greatest accomplishments from 2011 were the establishment of the NWA Diaper Bank and the launching our very own Dolly Parton Imagination Library.   The Diaper Bank was made possible by a generous donation of one million diapers from Kimberly Clark.  It is kind of like our Gifts In Kind Warehouse in the sense that agencies apply to be a part of it, but it only has diapers and baby essentials in it. 

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library was made possible by an anonymous gift. The program is designed to promote a love of reading among children.  Children who are enrolled in this program will receive one age-appropriate book a month from birth until the age of five.  The best thing about this program is it is FREE! The only eligibility requirements are that the child be under one year of age at the time of enrollment and that they live in Benton, Washington, Madison or McDonald County.

kibitz: (chat) with Gary Comiskey, Director of Economic Development and Membership for the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce

This week we were able to chat with Gary Comiskey, Director of Economic Development and Membership for the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce.  Gary joined the Siloam Chamber this past fall, and has already hit the ground running.  We are very excited to hear about what is happening in that corner of Northwest Arkansas. 

Thank you, Gary, for taking time to chat with us this week!

What type of growth has Siloam Springs seen this past year and what can we expect to see in 2012?

While the economy has certainly affected our community, Siloam Springs has continued a slow but steady growth trend over the last few years. We are seeing positive signs of recovery within our community and expect 2012 numbers to be up; at least two industries have indicated they will be making announcements of modest expansions within the next month.


Would you attribute most growth to large industry or small business openings this year?

Our large industries have taken some big hits the last few years but have remained stable across the board. We are seeing an uptick in our small business openings which is a very positive sign for the future. With expected growth by some of our large industries this year, recent visits to 20 of our largest employers revealed that expectations are positive for our local economy.


How has the city's infrastructure kept up with the growth?

We are very fortunate to have aggressive City leadership. We have seen upgrades in our water treatment facility and are in the process of building a new Electric transfer station, North of town, that will allow for substantial residential and industrial growth. Our main highway access thru town is in the middle of a transformation from a 4 lane highway to a 6 lane. Phase 1 is expected to be completed this year.  The City has developed a large former agricultural area in the Northeast quadrant, with two new streets that are now home to a new high school and new hospital, with more medical facilities planned in the vicinity.


How does Siloam Springs rank in comparison to other city's of it's size/structure?

We are proud to be a part of the NWA MSA and the accolades that come with that, such as being the 10th least expensive area in the country.  We do not have any rankings that compare us to cities our size, but Siloam Springs is exceptional in that the City owns the electrical system, which generates good revenue for city services.  We are very proud of our community and are excited to see what 2012 has in store for us.

kibitz: (chat) with Tom Ginn, Vice President of Economic Development for the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce

This week we chatted with Tom Ginn, Vice President of Economic Development for the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce. 

We appreciate his insight on some of the current and projected happenings here in Bentonville.

Thank you for taking time to chat with us this week, Tom!



What major growth did you see in 2011?

We have seen mostly growth within our larger companies, with a good dose of small/entrepreneurial business growth. The overall jobs have not increased, as some businesses are running out of reserve capital waiting for the economy to improve, and not hiring more folks.


What growth do you expect to experience for 2012 and beyond?

We expect the effects of the opening of the Crystal Bridges Museum to be very positive for tourism in general and to add more restaurants, etc. 


How much of that growth do you expect to be a direct impact from the opening of Crystal Bridges?

As a percentage, not sure. There are a lot of factors in the world economy and with worldwide companies  located here, the overall economy needs to improve. We expect it will take a few years before that arrives again. 


With the planned expansion of the Walton Arts Center, do you see any other fine arts or museum attractions opening in Bentonville in the next 3-5 years?

We expect the NWA Children’s Museum to open perhaps in that time frame as they raise money for that venue. Also the Native American Museum is continuing to expand.  


Would you attribute the growth in Bentonville this past year been to an increase in small business openings or an increase in large industry and their vendor supporters?

Probably some of both. I expect in Bentonville the return of or expansion of suppliers and Wal-Mart itself grew as their business has grown. These are a result of changing the merchandising focus within Wal-Mart. 


What challenges or obstacles do you think Bentonville will face in the coming years to maintain its growth rate, and continue to be a business destination for the region?

We believe, as Mayor McCaslin has stated, that the impending EPA rules on wastewater discharge, if not abated, could significantly curtail our future growth. Also, our other infrastructure needs, if not addressed, would lead to a slowing of growth. A continued slow worldwide economy will slow us down somewhat also.

kibitz: (chat) with Steve Cox, Director of Economic Development with the Rogers/Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce

Over the holidays, we had a chance to catch-up with Steve Cox, Director of Economic Development with the Rogers/Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce.  In our "chat" with him, we learned many exciting things that have been happening within Rogers and Lowell in 2011, and what is expected now that we are rolling into 2012.



Thank you, Steve, for taking time to kibitz with us!



What trends have you seen in 2011 in terms of business growth, job creation, and development in Rogers?

One of the best things to happen for Rogers in 2011 was the passing of the $135 million bond issue with an 80% approval.  This will allow for improved infrastructure by improving existing roads, building new roads, and the construction of a new sports complex on Hudson Road and a water park on 26th St.  There will also be renovations to Lake Atalanta and the purchase of land for a future park in Southwest Rogers.  By improving the quality of life for our residents the city of Rogers will continue to be on the shortlist for companies seeking to open businesses in our area.  

Developments like The Pinnacle Hills Promenade, Scottsdale Center, Pinnacle Hills, and Pleasant Crossing all opening in the past few years and having continued growth in 2011 have helped cement Rogers’ place as the retail destination for Northwest Arkansas.  In 2011 Rogers has seen over 400,000 SF of retail space become sold, leased, or built throughout town.  Restaurant growth has been tremendous with 25 restaurants opening in 2011 with at least 4 more set to open in the first quarter of 2012.

The announcement of Cabela’s coming to Rogers to open a 100,000 SF store at The Pinnacle Hills Promenade has spurred development for that area as new business are lining up to build and lease space in the Pinnacle Hills area.  

The retail sector isn’t the only thing that is doing well in Rogers.  Our major employers and manufacturing sector are thriving as well.  This year alone we have had the Clorox/Glad plant invest over $34 million to modernize their facility in the same year they celebrated 40 years of operation in Rogers.  This level of investment shows a continued commitment to Rogers and no signs of shutting down operations anytime soon.  The Sister of Mercy Health System recently announced an expansion that will result in a $90 million investment over the next 7 years.  This will create improved medical services for the residents of Rogers and Northwest Arkansas as well as community clinics in Bella Vista and Downtown Rogers.  There are two other companies seeking to invest over $70 million into the community and create over 100 jobs by expanding operations, but we are not able to say who at this time.

Commercial office space is starting to become a rare commodity in Rogers.  Pinnacle Hills has leased out over 117,000 SF of office space to a total of 25 companies this year.  The Pinnacle Hills Promenade has also had great success by leasing over 30,000 SF of office space to five different companies just this year.  There isn’t much space left in The Promenade coming off a successful year in 2010 as well.

Another trend has been the re-emergence of Downtown Rogers in 2011.  Over 20 new businesses have opened in downtown in 2011 and the historic district is at 94% occupancy.

What growth do you expect to experience for 2012 and beyond?

I expect to see Rogers continue to grow in all sectors of business.  As I already mentioned we are the retail destination for Northwest Arkansas and that shows no signs of changing anytime soon.  The ongoing development of the major shopping areas in town will look to improve as the national economy improves and the impact of existing development like Cabela’s and The Pinnacle Hills Promenade will continue to fuel other retailers to move into the area.

Rogers offers the best Class A office space in the area and will continue to see development of that sector as companies move into the area needing office space.

With the completion of the branding process put forth by the Rogers Convention and Visitors Bureau declaring Rogers as the city “Where Possible Lives” and the adoption of this brand throughout the city I see Rogers being able to market itself on a level like never before on a regional and national level.  Add in the cooperating efforts of the Northwest Arkansas Council’s economic development program and we are primed for continued rapid business and population growth.

How does Northwest Arkansas or Rogers rank among other cities nationally?

Northwest Arkansas and the cities within it have received multiple national recognitions this year from various publications and institutes:

Rogers has received recognition two years in a row by CNN/Money as the 10th best small city to live in America.

Northwest Arkansas as a region is ranked 5th best mid-sized metro in the nation for job growth by Forbes for 2011.

The Milken Institute ranked NWA as the 26th best performing metro area in the nation.  This was a step up from our ranking of 43rd in 2010.

NWA is ranked as the 8th lowest metro area for cost of living by the Council for Community and Economic Research for the 3rd quarter of 2011.

Have you seen more growth in small business or large industry?

Rogers has seen very positive growth in both areas.  The Minority Business Development program offered at the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce has taken great strides this year in reaching out to minority business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.  Small business and entrepreneurs can receive assistance through various programs at the Chamber and our partnerships with organizations like Innovate Arkansas, the Arkansas Small Business Technology and Development Center, SCORE, and the Northwest Arkansas Council.  These programs and partnerships are in place to continue to foster a positive climate for small business growth.   In terms of large industry, there is current growth and planned expansions coming as I have mentioned above.  We are always looking for future growth opportunities by keeping track of available properties and recruiting businesses that would be a good fit for our area.

If you own a business or are looking to start a business in Rogers or Lowell, please do not hesitate to contact myself or Geovanny Sarmiento, VP of Minority Business Development, at 479.636.1240

kibitz: (chat) with Kelly Johnson, A.A.E. - Airport Director/NW Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA)

This week we were able to catch-up and chat with Kelly Johnson, A.A.E. - Airport Director/NW Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA). 


We are grateful for her taking time to tell us about Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport's (XNA) plans, growth, and predictions.



XNA (Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport) continues to expand and grow - can you tell us about some of the recent and planned expansions?

In 2011 the airport completed two major projects-the addition of an 11 gate upper level concourse ($21.5 million dollars) and the construction of an alternate landing surface (38.5 million dollars).


What trends has XNA seen the most growth in this year?  Increase of travelers, flights, specific flight destinations, etc?

The economy has a tremendous impact on our business. The uncertainty of the financial health of business' and our government creates a situation where people pull back from expenditures.  For these reasons XNA has experienced a fairly flat year where passenger growth is concerned.  This coupled with the fuel cost to the air carriers (which increase ticket prices) has limited our ability to convenience our airline partners to add new capacity and destinations at this time.

How many people fly in and out of XNA each year?

About 1.1 million people get on and off planes at XNA annually.

We have heard rumored plans of building more transportation routes to the airport.  Do you know of anything in the works?  How would that benefit NWA?

A roadway to the airport is one of our ongoing projects.  The route is expected to receive environmental clearance early next year and we will work to develop a financial plan to make construction of the new roadway a reality.  A direct route to XNA would benefit a customer's in ease getting to the airport and traffic mix.  The existing roadways traffic mix includes farm equipment, school buses etc.

What are the greatest challenges XNA faces with infrastructure?

The greatest challenge we face is lace of an aviation bill from Congress.  The majority of our large projects are directly tied to Federal Grants.  The last aviation approved by Congress expired 4 years and three months ago.  The FAA is now operating under the 22nd continuing resolution which expires January 31st.  It is very difficult to construct multi-million dollar projects with 3 or 6 months funding at a time in a climate where you may or may not receive that funding.

As an aside, the Grants the airports' receive are funded by a 7.5% ticket tax each passenger pays when they purchase their ticket.  I share this because we want to make sure the public understands that the Grants airports' receive are not funded from general revenues, they are funded by only those people who use the aviation system.

kibitz: (chat) with Mayor Bob McCaslin - Mayor of Bentonville, Arkansas

This week we were able to chat with Mayor Bob McCaslin, Mayor for Bentonville, Arkansas.

We appreciate all he does to make Bentonville such a wonderful place to live and work.  Thank you for taking time to chat with us this week!







What have you seen as far as job creation in Bentonville this year?

The City does not track jobs but we do track utility customers. Utility customers continue to grow at an annual rate of  +/- 3%.

What do you predict in terms of growth for 2012?

We are projecting 2012 growth at 3%.

How is the Crystal Bridges Museum effecting the Bentonville economy?

The economic impact of Crystal Bridges will take some time to quantify. Intuitively, we all know that the museum will create additional hospitality revenues for the City and NW Arkansas.

What other museum attractions can we expect to see on the horizon?

The free market will find its own way here – as demand surfaces, the supply side will step-up. It is likely that galleries and art associate commerce will begin to appear as the museum becomes a destination for regional, national and international travelers.

 How is the Splash Park and ice skating rink effected the downtown business development?

The unique Bentonville Square and its many planned activities continue to draw visitors from area cities and beyond. The 2nd season for the outdoor ice rink is expected to be as successful as the opening season which saw more than 10,000 participants enjoy this unique amenity.


Would you attribute most business growth this year to be from large-scale industry or small business?

Bentonville has enjoyed sustainable growth in residential construction and the small business sector.


What are some of the most exciting developments going on right now in Bentonville?

The renovation of East Central from the Square to SE “J” Street will create a beautiful and unique gateway into what many say is one of the most ideal downtown squares in the United States. We have parks renovations, improvements and additions  taking place throughout our City. The recently completed Downtown Activity Center allows visitors and citizens to enjoy adult wellness activities including bicycle rentals. The DAC offers maps and suggestions for either walking or cycling tours of our beautiful trail system.

How is the infrastructure keeping up with the growth?

The City has made an intentional effort to invest in the infrastructure that will draw investment and visitors to our  town. We have street improvements underway and plans for others in various stages of design and implementation.

kibitz: (chat) with Trish Kalbas-Schmidt, Marketing and Training Director for the University of Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center

This week we had an opportunity to chat with Trish Kalbas-Schmidt, Marketing and Training Director for the University of Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.  She is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing training and educational activities for small business owners in Northwest Arkansas. Trish also coordinates media relations and marketing efforts on behalf of the SBDC and its’ training seminars in an effort to cultivate lasting relationships with potential supporters such as commercial loan officers, local chambers of commerce, and community professionals.

What does the Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center do in Northwest Arkansas?

As part of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center state wide network, we serve new and existing businesses through consulting, training, market research and innovation-based business assistance.  Our office serves the following counties: Benton, Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, Searcy, and Washington.

How many businesses do you help each year regionally and state-wide?

In our office we meet with over 250 entrepreneurs each year. 

What trends have you seen in small business growth in our area?  Are there any specific sectors that seem to be increasing more than others?

The current trend seems to be service based businesses (i.e. food and retail). The technology and healthcare industry are growing at a strong rate.

What challenges or obstacles do you think Northwest Arkansas will face in the coming years to maintain its growth rate, and continue to be a business destination?

Leveraging NWA as a desirable place to do business.  We are a diamond in the rough, people don’t realize all this area has to offer.  We need to sell/leverage all the incredible resources such as our education, industry and growing cultural experiences, along with the workforce that is available.

What is the best advice you would give to someone wanting to start a business in Northwest Arkansas?  

Be prepared.  Understand both the risks and rewards that are associated with owning your own business.  Leverage the great resources that are available to you to learn as much as possible before moving forward with the process.

                                   

Trish, thank you for taking time to chat with us this week!  We are very grateful for your insight and all you do the the Northwest Arkansas community!