Making connections

Special report examines Northwest Arkansas’ progress

In Northwest Arkansas, not a day goes by without significant change. That may seem a simplistic evaluation, but it’s spot on. Northwest Arkansas residents can fall into the trap of believing the surging energy, the massive investments, the expansion of jobs and the explosion of amenities is the way life is for everyone. Travel through much of the rest of the state and a more static existence or, worse, change in a negative direction be- comes evident.

The nation’s economic recession took its toll here in our corner of the world, but with 2016 now well underway, signs point strongly to a refueled economic engine, a national reputation that’s drawing new residents and businesses to Northwest Arkansas every day, amenities that make living here fun and exciting and a cooperative spirit that creates more potential for the region’s leaders to be able to handle the growth responsibly and effectively.

The people who live in Northwest Arkansas see the impact of growth every day, but it’s worthwhile to occasionally pause — if pausing in our region is even possible — to examine some of the forces at play and the responses to the many moving pieces that make up this vibrant corner of Arkansas.

In today’s Northwest Arkansas

Democrat-Gazette, reporters, editors and photographers have compiled a four-section, 36-page report called “Making Connections.”

Indeed, everything going on in Northwest Arkansas is connected. Individual communities are preserving their particular flavor, but the changes happening in each place has major impacts across the region. The expansion of trails isn’t divorced from the effort to promote the expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new ones. Feeding the poor isn’t a standalone issue; it’s affected by the availability of jobs, education, social services, philanthropy and transportation. Building more houses and apartments cannot be separated from the constant need to be aware of how we treat the environment.

Just as the Walton Arts Center on Fayetteville’s Dickson Street and the new airport in Highfill were regional developments of the 1990s, is there any doubt Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville and the eventual opening of Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Springdale are region-changing developments, even as they bring positive changes to the communities where they’re located?

The region’s ability to face its challenges head-on is aided by its robust economic environment. When a region is growing, the possibilities for solutions seem almost endless. When a region is faltering, it can be hard to find even one lasting solution.

So we’re excited to see evidence of Northwest Arkansas’ return to economic vibrancy. New businesses like Whole Foods Market brings jobs and retail amenities people appreciate. Job creation takes the form of 1,000-job expansions at J.B. Hunt Transport in Lowell or Bekaert’s recent announcement of a $32 million plant expansion in Rogers that will eventually create 100 new jobs.

Communities are making themselves better, too. Springdale’s downtown revitalization effort is nothing short of amazing. Tyson Foods deserves kudos for its recommitment to move some operations to the downtown area, a move that will mean more potential customers for retail outlets and eateries. Siloam Springs recently opened its new 18,300-square-foot library. And educators at the region’s public and private schools continue to innovate, finding new ways to engage and inform the leaders of tomorrow.

None of this comes without growing pains, particularly issues related to moving people around the region. Road construction continues to disrupt, providing a good example of how important planning for the future must be, including ways not only to handle the demand for infrastructure but also ways to reduce that demand.

Even with a 36-page report, not everything we love about Northwest Arkansas can be covered, but today’s sections give us a good glimpse of where the region stands a little more than halfway through the second decade of the 21st century.

All signs indicate the region has bright days ahead, and much work to be done.