Located adjacent to the beautiful Ozark National Forest, the Northwest Arkansas region is establishing itself as one of the most desirable residential and commercial destinations in the country. The location of the global headquarters of two Fortune 100 employers and corporate offices for many Fortune 500 firms has fueled the region’s development. Their presence has contributed to rapid employment and population growth over the last twenty years. The region now boasts over 420,000 residents and diverse employment opportunities. The beneficial outcomes of such growth have caused others to take notice – the Milken Institute consistently ranks the Northwest Arkansas region amongst the highest-performing regional economies in the country, even attaining the top ranking in 2003.

Keeping pace with the region’s corporate development are its cultural and civic amenities. More than just a landscape of corporate headquarters, the region is developing the urban characteristics that reinforce and sustain its attractiveness. The arts community enjoys the presence of the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville and will soon witness the opening of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. Shoppers can stroll the vibrant city streets of Fayetteville or stop in at one of the myriad national retailers located in the region. Those looking for outdoor recreation must look no further than the lakes, rivers, and trails of the Ozark Mountains.

The Northwest Arkansas region is primarily constituted by the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which is made up of three Arkansas counties – Benton, Washington, and Madison – and one Missouri county – McDonald. The primary municipalities in the region include Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, Rogers, and Siloam Springs.

Enhancing the region’s livability is the quality of its educational institutions. Primary and secondary schools – both public and private – throughout the cities of Northwest Arkansas have been recognized by national institutions as top performers on standardized tests. The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville boosts the region’s intellectual capital and serves as its research and innovation hub. The university’s athletic programs create an important link between the community and the university through the shared experience of supporting the Razorbacks.

For more information on the Northwest Arkansas region and efforts to sustain and diversify its growth, see the Northwest Arkansas Council’s website at: http://nwark.org