The Schmieding Foundation, Inc. recently giftedly $500,000 to Springdale's Pathway Academy, which will be renamed the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Schmieding Foundation Pathways Academy of Springdale. 

• Educational resource: The Schmieding Foundation has had continued support for UAMS. The Pathways Academy program is a statewide initiative that works to prepare low-income K-12 students for academic and career opportunities in STEM-H disciplines. 
• Healing a state: The program's goal is to diversify the health care workforce in Arkansas and, through its synergies of education, clinical care, and research, to make Arkansas the healthiest state in the region. The academy curriculum will also incorporate nutrition, mental health, and community service concepts. 

Learn more HERE. 

A unique food experience recently popped up in Rogers: a donut and beer parlor. 

• The pairing just makes sense: The owners of The Tipsy Donut brought together their two loves of sweet treats and passion for local craft beer to bring Northwest Arkansas another niche spot to enjoy! 
• Match: It’s located at 200 N 1st St in Rogers and is open 6-10p Thursday - Saturday, and 10-2p on Sundays. We haven’t been yet, but are excited to try the donut and beer combinations The Tipsy Donut ingeniously puts together weekly, like the Citrus Mint donut with the Social Brewing Project’s Rivers and Roads. 

Learn more HERE. 

The Fuel Accelerator program hosted by Startup Junkie Foundation, funded by AEDC and the Walton Family Foundation, is returning to Bentonville for its fourth cohort and announcing the members soon!

• Program: Fuel is a 12-week enterprise-ready accelerator that matches growth-stage artificial intelligence and machine learning startups with crucial enterprise partners to accelerate the adoption of technology solutions. No equity or cost is required to participate, just attendance during the program, during which office space will be provided. 
• Training: The program focuses on operational value training, not just venture capital coaching. Participants will gain nurtured relationships with key Fortune 500 companies, startup founders, VC firms, higher education institutions, and public policy officials through hands-on education and workshops, with plenty of time to operate their business well. 

Learn more about Fuel and follow along for program updates here. 

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art exhibition We the People: The Radical Notion of Democracy opens this weekend. 

• Special in NWA: We the People: The Radical Notion of Democracy is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for guests to see one of the original prints of the U.S. constitution. Members are invited for the first look on Thursday and Friday, and the general public will have access to the exhibition on Saturday, July 2.
• Conversation: In addition to the U.S. Constitution, several new acquisitions will be present for viewings, such as original prints of the Declaration of Independence, the proposed Bill of Rights, and the Articles of Confederation. The documents will be displayed alongside works of art that provide diverse American perspectives on the nations founding principles.

Click HERE for more information. 

A recent report from Attom Data Solutions revealed that the number of mortgages secured by residential properties in the first three months of 2022 in Northwest Arkansas was down 27.6% from the first quarter of 2021. 

• Market flux: In the first three months of this year, there were 5,160 residential mortgages in NWA. And according to Attom's analysis, 2,565 NWA owners refinanced a mortgage in the first quarter of this year, which is down 41% from last year's all-time high of 4,362. 
• Zoom out: The data shows a national downtrend in refinances and mortgages on residential properties, due in large part to a drop in equity and purchase activity. All of this is no surprise with mortgage rates on the rise. 

Read the full Talk Business & Politics story HERE.