NWA Gives is here! Today marks the fifth annual official day of giving to nonprofits and their causes across Northwest Arkansas. 

• Region-wide: This year, 153 organizations across Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford, Franklin, and Sebastian counties have registered to participate in the 12-hour giving event. Since the first NWA Gives in 2018, the event has helped raise close to $4.5 million for local community services.
• Giving: Benton County made was ranked as the most generous county in America last year. The vision is for the NWA community to do it again this year. Each participating nonprofit has its own fundraising page and promoting material on its respective social media. 

See the full list of nonprofits and give to their causes HERE. 

Fayetteville tech startup, Mycelium Networks is leading Northwest Arkansas into the future through the deployment of the Helium Network. 

• Inspiring Innovation: Mycelium serves as a decentralized hub for anyone who wants to participate in the new technology platform that provides inexpensive, long-range connectivity to Internet of Things (IoT) devices. 
• Community: IoT solutions look like safety systems on college campuses or remote trails, real-time livestock monitoring, and much more. IoT solutions have incredible potential for revolutionizing industries and everyday life, and there is a place for everyone in the Mycelium Ecosystem.

Stop by the Mycelium Networks table in the Pryor Center at Startup Junkie’s Startup Crawl on Friday night to learn more about the company, or visit myceliumnetworks.com.  

For some restaurant news we’ve all been waiting for: Bentonville Taco & Tamale Co. is officially open for business right off the Bentonville square at 101 W Central Ave! 

• Arkansas style: Bentonville Taco & Tamale Co. is Arkansas owned, operated serving Tex-Mex inspired dishes with local, seasonal, and Arkansas food culture influences — so they're calling it Ark-Mex.
• Get in line: The dishes at Bentonville Tamale & Co. are vibrant and a true Southern/Mexican mashups. Seating is first-come, first-served at this new location. Check-in at the host stand to begin this new Bentonville experience! 

For more information, click HERE. 

The streets of Downtown Rogers are filling up with creatives adding to the local small business charm. 

• Creatives on the block: Cirro Studio is opening this Friday, April 8, on 103 W Chestnut St next to Nola’s Pantry. Cirro Studio will be a handcrafted fine furniture and home goods store with the mission of inspiring the feeling of home with its products.
• Grand opening: The studio will be open until 6p on opening day, and through a collaboration with Mavis WineCo., there will be a sip and shop experience from 3-6p.

Sip some wine and see the newest addition to the Downtown Rogers creative community, HERE. 

Exactly four weeks from today, Fayetteville’s first First Thursday event of the year will take place on May 5! 

• Spring event: The Historic Downtown Square will once again be transformed into free outdoor arts and music celebration. The theme for May’s First Thursday is “Natura.” 
• Festivities: The family-friendly event will run from the new hours of 5:30-9p. The event will include food trucks, group bike rides, a diverse lineup of music, and an arts market with over 40 independent artists all happening within Fayetteville's Outdoor Refreshment Area.

For more information or vendor application forms, click HERE.