Networking is an invaluable activity in the professional world, especially when it happens over a happy hour! 

• Let's talk: This Tuesday, June 28, WeWork Labs Northwest Arkansas and Stratice are hosting a Happy Hour: Navigating NWA’s Tech Careers. The event will have open networking with Stratice and a panel + Q&A featuring recruiters in NWA discussing how to break into, navigate, or hire tech talent within the region.
• Over drinks: The happy hour will be a casual affair for people on both sides of the hiring process — current tech employees, prospective tech employees, and those who hire — to meet, network, and follow up individually. It will all take place at Bike Rack Brewery in 8th St Market from 5:30-6:30p. 

RSVP for the event HERE. 

Happy Friday everyone! Here are some things you might enjoy in NWA over the next few days:

• Water watching: Grab your floaties, because tonight is the first drive-in movie of the season at the Wilson Park Pool.
• Festivities: Attend the Freedom Fest 2022 in Pea Ridge on Sunday for some food, fun, and fireworks! 
• Best Friends Pack Hike: Bring your furry friends on a fun group hike around Lake Fayetteville on Saturday morning. 
• Wild rides: The annual Rodeo of the Ozarks is taking place today and tomorrow in Springdale.
• Johnson Square: The second Johnson Square Summer Series event is tomorrow preceded by Pizza & Pilates on the Lawn!
• On display: Mount Sequoyah is unveiling three new public art pieces on Saturday. Go give them a look!
• Round 2: Core Brewing & Distilling Co. in Springdale is hosting the 2022 Arkansas SeltzerFest tomorrow all day. 
• Free jams: Stop by Rogers for a great time at one of the Railyard Live concerts this weekend. 
• Film screening: Spend the weekend checking out (in person or virtual), the Bentonville Film Festival.

Have a wonderful weekend, stay cool, and we'll see you Monday!

After a valiant effort, the Arkansas Razorback Baseball team was eliminated from the College Worlds Series yesterday after they fell to SEC foe, Ole Miss.

• Fight or flight: The Razorbacks finished the season 46-21 overall, which puts them in an elite class as the only program in the country with 5 consecutive 45 win seasons (omitting 2020). The Hogs were knocked out of the tournament last night as one of the final 4 teams remaining.
• Honorable mentions: However, not all is loss as the team had their first ever Golden Glove Award winner, showed a strong effort in post season tournament play, and with a young class of talent, we have much to look forward to in the coming years.

Next up - football in only a short 71 days.

The cumulative June sales tax report from the big four cities in NWA shows a continued increase with a strong spending in the Spring. 

• Collections: In the first six months of 2022, the sales tax revenue from Fayetteville, Bentonville, Springdale, and Rogers totaled $49.67 million, up 13% from the same 2021 period. June's tax report reflects the local tax charged by the cities for goods and services in April, and the data shows an 8.96% increase from the previous report. 
• Percentages: Springdale led the growth results for the June report with a 12.51% increase in revenue from the same month last year. Rogers had a 12.01% increase, Fayetteville had a 6.94% increase, and Bentonville had a 5.45% increase in tax revenue. 

Read the full Talk Business & Politics story HERE.