Soon, with just a short drive out of Northwest Arkansas and deeper into the Ozarks, you'll be able to find the new Marble Falls Nature Park. 

• In the making: In 2020, the founder of Bass Pro Shops, who has a record of successful conservation projects, purchased the former Dogpatch USA theme park in Newton County to “restore, preserve, and share” the property. Plans for the new park were revealed in a recent Buffalo River Conservation Committee meeting. 
• Significance: According to the park presentation, marble from the site was carved and transported to Washington D.C. in 1836 to become one of the first stones in the Washington Monument. 

Learn more about the site and project HERE. 

Northwest Arkansas is focused on the continual building of a region where everyone feels welcome. To back the effort, Walmart is investing $5m in regional diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. 

• Support: Learning from the TRUE NWA investment and research, Walmart’s $5m investment will span over the course of 3 years and support local DEI work. 
• Represent: Walmart's aim is to “build a pipeline of inclusive leadership in NWA and focus on increasing representation” of diverse peoples within its leadership ranks.

Read the full press release HERE. 

On Friday, TRUE Northwest Arkansas released a report which assesses the state of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the region. 

• Who: TRUE NWA stands for Train, Report, Uplift, and Engage. It was launched in 2018 as a community based initiative to foster an environment where everyone in the community could “thrive and feel included.” 
• What: The report documents multiple surveys and provides analysis on the responses gathered from diverse communities in NWA. The purpose of the report is to advance the conversation about DEI and provide resources for future community progress.

Read the full report HERE. 

Based out of NWA, Explore Eden is a start-up partnering with private owners to turn private property into public campsites. 

• Life outside: Through Explore Eden’s platform, guests will be able to experience camping on private property nearby amenities like the hiking and mountain biking trails around town. 
• Partnership: For the first 20 hosts who sign up with Explore Eden, it is offering free professional drone footage, landscape photography, and marketing. The app for hosts and guests to interact will be in the App Store soon.

For more information, click HERE. 

During a major season of growth in the region, the cities of Northwest Arkansas are evaluating how to meet the demand for housing with enough supply. 

• Reform: A big part of the evaluation is the transition into the production of affordable housing. The Walton Family Foundation (WFF) recommends stronger regional partnerships, education, and zoning code reform to accommodate the diverse need for housing. 
• Households: Based on a study by the WFF, the demographic majority of those coming to live and work in NWA are “workforce households” and “low-income households,” i.e. average families of four earning up to $78,000 or less than $33,000. 

Read the Talk Business & Politics story HERE.