A pioneer in the telecom industry has expanded to Fayetteville, providing a new local communications connection. 

• High speed: Named as one of the best places to work in Arkansas, Ritter just recently invested $28 million to bring “state-of-the-art broadband services” to Northwest Arkansas. The intent is to foster a competitive edge for the businesses in Fayetteville as work is increasingly on the web. 
• Celebrate: In the excitement of the new expansion and NWA launch, Ritter plans to donate $50,000 for improvements to the Razorback Regional Greenway.

Read more about the expansion HERE.

Though we’re not really surprised, Northwest Arkansas is proving to be the land of opportunity for bike shops and fanatics. Hellion Bikes and BIKE.co are two of the newest local bike shops to call NWA home.

• Raising Hellion: Hellion Bikes, recently relocated to NWA, is run by a man who has dedicated his career to providing cyclists with quality bike parts at lower prices.
• Coming to you: Started by a "Life Works Here" incentive recipient, BIKE.co is primarily a mobile bike and rental shop, set up to go directly to customers. 

Visit Hellion and BIKE.co to learn more.

If you didn't know already, Centennial park at Millsap Mountain is under multi-part multimillion dollar construction for the UCI Cyclocross World Championships, and the Centennial Park Pavilion is up next. 

• Concept art: Officially deemed the centerpiece of the park, the pavilion invites visitors into its 2,000 sqft form that "references the seven hills of Fayetteville".
• Company’s coming: January 2022 will be the second time the U.S. has hosted the UCI Cyclocross World Championships, as well as the second time it has been held outside Europe.

Keep up with Centennial Park construction HERE.

The American Rescue Plan was passed in March of this year, allotting over $1.5 billion in federal aid for the state of Arkansas in response to Covid-19. Benton county is taking next steps with its $54mm portion. 

• Planning: The county Quorum Court, who is acting as the American Rescue Plan Committee, is hosting its second meeting today to determine how to best allocate the funds.
• An important budget: Among several categories of recipients, the committee intends to invest specifically in underserved communities such as the Marshallese and Latino communities. 

More on the committee's process HERE.

Get ready to cross “Hot air balloon festival” off your bucket list. SOAR NWA is back and happening this weekend in Fayetteville, weather permitting. 

• More than a show: The 2nd annual event will have various aeronautic activities for all ages, a play zone for your kiddos, and a beer garden for those of you 21+. 
• The details: The event will be at the Drake Field Airport on Saturday, Aug. 28. Advanced ticket sales end at midnight Friday night, or when they’re sold out. You can potentially get tickets at the gate, but that’s not a guarantee. 

For tickets and more info click HERE.