Two of Northwest Arkansas’ local businesses we know and love combined to make one nonprofit in an effort to do bigger and better things together. 

• Expanded: Trailblazers and BikeNWA are now one entity: Trailblazers+ETHIC with Trailblazers focusing on trail development and maintenance and ETHIC, standing for Equity in Trails, Health, Infrastructure, and Community, is focusing on all things public engagement.
• The latest: The nonprofit has recently installed free electronic bike locks and chargers on the North Forest lawn and is working on on-the-go custom charging cords. It has also made a new climb on the Northside of Coler called “The Lift” great for any level rider to end up at The Hub. The next two group rides are Jan. 1 and 2. 

Learn more and keep up HERE. 

County records show a recent purchase of three Kimbel Mechanical Systems commercial properties, which has freed capital for the company’s expanding presence and workforce in NWA.

• The purchases boast the promise of keeping a successful, local business around with a combined $24.78m value. The properties are located at 1936, 2041, and 2075 N. Shiloh Drive in Fayetteville, offering a total of 285,780sq/ft of commercial space.
• Natural Capital, an Arkansas investment firm, has partnered with Kimbel Mechanical to facilitate Kimbel Mechanical’s business expansion venture, which has been contributing to our community since 1993.

Read the full Talk Business & Politics story HERE. 

Starting Jan. 2, a new open sport will be offered at The Jones Center.

• Sporty: Curling sessions will be open every Sunday after the opening day from 3-4:45p and staffed by members of the Northwest Arkansas Curling Club. 
• Come play: The drop-in curling fun will be $8 a person and is accessible to all ages. If you don’t know how to play, there will be people more than willing to teach you. No registration is required. 

For more information, call 479.925.2628. 

If you missed out on the Bentonville Christmas Parade, Downtown Bentonville Inc. (DBI) has a gift for you!

• TV stars: The DBI team pulled some strings with our local news outlet, KNWA, and got a slot for the production of the parade to air on Christmas Day at 8:30a. The production is part of DBI’s storytelling project, DWTN Media, and will be a 30min show complete with parade highlights and community interviews. 
• Double feature: And if you miss it Christmas morning, you can watch it at 10a on New Years Day before the Rose Parade! Even if you were at the parade, the show will be worth checking out. You might see yourself on TV! 

Click HERE for more details. 

After reviewing four different maps, the Benton County Election Commission has selected a new one for redistricting of Justice of the Peace districts. 

• Growth: Despite the number of people who have left the county over the last four years, approximately 1,000 families have been moving to Benton County every month, and the new map shows the increase.
• Paired: Now the eastern part of the county has 4 Justices of the Peace covering it instead of one to accommodate the influx. 

See the new map HERE.