We get it, sometimes people realize they’d rather go in a different direction. Walmart scrapped its layaway plan in lieu of one it deemed better. 

• Switch: The premise of the layaway plan was that a store would hold an item for a customer until they paid for it. But instead of holding the items, Walmart’s new system allows consumers to have their items immediately and pay over time. 
• Plan: The major retail company is partnering with Affirm, a lending business, to provide the new opportunity called “buy now, pay later.” Customers will pay through Affirm for approved items with payment plans up to 24 months.

Read more about buy now, pay later HERE. 

It’s almost time for the Benton County Fair, and it’s just as packed with attractions as ever.

• Classic fair: The Fair starts tomorrow and will go through this Saturday, Oct. 2. The Benton County Fairgrounds and Expo are at 7640 SW Regional Airport Blvd in Bentonville. The Expo Auditorium will have all sorts of fun things to see like goat costume shows, bread making, and horticulture competitions. 
• Adventure: Perfect for starting off spooky season, there will be a virtual reality escape room called Beyond Medusa’s Gate starting Sept. 30. Slots are limited so reserve your spot now before it’s too late. 

See the whole Fair schedule of events HERE. 

This enduring Covid-19 pandemic has illuminated a lot of things, one being the need for attention to mental health.

• Blueprints: Both J.B. Hunt Transportation and Walmart amped up the awareness of, and services for mental health over the past year. Both companies are continuing to work at cultivating a sustainable work experience for their employees with permanent programs and new ones on the way.
• Tools: J.B. Hunt, with Spring Health, is launching a mobile app next month to provide a platform for employees to check in with themselves and have access to mental health professionals. Walmart is expanding its fitness class offerings to a virtual platform, set to launch early next year. 

Read the full Talk Business & Politics article HERE. 

Are you looking for a way to serve your community and make a difference in the world? Springdale’s Rotary Club has multiple projects you can get involved with. 

• Gifts: This past week, teachers from two elementary schools in Springdale sounded an alarm for shoes for students, and after The Rotary Club of Springdale partnered with Samaritan’s Feet, 375 pairs arrived. 
• Meetings: If you have shoes to give away, you can contact the Rotary Club here. And if you want to see what else the club is about, the members gather together on Mondays at noon and Thursdays at 7:30a. 

Read the full article about the partnership HERE. 

The FreshGrass Festival is coming to The Momentary this Fri-Sat for a weekend of old and new artists performing “innovative interpretations of bluegrass and roots music traditions.”

• Come 'n play: The festival will have “pickin’ nooks” for anyone to bring an instrument to play, a silent film accompanied by original live music, and “premier performances of new music.”
• Friendly battle: Amidst everything else, FreshGrass is a competition, set up to award the best talent of the year in multiple categories. Prizes are cash, new instruments, and studio time at Compass Records. The winning bands get to play at the next festival.

Learn more about FreshGrass at The Momentary HERE.