The Bentonville Public Library (BPL) is in its 15th year at its current location. To celebrate, the library is planning to expand. 

• Funding: The project will be a $15m project, $4.5m coming from the City of Bentonville’s bond funds. The Bentonville Library Foundation has raised over $7m toward its goal of $10.5m for the project, which is currently in the schematic design phase. 
• Moving forward: The BPL has circulated more than 8.2m items and recorded over 4m since opening in 2006. After a needs assessment earlier this year, it was decided to have a spotlight on community contributions in the expansion. 

Read the full story HERE. 

The Coler Mountain Bike Preserve is hosting its first ever endurance mountain bike race called Noon2Moon. 

• The event: The race will be held on May 14, 2022 and is a peer-to-peer fundraiser. When you register for the race, back a rider, or donate funds, you're supporting the trails and programs that make Coler special!
• The ride: Noon2Moon will be a 12-hour ride. If you’re not up for 12 hours, there will be a 6-hour ride for you to get in on the fun in half the time! Registration is open, so secure your spot and get riding!

Register HERE. 

Homes sales this year in Northwest Arkansas are essentially the same as this time last year. 

• Sales: From Jan. to Sept. 2021 there were 9,001 homes sold in Benton and Washington counties, up 0.3% from the same period last year. Though the September sales in the two-county area were up 16.6% this year from last.
• Prices: The prices of homes have risen. The average home sold for 15.6% more than the same period last year in Benton county and 17.3% in Washington county. 

For the full Talk Business & Politics story, click HERE.

This past weekend was a great one for the Razorback cross country teams at the University of Arkansas. Both the men's and women’s teams secured an SEC title. 

• Women’s: The women’s team secured its 9th consecutive and 22nd overall SEC title with a point total of 68, the highest Arkansas score in an SEC meet since 2012. 
• Men’s: The men’s team claimed its 27th SEC title with 40 points in the meet. The Razorbacks have swept the team titles 19 times since joining the league in 1991. 

Read more about the women’s and men’s wins HERE and HERE. 

The American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation is giving $100,000 to the Rogers Development Foundation in an effort to assist with academic success in Rogers' high schools. 

• Project: The grant is going toward the L.E.A.D project, which stands for Leadership, Education, Advancement, & Development. The project is geared toward Hispanic and Latino students in the school system. 
• DEI: AEP’s gift is part of a 5 year, $5m project to fund organizations “dedicated to advancing social and racial justice in communities.” As the NWA community becomes more diverse, efforts like this are what are building a more inclusive region.

Read the AEP press release HERE.