The latest Northwest Arkansas Council meeting included a discussion about the importance of affordable housing and the more immediate need for solutions in that area. 

• Regional growth: The population of NWA is projected to double by 2045. By 2040, the region will need 80k more household units than it does now. According to the leader of the NWA Council’s workforce housing center, NWA is well-positioned to solve this housing crisis once and for all. 
• Community funding: Ideas in the meeting to provide affordable housing included a shared partnership/pay it forward model, where buyers pay equity on to the next buyer, and partnerships with community development financial institutions. 

Read the full story HERE. 

As Black History Month comes to a close and Women’s History Month begins, one woman is inspiring others to do what they love and find solutions to problems, as she did with her startup. 

• Woman solutions: The founder of FemPAQ Inc. started her business after a trip where no convenient or sustainable solution to a surprise period could be found anywhere. The Black-Owned, Woman-Owned company is based in Bentonville and now creates emergency-period packs and partners with local schools and businesses for their distribution. 
• Local impact: FemPAQ has partnered with local women’s shelters, the Teen Actions Support Center, 2 hotels in Bentonville, and more across the state. The plan is to expand into more schools, airlines, and airports as well. 

Read the KNWA story HERE. 

The Arkansas Rollerskate Crew, based in Fayetteville, is hosting a Mardi Gras skate parade tomorrow, March 1. 

• Pit-stops: The parade will start at Walker Park at 4p, be on Dickson St. around 4:45, and make its way to the downtown square around 5:15. Parents and children are invited to watch and collect beads and candy for the celebration at these three locations. 
• Rolling: The goal of Arkansas Rollerskate Crew is to grow the roller-skating community in Arkansas, but all types of wheels are always welcome. Anyone can participate in the parade tomorrow on whatever wheels they have — roller skates, skateboards, bicycles, etc. To help fund this event and future events, you can give on the group’s gofundme page. 

Learn more about the event HERE. 

The Women and Men’s Track and Field teams at the University of Arkansas both achieved momentous feats over the weekend. 

• Women: The Women’s Track and Field team claimed its 8th consecutive SEC Indoor Championship title this past Saturday and broke a collegiate record in the 4x400. The Razorback record is now 3:24:09, breaking the previous 3:26:27 set by Texas A&M. 
• Men: The Men’s Track and Field team claimed its 3rd consecutive SEC Indoor Championship, the team’s 25th indoor title since the Razorback program began in 1991. The Razorback win was sealed with 20 points from our runners in the 3,000m. 

For more details on the Women’s feats click HERE; on the Men’s, click HERE. 

The Rogers Historical Museum is hosting 2 exciting events over Spring Break to celebrate Arkansas Archeology Month, which begins in March. 

• Digging for clues: The events collectively have the title: Digging Into Spring Break and are for kids ages 6-12. The first one is called Excavation Station and is on March 22, 10a-12p. Kids can become an archeologist and learn documenting techniques, how to follow clues and more at this free program. 
• Finding pottery: The second event is on March 24, 10-12p and is called Connecting-the-Pots. Participants will learn how to dig up and reassemble broken pottery and discover pre-historic designs that have been found in Arkansas.

For more information about Digging Into Spring Break, click HERE.