Resource Downloads Supporting documents, reports, and other resources are posted here as they become available. City Socioeconomics October 21, 2025 (19.5mb PDF) DOWNLOAD Regional Socioeconomics October 22, 2025 (18.3mb PDF) DOWNLOAD DOWNLOAD Regulatory Environment October 22, 2025 (15.8mb PDF) Infrastructure & Environment October 27, 2025 (17.2mb PDF) DOWNLOAD Housing Study May, 2025 (2.6mb PDF) DOWNLOAD

Growth is inevitable. Collaboration is intentional. Let's talk. Jump to Intro Growing intentionally to preserve and enhance the region we love. Over the course of 2025, we’re convening a year-long community conversation on future growth in Northwest Arkansas. Together, we’ll chart a collaborative path forward, developing locally-customized, regionally-coordinated strategies that maintain the autonomy of our communities, preserve the charm of our surroundings, cultivate economic opportunity, expand housing options and enhance the efficiency and convenience of our daily lives. LEARN MORE PARTICIPATE LATEST UPDATES A Wild and Green Region We live outdoors. From our iconic Ozark landscape and world-class recreation, to clean water and hunting, quality of life in Northwest Arkansas is inextricably linked to the health of our natural environment. So are key economic drivers like rural jobs and tourism. Our region’s future depends on us guiding our growth to enhance the very qualities that make this place so desirable. An Opportunity-Rich Region We work together to create opportunity at every level, from Fortune 500 companies to family-run small businesses. Our region’s strong job growth, ranked among the top 10 nationally, is a point of pride. But as more people move here to join the workforce, we’re reminded that a thriving region needs more than just jobs. It also needs attainable housing and a high quality of life for everyone who calls this place home. A Friendly and Familiar Region We celebrate family and friends in neighborly places that feel like home. Where neighborhoods are familiar, the views bring comfort, and a sense of belonging runs deep. But when growth goes unchecked, that sense of place starts to erode. Generic buildings and disconnected development begin to replace the character and charm that define our communities. A Region on the Move Mobility is about more than roads. It's about having real choices for how and when you get to the people and places that matter. Whether it’s getting to work, meeting up with friends, or enjoying all our region has to offer. A thriving Northwest Arkansas is one where people can move freely and efficiently, in all kinds of ways Participate Online Survey: Community Growth and Development Closed Onward Ozarks: Regional Growth and the Future of NWA Podcast [Recorded] View No events at the moment Catch Up on the Latest News Roadshow Finale in Springdale Marks Turning Point for Growth Strategy Residents, officials and industry leaders explore policy tools to guide Northwest Arkansas’ future. The Growing Home roadshow concluded... Growing Home NWA Project Team ‘Growing Home’ Roadshow Nears Tonight’s Closing Team engages hundreds of stakeholders across the region. As the Growing Home roadshow moves through its final stops, the conversations... Growing Home NWA Project Team Have You Taken the Survey? In just a few minutes you can help shape the future of Northwest Arkansas. Northwest Arkansas is growing fast, and that growth comes with... Growing Home NWA Project Team VIEW ALL UPDATES

Northwest Arkansas Regional Strategy Northwest Arkansas offers more than scenic beauty. It’s a place where people find connection, culture and the opportunity to build a good life. Whether it’s time on the trails, local arts, or a strong sense of community, residents see the region as full of promise. Rooted in What Matters A Region on the Rise Northwest Arkansas is growing, driven by bold ideas, visionary leadership, and a strong spirit of collaboration. The region adds about 38 new residents each day and is on pace to surpass 1 million people by 2050. That momentum brings opportunity, but also pressure. Without a plan, housing costs rise, infrastructure strains, and the region risks losing what makes it special. The Northwest Arkansas Council launched Growing Home to help communities grow with intention. The strategy aligns infrastructure, housing and land use to support sustainable and inclusive growth. A Shared Effort to Shape What Comes Next Northwest Arkansas moves forward when people work together. Growing Home brings together city and county leaders, planners, state agencies and residents to address shared challenges and build regional solutions. A recent public opinion survey conducted by the Northwest Arkansas Council confirms the urgency of this work. Residents ranked housing affordability, traffic congestion and loss of green space as top concerns—reinforcing the need for coordinated action. The effort builds on years of collaboration and planning, with guidance from DPZ CoDesign , a national leader in planning and urban design. It is being led on behalf of the Council by Groundwork , a housing-focused initiative within the organization. This effort expands Groundwork’s purview beyond housing access to include broader issues of land use and growth, which are inextricably connected to the region’s ability to deliver a variety of housing options near jobs, services and lifestyle amenities. Planning for Opportunity in Every Community Housing, infrastructure and land use go hand in hand. Growing Home addresses them together to expand options for residents at every stage of life—young families, essential workers, older adults, and newcomers alike. The strategy explores models that preserve green space, strengthen regional connections, and help people live closer to work, schools and services. The goal is to shape growth in ways that reflect the region’s values while preparing for its future. Growth is Inevitable. The Outcome is Not. Northwest Arkansas will continue to grow. The region must choose whether to shape that growth with intention or let it unfold without a plan. The path forward calls for early action, strong partnerships and long-term thinking. Investing now in housing, infrastructure and community is the best way to protect what makes this place special. A Regional Process with Local Impact Growing Home includes public events, surveys and online tools to gather feedback from residents, employers, civic leaders and others. Updates and opportunities for input will appear on this site throughout 2025. The decisions made today will shape Northwest Arkansas for decades to come. Everyone has a role in building what comes next. LATEST UPDATES

Residents, officials and industry leaders explore policy tools to guide Northwest Arkansas’ future. The Growing Home roadshow concluded Wednesday, Sept. 17 with a public presentation at The Medium in Springdale. The event capped a week of focus groups, community meetings and pop-ups across Northwest Arkansas, where residents and leaders shared concerns about growth and ideas for the future. The evening featured displays highlighting both earlier findings and new proposals shaped by roadshow input. Project lead Matt Lambert of DPZ CoDesign delivered a 45-minute presentation outlining the region’s challenges and presenting policy strategies and tools aimed at managing growth more effectively. Some examples drew from local efforts already underway, showing how communities can expand housing choices, align infrastructure and preserve valued open space. Areas of focus included housing cost, transportation and congestion, infrastructure and utilities, community character and impact, and collaboration and regional tools. Following the presentation, attendees reviewed displays and spoke with the project team about strategies that could help balance rapid growth with affordability, sustainability and community character. With the roadshow now complete, the project team will begin assembling the comprehensive Regional Strategy. That work will synthesize the data, ideas and feedback gathered over the past week into a framework for future growth, expected to be released in early 2026. The complete presentation slides and a closing interview with Matt Lambert are available below.

Team engages hundreds of stakeholders across the region. As the Growing Home roadshow moves through its final stops, the conversations have widened. Over the past two days, discussions ranged from county-scale infrastructure and growth management to how individual city visions align with a regional plan. Together, these perspectives are shaping a clearer picture of Northwest Arkansas’ future. Review our previous road reports here  and here . Stop 10: Northwest Arkansas Council’s Infrastructure Work Group The roadshow gathered 46 members of the Northwest Arkansas Council’s long-standing Infrastructure Work Group, including mayors, utility directors and business leaders. Created in 2011, the group guides regional strategy on roads, water, wastewater and other systems that carry growth. Participants emphasized the challenge of coordinating development across city lines. While no region in the country has true regional zoning authority, examples from Alabama and New England show how local governments can align codes and plans with outside support. Similar approaches could strengthen consistency in Northwest Arkansas as extraterritorial jurisdiction policies evolve. Job centers emerged as a priority. Identifying and planning for employment hubs in future land use maps can guide infrastructure investments and build the tax base needed to support utilities. Leaders also noted that most major roads depend on state and federal funding, and current five-year highway plans will not meet long-term needs. Water and wastewater concerns drew attention as well. Unregulated development around key watersheds threatens drinking water quality, and regional service models can be less costly than siloed systems. Housing pressures remain. Vacancy rates are low, and much of the new supply is priced out of reach for many families. Where and how growth occurs, whether in centers, along corridors or in new subdivisions, directly affects the cost to build and maintain infrastructure. Bottom line: fast‑growing regions must compress centuries of system building into a few decades. It will take new partnerships, new tools and planning together. Stop 11: More Elected Officials Leaders from Lowell, Springdale, Tontitown and Elm Springs, which sit along the I-49 and AR 112 corridor, took part in the discussion. The corridor connects the region’s cultural and corporate north with its university south and is home to major employers in manufacturing, logistics and poultry processing. Conversation turned quickly to fiscal pressures. Springdale officials noted gaps in sales tax revenue compared to neighboring cities, even with the recent boost from online sales tax collections. Leaders said clearer visuals and examples of current collaborations could help cities identify overlaps and gaps, particularly around zoning reforms designed to encourage sustainable development. Capacity was another concern. Smaller cities want to avoid repeating suburban patterns. Officials discussed model zoning codes for cities with limited staff capacity and stressed policies that make new development fiscally sustainable. The role of the state legislature was also front of mind. Some expressed frustration at preemptive housing legislation and the difficulties it creates for local planning. Participants discussed strategies for working with state representatives ahead of the next legislative session to find common ground on housing and land use. Other issues included fire codes that shape building design, the need for clear annexation policies, and the importance of county governments as partners in managing development. Leaders agreed that long-term solutions will require cooperation across jurisdictions and levels of government. Takeaway: the central corridor is pivotal. Cities need tools, policy and partnership so growth strengthens, not strains, community resources. Stop 12: Dual Quorum Court For the first time, the quorum courts of Benton and Washington counties met in a joint session that drew a standing-room audience of nearly 100. Leaders framed the evening as a chance to move beyond reactive cooperation and start addressing growth together. Public comment opened with strong community voices. Speakers raised concerns about immigrant communities facing hardship, waste management impacts and the broader need for empathy in local policy. Matt Lambert of DPZ CoDesign outlined the challenges of accommodating a population near one million by 2050. He noted that dispersed growth strains infrastructure and budgets, while compact patterns support services, protect rural land and create places where communities thrive. Revenue‑per‑acre data showed which areas pay for themselves, underscoring the financial stakes of land use choices. Questions from Justices focused on housing variety, annexation pressures, watershed management and tax base stability. Several noted that downtowns and townhomes often generate more revenue than they consume, while subdivisions and sprawl can leave counties with long‑term liabilities. Others pressed on preserving agriculture, managing septic systems and protecting green space while offering housing choices at different price points. The theme was clear: growth crosses boundaries, and neither county can solve the challenge alone. Officials expressed interest in more joint sessions and requested updates as strategies take shape. Stop 13: More Homebuilding Industry Homebuilding professionals examined practical barriers that slow or complicate growth. While zoning codes often take the blame, participants pointed to fire codes and engineering standards that can make walkable, denser development more difficult to deliver. Funding and finance were another theme. Builders said capital markets are beginning to catch up with urban forms, and recent federal moves to ease financing for accessory dwelling units will help. Locally, a 2026 vote on creating an economic development district could expand housing tools. Predictability dominated the discussion. Participants called for more consistency across communities on stormwater, building and engineering standards. Different rules city to city raise costs and uncertainty. Several suggested regional baseline codes, especially for stormwater, as a foundation cities could build upon. Message: the development community is ready to do its part. Standardization and collaboration across jurisdictions will lower costs, reduce delays and support a wider range of housing choices. Stop 14: More Elected Officials The roadshow gathered 36 local leaders from Avoca, Rogers, Bentonville, Pea Ridge, Bella Vista, Garfield, Gateway and Little Flock, representing the central corridor that anchors Northwest Arkansas’ industrial and civic midsection. Infrastructure dominated the conversation. Smaller cities are working together on regional water and sewer solutions, while leaders stressed the need for stronger coordination between municipalities, utilities and schools. Several noted that school siting often dictates growth but occurs without city input, creating long-term costs when facilities are built far from existing infrastructure. Transportation was another theme. Officials voiced support for stable funding for Ozark Regional Transit and discussed strengthening the Regional Mobility Authority into a broader transportation authority. Leaders pointed to national examples where coordinated planning around transit produced both public funding and private investment. Other priorities included preserving farmland, adopting more context-sensitive design standards, and improving connectivity with smaller blocks, trails and sidewalks. Participants emphasized the value of planning with reliable data to guide strategic infrastructure investments and build public trust. Next Steps The Northwest Arkansas community is invited to join us for tonight’s final public meeting at The Medium, 214 S. Main St., Springdale. The roadshow will conclude with some informational displays, a presentation and public Q&A. Follow Growing Home for project updates and share your perspective through the community survey . Your voice, and that of your neighbors throughout the region, is helping shape a more connected and opportunity-filled future.

In just a few minutes you can help shape the future of Northwest Arkansas. Northwest Arkansas is growing fast, and that growth comes with both opportunities and challenges. The Growing Home project is working to create a strategy that protects what people love about the region — its natural beauty, vibrant communities and quality of life — while finding smarter ways to handle issues like traffic, housing costs and infrastructure. Your perspective is an essential part of that process. Please take a few minutes to share your experiences and priorities through our community survey. Every response helps shape a future that reflects the needs and values of all who call Northwest Arkansas home.