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 Launch Wed, Sep 17 Public Meeting: Benton County / Centerton City Hall Learn more Sep 17, 2025, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Centerton City Hall, 200 Municipal Dr, Centerton, AR 72719, USA Roadshow kickoff meeting featuring informative displays, opening presentation and Q&A with project leaders. Thu, Sep 18 Virtual Meeting: Onward Ozarks – Regional Growth and the Future of NWA
 / Virtual Event RSVP Sep 18, 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Virtual Event Early insights from research and community conversations and discussion on how public input is helping set priorities, define a vision and chart strategies for the region’s future. Sat, Sep 20 Pop-Up: Fayetteville / Fayetteville Farmer's Market Learn more Sep 20, 2025, 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM Fayetteville Farmer's Market, Fayetteville Square, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA Informal opportunity to ask questions and share feedback with the project team. Mon, Sep 22 Public Meeting: Two-County Quorum Courts / Springdale City Hall Learn more Sep 22, 2025, 6:00 PM Springdale City Hall, 201 Spring St, Springdale, AR 72764, USA This rare joint meeting of both quorum courts underscores the importance of regional collaboration in addressing growth. Wed, Sep 24 Public Meeting: Washington County / The Medium | A Place to Create Learn more Sep 24, 2025, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM The Medium | A Place to Create, 214 S Main St, Springdale, AR 72764, USA Closing session with informative displays, a presentation and public Q&A. Catch Up on the Latest News ‘Growing Home NWA’ Roadshow Seeks Community Voices on Regional Growth Input will help shape recommendations on housing, infrastructure, transportation and open space Northwest Arkansas residents are invited... Growing Home NWA Project Team Stakeholder Conversations Reveal Shared Hopes and Pressing Challenges for Northwest Arkansas As part of its Northwest Arkansas Regional Growth Strategy initiative, the Northwest Arkansas Council and its project team completed a... Growing Home NWA Project Team Collaboration is Key: NWA Council addressing regional growth challenges with ‘Growing Home’ initiative Northwest Arkansas is growing fast—with roughly 38 new residents every day. That kind of growth brings energy and opportunity, but it’s... 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

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Input will help shape recommendations on housing, infrastructure, transportation and open space Northwest Arkansas residents are invited to help shape the region’s future through the  Growing Home NWA  Roadshow, an eight-day series of community meetings and events starting Sept. 17.   The effort is organized by the  Northwest Arkansas Council  and its workforce housing division,  Groundwork , with planning and design firm  DPZ CoDesign  hired to lead the work. The roadshow will feature 17 meetings and focus groups across Benton and Washington counties from Sept. 17–24. It is part of a regional growth strategy in development to help communities prepare for population growth while protecting the qualities that make Northwest Arkansas special.   The strategy, which will complement existing city and county plans, is expected to be complete with a full set of recommendations in early 2026.   “Regional challenges require regional solutions,” said Nelson Peacock, president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council. “Through the Growing Home Roadshow, we’re bringing people together to chart a path of mutual benefit, ensuring communities of all sizes have the tools they need to manage growth while preserving what makes Northwest Arkansas unique.”   Community concerns driving the work Over the past five months, the project team has conducted 28 stakeholder interviews and dozens of conversations that surfaced consistent concerns tied to rapid growth, including:   Housing that is increasingly out of reach for working families Traffic congestion and limited transportation options Uneven infrastructure, especially in rural and fast-growing areas The need for more inclusive gathering spaces and trail access   DPZ brings deep local knowledge, having guided planning projects in Bentonville and Rogers and engaged with homebuilders, developers and elected officials across the region.   “While Northwest Arkansas’ growth has brought tremendous opportunity, it has also created challenges that no single city can solve alone,” said Matthew Lambert, partner at DPZ CoDesign. “Our goal with the Growing Home Roadshow is to listen directly to residents and leaders, then translate their priorities into a regional strategy that supports local decision-making while strengthening the region as a whole.”   Opportunities to participate Residents can take part in a range of public events during the roadshow:   Survey: Community Growth and Development Online | Take survey here Available in both English and Spanish Public Meeting: Benton County Wednesday, Sept. 17 5:30 to 7:30 pm | Centerton City Hall, 200 Municipal Drive, Centerton Kickoff meeting featuring informative displays, opening presentation and Q&A with project leaders.   Public Virtual Meeting: Onward Ozarks – Regional Growth and the Future of NWA Thursday, Sept. 18 9 to 10 a.m. |  Zoom – Register here Early insights from research and community conversations and discussion on how public input is helping set priorities, define a vision and chart strategies for the region’s future.   Pop-Up: Fayetteville Saturday, Sept. 20 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Fayetteville Farmers Market, Fayetteville Square Informal opportunity to ask questions and share feedback with the project team.   Public Meeting: Two-County Quorum Courts Monday, Sept. 22 6 p.m. | Springdale City Hall, 201 Spring Street, Springdale This rare joint meeting of both quorum courts underscores the importance of regional collaboration in addressing growth. Livestream available on the  City of Springdale’s YouTube channel .   Public Meeting: Washington County Wednesday, Sept. 24 5:30 to 7:30 pm | The Medium, 214 S. Main Street, Springdale Closing session with informative displays, a presentation and public Q&A.   Northwest Arkansas residents can help shape the region’s future by attending one or more of the public events. Stay tuned to growinghomenwa.com for ongoing updates and information.

As part of its Northwest Arkansas Regional Growth Strategy initiative, the Northwest Arkansas Council and its project team completed a series of in-depth conversations with community stakeholders from across the region, an important step in crafting a growth strategy grounded in local experience, shared values and community-driven solutions. Representatives from 28 organizations participated in one-on-one interviews, offering insights drawn from daily work with residents in sectors such as housing, transportation, education, public health, food access, the arts and advocacy. The resulting feedback provides a clearer picture of how people across the region are experiencing growth and where they believe Northwest Arkansas should go next. “This region was built by working together across communities, and that kind of collaboration is just as important now,” said Nelson Peacock, president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council. “These conversations highlight both the opportunities people see and the challenges they face. It’s clear that local perspectives must guide the region’s next chapter.”  The interviews are part of a broader strategy being led by global planning firm DPZ CoDesign. The goal: to equip communities of all sizes with the tools, data and coordination needed to respond to rapid population growth while preserving the character, affordability and natural beauty that make Northwest Arkansas special. A Regional Portrait Takes Shape Interviewees described a region with deep civic pride and a spirit of collaboration. Residents, they said, look out for one another and want to protect that sense of neighborliness even as the population expands. Many voiced appreciation for the region’s blend of big-city amenities and small-town feel and want to see that balance preserved. The conversations also spotlighted consistent concerns: Housing increasingly out of reach for working families Traffic congestion that affects quality of life and business operations Limited transportation options and lack of child and elder care access Uneven infrastructure, especially in rural or fast-growing areas Desire for more inclusive community spaces, trail access and civic gathering places Several interviewees raised the need for smarter land use planning, stronger coordination between local governments and more support for smaller cities that may lack the capacity to plan or develop effectively on their own. “There’s a clear interest in working together across city lines, but also a desire to make sure local identities and priorities are respected,” said Matthew Lambert, partner at DPZ CoDesign. “ These interviews have revealed not only the challenges of growth, but also the shared commitment to finding practical, region-wide solutions that keep Northwest Arkansas livable and affordable. ” What Comes Next The findings from these discussions will help guide the next round of public engagement and scenario development. The wide range of voices consulted underscores the importance of continuing to engage communities throughout the planning process. This fall, the project team will launch a multi-day roadshow to meet with residents directly and gather feedback on future growth scenarios. Additional input opportunities will also take place to ensure broad and inclusive participation. To learn more about the Regional Growth Strategy and how to get involved, stay tuned to www.growinghomenwa.com .

Northwest Arkansas is growing fast—with roughly 38 new residents every day. That kind of growth brings energy and opportunity, but it’s starting to strain the things people rely on. Roads are more crowded. Housing costs are rising, Access to health care is failing to keep up. It’s easy to feel like everything’s changing too fast, and that can be frustrating. Maybe it’s even a little scary. But here’s the truth: Change is inevitable. What matters now is whether we shape Northwest Arkansas into a great place that works for all of us—or let it happen in ways that compromise the things we care most about. Presenting ‘Growing Home’ More than 100 business and community leaders came together on April 16 at a meeting hosted by the Northwest Arkansas Council to hear about efforts to better manage growth in the region. The goal is to make sure everyday people—people like you who love their lives here—don’t get stuck with longer commutes, rising home prices, loss of our natural landscapes, and health care resources stretched to their limits. In response, and together with the people of the region, the Council, its Groundwork team, and a group of experts led by planning and design firm DPZ CoDesign will be developing ‘Growing Home,’ a regional strategy tailored to the needs of all people who live and work in Northwest Arkansas. It’s not just to accommodate the inevitable influx of new people, but to protect what makes our cities and towns worth living in — whether it’s open space, local businesses, or just the sense that you and your neighbors still look out for each other. The resulting strategy will reflect perspectives gathered from across the region. “There’ll be a lot of community engagement, public input into how we want to grow, and the people’s thoughts about this,” said Nelson Peacock, the NWA Council’s president and CEO. A Strategy for All Despite the bigger Northwest Arkansas cities’ higher profiles, ‘Growing Home’ will give significant attention to both the big and small cities of Northwest Arkansas. That’s especially important because the rates of growth across Northwest Arkansas are actually the highest in the smallest cities. Yes, just about every city is growing, but it’s Cave Springs, Pea Ridge, Centerton, and other smaller places that are leading the way. That’s why every city must remain part of the growth conversation. The Council is offering strategies and tools to help all regional communities make smart choices, not just quick ones. One example of a regional issue affecting everyone is housing. As the year-long process begins, the project team is conducting a regional housing market analysis to better understand the dynamics influencing the availability and cost of housing. Are builders producing enough? Are they creating a variety of options to suit different needs? When buyers can't find housing that fits their preferences, they often settle for options that aren't ideal for them. This creates market imbalances and restricts opportunities for people to live in ways that best suit their lifestyles. Get Involved Throughout 2025, you’ll have a chance to weigh in. The Council has launched a website ( growinghomenwa.org ) where the full story of the ‘Growing Home’ process will be documented and, in the coming months, will be hosting online and local input opportunities where everyone will have an opportunity to weigh in about what’s most important to them. Even if you don’t love change, you should at least have a say in how it occurs and what it looks like. “A lot of people may see [accelerated growth] as a bad thing, but it doesn’t have to be,” said DPZ CoDesign’s Matt Lambert. “A lot of what we’ll be talking about is how to shape growth to achieve outcomes that benefit the community broadly.” In short, growth is inevitable. But how we grow — that’s up to us.