Chamber Celebrates Past Success, Looks to Future

Paul Vitale delivers the keynote address at the annual chamber meeting in Springdale. The meeting featured a number of videos about improvements in business and awards were given to the ambassador of the year and the civic service award.
Paul Vitale delivers the keynote address at the annual chamber meeting in Springdale. The meeting featured a number of videos about improvements in business and awards were given to the ambassador of the year and the civic service award.

— National speaker Paul Vitale asked a simple question Tuesday night that resonated with his audience.

“If you don’t believe in Springdale, who will?” he asked attendees of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce’s 91st annual meeting held at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center.

Vitale stressed the importance of energy and enthusiasm in creating a positive atmosphere.

Springdale’s business community is showing its enthusiasm through the city’s economic advances in the past year, said Todd Wood, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors.

“In Springdale, our culture is without question one of the primary drivers of our success,” he said. “It is rooted and founded upon the principle of hard work.”

He said hard work is defining both long established businesses and recent startups.

J. Max Van Hoose, outgoing chairman, economic expansion in the city is the envy of cities across the state.

A short video highlighted the success of several of the city’s manufacturers from the 1.2 million Diamond Horseshoes Apex will make this year to the growth of TruTrak Fight Systems’ autopilot designed for experimental aircraft.

“The spirit of entrepreneurship and ingenuity are alive in the city of Springdale,” he said.

The chamber is starting a new program this year — Ignite Springdale. Wood said the program will help the city parlay past successes into future opportunities for more success.

The multimillion dollar, four-year program is designed to fund businesses and job growth, work force development and small-business outreach.

“The goal of Ignite Springdale is to improve the hometown pride of Springdale by increasing opportunities for all,” Wood said.

The program has four core initiatives:

  • Grow the technology sector and entrepreneurship

  • Business retention, expansion and attraction

  • Work force education and preparedness

  • Improve quality of place.

“The goals for the program are high,” he said. “By implementing these initiatives, the chamber will work toward creating over 3,500 direct new jobs and over 2,500 indirect jobs.”

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