SPRINGDALE — Northwest Arkansas is bounding back from the recession and can expect new business announcements soon, Gov. Mike Beebe told a crowd of hundreds at the Springdale Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Chickin, Peelin’ and Politickin’ “event at Arvest Ballpark.

At least 400 people showed up at the event, according to the chamber. The crowd included governor’s candidate Asa Hutchinson and Debra Hobbs, Northwest Arkansas Republicans looking to succeed the term-limited Beebe. State Republican Party chairman Doyle Webb also attended.

Beebe said he would return soon to participate in a new business announcement, but declined to give details in his speech to the crowd. He and Wal-Mart have worked together on the company’s “By American” initiative, he said, with the goal developing more domestic suppliers for the retailer.

“Recessions hurt the folks who were doing well the most, but you also recover faster,” Beebe said.

Chickin, Peelin’ and Politickin’ started as a way to bring state and local political leaders to Northwest Arkansas and to bring the region’s people together too, said Perry Webb, chamber president. Webb said Friday the event’s appeal appears to be expanding. “We have more candidates and representatives from other parts of the state now,” he said. “We had a state representative from Ozark here tonight, and from the (Arkansas) River Valley.”

The event is intended to provide a forum similar to much older, established bi-partisan political get-togethers such as Gillett's Coon Supper, Webb said. Friday’s gathering had a “great crowd,” but next year’s event during an election year will mean a bigger one, Webb said.

The 2014 event will come during a a U.S. Senate race, state constitutional officer campaigns and legislative races, he said.

Hutchinson and GOP chairman Webb both said the event had become a destination of statewide importance in campaigns. Each said the event wasn't only a chance for candidates to be seen at a crowd, but an important stop for candidates to meet with Northwest Arkansans and learn of their concerns and issues.

“It’s one of the best political events in the state,” Hutchinson said.

Beebe said there are about 18,000 state employees who are paid through federal money or federal employees in state-managed programs who will not be paid by the state if the federal government cannot resolve spending issues that has some politicians threatening a government shutdown. “We cannot and will not absorb the cost of a federal shutdown,” Beebe said. “There are emergency positions that will be kept, but that’s it, if a shutdown actually happens.”

“We cannot pay for their shutdown, nor do we intend to,” he said.