Good things are happening in Springdale.

Public works projects, like the Don Tyson Parkway interchange with Interstate 49, are moving rapidly forward.

Work on a new southeast city park is getting closer.

The region's economy shows signs of regaining its strength.

Northwest Technical Institute has new leadership in place to lead this important work force training facility into the future. The Springdale School District is in full swing implementing the nearly $26 million Race to the Top grant from the U.S. Department of Education, including its school of innovation concept and other technology-driven educational practices. Springdale is the chosen location for a new, second campus of Bentonville-based NorthWest Arkansas Community College.

Enthusiasm for revitalizing downtown is strong, with local residents, business operators and municipal officials collaborating on development of a park setting centered on Springdale's portion of the 36-mile Razorback Greenway trail system and Spring Creek. New owners have snapped up property in the downtown area, apparently ready to make the most of the area's potential.

"This is as good an opportunity for the city to revitalize downtown as it will ever have," Perry Webb, Springdale Chamber of Commerce CEO, said back in November.

Springdale is experiencing some success in economic development and the creation of jobs. NanoMech, a private nanotechnology company making products such as lubricants and coatings for cutting tools, is in the midst of expanding its Springdale facility by 25,000 square feet. American Tubing, maker of copper and aluminum assemblies and components, announced a $3.2 million project to add 20,000 square feet and 50 jobs to its facility last December. California-based South Coast Baking Co. announced last year plans to add 150 jobs with a plant opening in Springdale.

It's in this context the Springdale Chamber of Commerce this week publicly launched its "Ignite Springdale!" fundraising campaign with a goal of $2.6 million. The chamber says it already has commitments of $1.4 million in place through donor pledges to pay for its effort to "ignite business growth, workforce development, job growth and small business outreach initiatives from 2014 to 2017.

Years in the making, Ignite Springdale! is a laudable initiative. Among its goals is the creation of 250 new technology jobs averaging $57,000 to $92,000 a year and attract six new technology businesses; 15 manufacturing expansions or new industry locations; 1,150 new manufacturing jobs ($30,000 to $40,000 a year); 600 new professional/service jobs ($40,000 to $50,000 a year); 1,000 new retail/commercial jobs ($26,000 to $30,000 a year); development of a new workforce training model based on community needs; and encouragement of pride in Springdale.

We can only assume chamber officials have offered specifics to its funding partners on how they plan to accomplish these admirable goals. This week was about announcing fundraising efforts and outlining the goals. We're eager to hear future announcements about how they're going to get it accomplished.

Programs like "Ignite Springdale!" are what chambers are in business for. The private organization is one important component of the community's efforts to bring new opportunity to town in the form of economic development and quality of life. We applaud the chamber for it leadership as a collaborator with government, local businesses and residents in making Springdale and Northwest Arkansas better tomorrow.