Rural Chamber Group Revs Up Members

Don Barnett, co-owner of Good Faith Realty in Pea Ridge, is chairman of the newly formed Regional Chamber of Commerce Serving Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri. The group mainly represents six small towns along a 30-mile stretch from Avoca to Seligman, Mo. The largest town in the lot is Pea Ridge, although its population of 2,500 is projected to double next year based on new housing starts.

Barnett said his Chamber already has 40 recruits after starting a membership drive in late September. Its goal is 250 members.

Barnett said the group is not worried that its lengthy name will be confused with the Northwest Arkansas Regional Chamber of Commerce. Both Ed Clifford and Raymond Burns, presidents of the Bentonville-Bella Vista and Rogers-Lowell regional Chambers, respectively, are supporting the rural Chamber, Barnett said.

“We feel that by joining our businesses together, we can have a better voice and leverage our position with local and state governments,” Barnett said. “We hope to work on issues like getting [Arkansas] Highway 62 widened, increasing tourism and trying to lure light industry to east Benton County where there’s so much population growth.”

The new Chamber’s first Business After Hours reception is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the Pea Ridge Emergency Services Building.

Strength in Numbers: Regional Chamber Board Members
• Click hereto see this list. (List requires Adobe Acrobat viewer. Click here for a free copy.)