Founded by Sam Walton, Don Tyson, J.B. Hunt and other business leaders, the Northwest Arkansas Council is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing economic opportunity, workforce development, infrastructure, health care and quality of life in the region. The Council’s more than 100 members include many of the region’s leading employers, such as Walmart, Tyson Foods, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Simmons Foods and George’s, Inc.

Since its inception, the Council has been instrumental in advocating for infrastructure improvements to support the region’s growth. Notably, it played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), which opened in 1998 to meet the area’s expanding transportation needs. The Council was also a driving force behind the development of the Interstate 49 (I-49) corridor in Northwest Arkansas. This initiative included the completion of the segment between Alma and Fayetteville, originally opened as Interstate 540 in 1999 and re-designated as I-49 in 2014. The final piece, the Bella Vista Bypass, was completed in 2021, creating a seamless interstate connection between Arkansas and Missouri. Additionally, the Council has worked to secure funding for key water infrastructure projects, such as the Two-Ton Water System, to ensure the region’s long-term sustainability. Looking ahead, the Council is actively pursuing a regional growth strategy focused on housing affordability, infrastructure enhancement and sustainable land-use planning to ensure long-term prosperity for Northwest Arkansas.