By Chamber President, Regina Richardson and Board Member, Josie Reed

Three years ago, we saw the growing need for a chamber of commerce in Centerton. It was clear that the city had a lot of potential, but there was something missing – a unified voice to bring local businesses together, promote growth and create a thriving community. We began by reaching out to people in neighboring areas like Siloam Springs and McDonald County. We wanted to learn from their experiences and see how they had built successful chambers in their own cities. Their insight was invaluable and helped us shape our vision for Centerton’ s future. We also connected with local chambers to gather ideas, understanding that collaboration would be key to the success of our own efforts.

From the very beginning, the city of Centerton was

incredibly supportive of the idea. This backing gave us the encouragement and confidence we needed to move forward, but we also knew that establishing a chamber wasn’ t something that could be rushed. We needed to lay a solid foundation first, something that would endure and support the growth of local businesses for years to come. That’ s why we took our time, carefully planning and ensuring we were building something strong and sustainable. We brought in a consultant with experience in helping chambers grow and thrive, which was a crucial step in setting us up for longterm success.

Once we had the foundation in place, we began to focus on growing our membership and organizing events to bring the community together. Our first event was“ Business Brew,” a casual gathering that takes place on the first Thursday of every month

at 7 a. m. The purpose of Business Brew is simple – it’ s a chance for local business owners to come together, network and promote their businesses in a friendly, welcoming environment. We’ ve hosted seven Business Brews so far, and each one has seen increasing attendance, which shows the growing enthusiasm and support for the chamber. It’ s been amazing to witness the bonds forming between businesses and the excitement surrounding these events. The turnout keeps growing and we’ re seeing new faces each time, further solidifying the idea that Centerton is ready for something like this.

In addition to Business Brew, we’ ve also started hosting ribbon-cutting ceremonies for our members’ businesses. These are special moments where we can celebrate the hard work and success of local entrepreneurs, marking significant milestones in

their journey. It’ s a way to show support for our community and highlight the businesses that are driving our local economy forward. These ribboncutting events have become a cherished tradition and an opportunity for everyone to come together, celebrate and spread the word about the amazing businesses that call Centerton home.

Looking ahead, we are incredibly excited about our upcoming biggest event – the first-ever Inaugural Banquet, which will be held at The Ravington. This event is the culmination of years of hard work and is a chance to bring the entire community together to celebrate our progress, honor local businesses and look forward to what’ s next. It’ s an opportunity to showcase everything that makes Centerton special and to connect businesses, leaders and residents in a meaningful way.