Exploring Bentonville, One of the Fastest Growing Cities in America, with Mayor Stephanie Orman

Summary

On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell engages in a lively conversation with Bentonville’s Mayor, Stephanie Orman. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas, Bentonville seamlessly blends its global prominence with the charm of a welcoming, tight-knit community. As Bentonville celebrates its 150th anniversary, its unwavering commitment remains–fostering progressive growth while continuing to uphold and further elevate its high quality of life.

Recognized as one of America’s fastest growing and most dynamic cities, Bentonville is distinguished as the cradle of Walmart – the world’s largest retailer and Fortune 1. Additionally, Bentonville and the broader Northwest Arkansas region are home to over 1,400 corporate offices, encompassing every recognizable retail brand. Remarkably, the area also boasts a presence of roughly 400 of the Fortune 500. Yet, the heart of the business community remains with small businesses, complemented by a thriving startup ecosystem.

Among its gems, Bentonville proudly hosts the internationally renowned Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, breathtaking natural scenery and an extensive network of trails that have solidified its title as Mountain Biking Capital of the World. Join James and Mayor Orman as they delve into Bentonville’s exceptional lifestyle, its unparalleled global ties and community ethos that shapes Bentonville into a wonderful place to live, work and play.

Thanks for tuning in!

#Bentonville150

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:58) Introduction to Mayor Stephanie Orman

(4:06) From City Council to Mayor

(6:32) Bentonville’s Remarkable Growth

(12:37) Bentonville’s Future Growth Plans

(14:41) Making Bentonville’s Growth Sustainable

(17:00) The Welcomeness of the Bentonville Community

(27:37) #BecauseBentonville Story

(30:50) Stephanie’s Favorite Thing about Being Mayor

(35:49) Closing Question

‍Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development

Mayor Stephanie Orman

City of Bentonville

Quotes

“We find a way to make it happen. And it’s not just city government, we work with a lot of entities, but we have an amazing community here, and amazing partnerships that keep things going and moving. And when we see a roadblock, we figure out how to make it work.” - Mayor Stephanie Orman, (8:02)

“We have so much desire in our community to make the quality of life as high as it can be. We have the opportunity to seek some of those partnerships. So that’s really how we’re able to produce the type of projects within the city that you see.” - Mayor Stephanie Orman, (13:43)

“When people ask, what’s the secret sauce of Bentonville? I say it’s that we don’t just rely on the city government when we have a concern or problem. Our community is coming together. Hopefully, the city government is a big player in that, but we’re not the only player that wants to see it be successful.” - Mayor Stephanie Orman, (15:02)

“Go on the square and talk to people that are just visiting or maybe just moved here, and the first thing they’re going to tell you is just how welcoming the community is. And that’s really nothing the city is doing, that is the message of those who have lived here forever...we want you to love Bentonville like we do.” - Stephanie Mayor Orman, (17:05)