The Greater Topeka Partnership and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce announced the postponement of their joint inter-city visit to Northwest Arkansas (NWA), previously scheduled for early October 2021. Out of an abundance of caution due to the recent spike in COVID-19 Delta Variant cases, both organizations decided to delay the trip to spring 2022. A final date for the visit will be announced when available.
Titled “Stronger Together: Expedition NWA,” the visit will allow community leaders from public, private, educational and nonprofit sectors from Topeka and Lawrence to gain knowledge about innovative ideas and programs from Northwest Arkansas. The visit also provides an opportunity for interaction among city leaders and is designed to facilitate the exchange of best practices and areas for collaboration between the visiting cities and the destination cities.
“This decision wasn’t easy; however, we would rather be cautious and ensure our attendees have the best experience possible,” said Matt Pivarnik, CEO, Greater Topeka Partnership. “On a positive note, we believe this added time will allow us to continue to refine the experience for our attendees, and to continue to strengthen our relationship with our partners in the Lawrence Chamber.”
“We are eager to collaborate with Topeka and Northwest Arkansas in the Spring of 2022,” said Bonnie Lowe, president and CEO, Lawrence Chamber. “The decision to delay is a result of our efforts to ensure the health and safety of all guests and provide a first-class experience.”
Further details about Stronger Together: Expedition NWA may be found at DestinationNWA.com.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Bob Ross at Bob.Ross@TopekaPartnership.com.
ABOUT THE GREATER TOPEKA PARTNERSHIP
The Greater Topeka Partnership serves as the umbrella agency of seven distinct efforts that support the enhancement of economic development and quality of life in Topeka and Shawnee County. They include: Downtown Topeka, Inc; Greater Topeka Chamber; GO Topeka; Forge Young Professionals; Minority and Women Business Development; Momentum 2022 ; and Visit Topeka, Inc.
ABOUT THE LAWRENCE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Lawrence Chamber works collaboratively with the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, the Economic Development Corporation of Lawrence and Douglas County (EDC), as well as many other community organizations to promote growth and economic prosperity by serving as the leading business advocate in our community.
ABOUT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS (NWA)
Northwest Arkansas is a regional collective of Rogers, Springdale, Bentonville and Fayetteville; considered a uniquely collaborative metropolitan area and region within the Ozark Mountains. The birthplace and headquarters of world-leading companies such as Walmart, Tyson Foods and JB Hunt. The region is the home to Plug and Play’s supply chain & logistics innovation startup accelerator program. Other assets include the University of Arkansas, the state’s flagship campus, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which boasts a renowned collection ranging from Rockwell to Warhol.