Nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville, Arkansas is a gorgeous family-friendly community set among scenic parks, mountains, rivers and hiking and biking trails. Home to the University of Arkansas and a thriving downtown economy, it’s a city poised to greet the new millennium with a wide southern-style smile. This little gem has been a best-kept secret but the word is out. Fayetteville was recently ranked one of the nation’s top performers in 2003 for job growth, making it an ideal city for graduates, emerging professionals, entrepreneurs and families looking for a stable and welcoming place to raise children.

In addition to the area’s rapid growth, the region consistently ranks ten percent below the national cost of living and is one of the fastest growing communities in the nation. Fayetteville is the cradle of industry giants such as Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt and Tyson foods. But the city sees its future in smaller, high-tech industries and, in association with the University of Arkansas, is overseeing the development of a state-of-the-art Arkansas Research and Technology Park. The University of Arkansas, the state’s second largest employer, offers Fayetteville residents a variety of employment, training and educational opportunities while injecting a sense of high-tech energy and expertise into the surrounding community.

The city’s many amenities include more than 3,000 acres of community parks, lakes and recreational complexes. Downtown Fayetteville is alive with local music, fine arts and thanks to the University of Arkansas, numerous Razorback sporting events. Fayetteville is the seat of Washington County and only a short drive from the Missouri and Oklahoma borders. The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport serves nearly 500,000 people and flies nonstop to destinations including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and many other large cities. Fayetteville offers excellent schools, superior medical facilities and strong, civic-minded neighborhoods. With its high-tech aspirations and solid strategies to achieve that vision, this best-kept secret won’t be a secret much longer.