‘Gigantic’ announcement expected
Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2008
BENTONVILLE - Mum's the word on what is promised to be a "spectacularly gigantic"announcement for downtown Bentonville. Those who are in on the big secret aren't revealing anything until the big announcement Sept. 10.
The "major announcement for downtown Bentonville," as it was noted in Downtown Bentonville Inc. 's Aug. 29 newsletter, will be made following a presentation on Arkansas' creative economy.
Findings from a three-year study on the economic impact of Arkansas' creative industries will be unveiled at an event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Compton Gardens, 312 N. Main St. in downtown Bentonville.
The study, funded in part by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and conducted by Regional Technology Strategies, numerated the economic impact that the arts and other creative industries have on the state's economy. The presentation at Compton Gardens will be the northwest Arkansas premiere of this information and will be hosted by Downtown Bentonville Inc.
The "creative economy"is defined as the economic activity generated by people and companies whose products or intellectual property is associated with art, design or performance.
Examples include advertising, architecture, visual and performing artists, design, fashion, film, music, publishing, and research and development.
The study found that more than 35, 000 Arkansans are employed or self-employed in creative fields, earning almost $ 1 billion annually. The study is divided into three reports that seek to identify ways to foster and grow creative industry in Arkansas, as the state continues to lose manufacturing jobs.
Following the presentation, the announcement for downtown Bentonville will be made at 11 a.m.
Daniel Hintz, executive director of Downtown Bentonville Inc., said DBI would continue to hint at the major announcement in Friday's newsletter.
For more information, visit the DBI Web site at www. downtownbentonville. org or call 254-0254.
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