November 2023 | Shop Local

In partnership with our members, we will be promoting “SHOP LOCAL”, during the Christmas holiday shopping season.

As we enjoy time with our families, shop for gifts, and gather to celebrate the season, we hope everyone will remember that shopping and enjoying activities locally is rewarding in many ways. During this exciting time, we want to encourage our residents and visitors to our area to think, “Shop Local’, which provides important support to our local economy.

Businesses, large and small, that have chosen to locate here in the Fort Smith region, contribute to growing our local community, creating jobs, and boosting our economy. Local businesses keep our community strong by providing more tax revenue to help our local infrastructure, contributing more to local charitable causes, and purchasing locally sourced materials and services. Through our Shop Local campaign efforts we are encouraging you to spend your money locally.

During the Shop Local Christmas campaign, you will find event details on our website and our social media pages. Visit us at www.fortsmithchamber.org or follow us on social media @FTSmithChamber!

Earlier this month, the Leadership Fort Smith Class of 2024 had its “Community Outreach” Session. During this session, the class learned about the needs and challenges in our community and discovered ways to get involved and help make a positive impact on those in need. Thank you to Gerdau for being the session sponsor and United Way of Fort Smith for being our lunch sponsor!

The day started out with tours at the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, Children’s Emergency Shelter, and Hope Campus. Next, they learned about the United Way of Fort Smith Area and heard from a panel of their partner agencies. After lunch, they learned how to be a good board member and then listened to speakers from The CALL, 100 Families, and Heart to Heart Pregnancy and Family Care Center. The day ended at the Community Services Clearinghouse with delicious snacks and a tradition of stuffing their Christmas cards while listening to holiday music!

Thank you to all our sponsors and speakers who tirelessly work to support our community and make it a better place. 

Healthcare Session

The Junior Leadership & Career Academy Class VIII had its "Healthcare" session, sponsored by Methodist Village Senior Living!

The day started off with a tour of Fort Smith EMS, where the students had the opportunity to listen in on 911 emergency calls and see inside ambulances. Next, they heard from The Guidance Center about the services they provide to help treat mental, emotional, behavioral, and substance use disorders.

Baptist Health Fort Smith & Van Buren set up interactive stations where they learned vital skills like hands-only CPR, hand hygiene practices, Cath lab, and more! Then we had a wonderful lunch, provided by Baptist.

The learning didn't stop there – the class got to tour Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, touring various departments such as nursing, labs, imaging, and pharmacy. Our day concluded with a visit to Methodist Village's beautiful facility- where the students also learned about their Candy Striper program.

A massive thank you to our sponsors for making this day possible, and to our engaging speakers who shared their knowledge and experiences with us!

For more information about the Junior Leadership & Career Academy program or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, email Hannah at hcabe@fortsmithchamber.com

Contender eSports

OrangeTheory Fitness

Mercy Sports Medicine Clinic

The Bricks at Brunswick Apartments

Express Tree & Landscape

Haas Hall Academy

Riverfront RV Resort

Community Rescue Mission Ice Skating Rink

Capstone Commercial Advisors

Baptist Health Rooftop Garden

JAM Mart #10

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!

Fort Smith Regional

Chamber of Commerce

612 Garrison Avenue

Fort Smith, AR 72301

(479) 783 - 3111