Women's Foundation of Arkansas Launches Economic Mobility Hub in Northwest Arkansas

• WFA is investing $90,000 to grow its Women's Economic Mobility Hub into Northwest Arkansas
• The project is in collaboration with Conexión de Negocios Latinos
• It is also funded by the Walton Family Foundation

It is being conducted in partnership with Springdale nonprofit Conexión de Negocios Latinos, which supports local entrepreneurs, and additional assistance from the Walton Family Foundation (WFF).

The initiative will provide local business owners with new opportunities through offering resources, assistance, and business development materials in English and Spanish.

“Our goal has always been to close opportunity gaps for women in Arkansas,” said Anna Beth Gorman, CEO of WFA.

“With the support of Conexión de Negocios Latinos and the Walton Family Foundation, we’re able to expand the WEM Hub program into Northwest Arkansas, tapping into the region’s strong entrepreneurial spirit.”

Racing through October, the program includes bi-monthly bilingual workshops taught by Conexión staff and local experts on important issues such as taxes, marketing, digital software, and access to capital.

Twenty-five women business owners from sectors like food service, personal care, and marketing have already enrolled, representing communities throughout the region.

“As both a direct service provider and a grantmaker, WFA awarded a $90,000 grant to Conexión de Negocios Latinos as part of our annual grantmaking strategy,” said Sarah Riffle, Chief Growth Officer of WFA.

“This was made possible with support from the Walton Family Foundation, which has been instrumental in scaling WEM Hub across Arkansas. With its success, we’re now able to extend these services into Northwest Arkansas.”

Upon completing the program, each participant will receive a $1,000 unrestricted grant from WFA. Riffle noted that this pilot is just the beginning, with hopes of establishing an ongoing program in the region.