Page 10 - 2026 VB Community Profile

COMMUNITY

business community, including the Membership Director, Phyllis hauling equipment in and out. What
institutions of higher learning, was way Thompson, sees a bright future for a difference it made!”
beyond our expectations,” Murray members who utilize the Center. “We Jessica Blasingame, who
continued. “From in-kind donations will be able to have so many more just joined the Chamber staff in
of materials to cash to be used as resources available to our members, September as Director of Operations,
needed, we saw again and again what both current and future,” she said. chimed in as well. “The Business
this Center was going to mean to our “Now we have a facility to bring in Resource Center is more than a
members and the community as a programs and resources that will help workspace — it’s a place where ideas
whole.” our members’ businesses thrive.” take root, partnerships form, and our
The new business center includes: Thompson’s sentiments were community grows together. We’re
• Chamber offices echoed by Pat Powell, Director of proud to support the people who are
• Van Buren Economic Leadership Crawford County. “What shaping the economic future of Van
Development Partnership a blessing it is to have the new Buren,” she added.
• Leadership Crawford County Chamber office to host a variety of The Business Resource Center is
• Permanent meeting space and events,” Powell stated. “Leadership located at 111 North 12th Street.
storage for Van Buren Lions Club Crawford County is always out and Chamber staff members are happily
and Rotary Club of Van Buren about exploring different parts of providing guided tours of the
• Training/Meeting room that can our community, but occasionally we facility, and will work with member
accommodate up to 50 people, need a space to meet. This year, we businesses to schedule room rentals
open for businesses to utilize for were able to host a session right that will suit their training and event
their employees and public events here—without having to worry about needs.
• Board room
• Conference room
We Are Bost
• Hot Seat Co-working areas We Are Bost
for chamber members and
entrepreneurs.
• Satellite office of the Arkansas
Small Business and Technology Services and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities!
Development Center (ASBTDC)
• The Yeager Family Entrepreneurial
Support Organization (ESO)
• The UAFS Guest Office for SBA,
UAFS Center for Non-Profits and
AEDC to meet and work with
our businesses and non-profit
organizations.

PRICES YOU’LL LOVE,

PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST!

10 Van Buren Chamber 2026 Community Profile vanburenchamber.org