Page 6 - 2024 Community Profile

COMMUNITY
Welcome to Van Buren!

Leveraging “Social Capital” to Build a Better Community

The Van Buren Chamber hopes you
take the time to explore our community
and all of the wonderful things it has to
offer. And when you’re through exploring,
you’ll understand why so many people
have chosen to live and work here. Van
Buren offers the optimum mix of location,
transportation, education and recreation
to meet the wants and needs of our
growing community.
Strong bonds between city and county
government, the business community,
educators, and area non-profit agencies
have created an environment of positive
change. This “social capital” is something
that the Van Buren Chamber is proud to
facilitate and help steer to the benefit of
the city and surrounding communities.
Teamwork is a vital component of
this ongoing development. Partnerships
between the Chamber and key entities
have helped foster an environment of
creativity and problem solving, which has
led to higher quality of place and overall
living. These factors help in recruiting
and retaining talent, and in encouraging Ribbon Cutting for the free Wi-Fi service in downtown made possible by Dobson Fiber, the City of Van
others to visit or build their lives here. Buren, and the Van Buren Economic Development Partnership. Photo courtesy of The Chamber.
We are more than a “crossroads
community” – although the intersection Park is currently being developed and will graduate degrees in a variety of health
of US Highway 71 and Interstate 40 has open soon. sciences, including Osteopathic Medicine,
provided a stimulus for our growth over Boating, canoeing and kayaking are Occupational and Physical Therapy.
the years. Our convenient location and also available on area waterways. Four Cost of housing, food and utilities
access to these busy transportation Arkansas State Parks (Lake Fort Smith, in our area continues to be some of
corridors gives us access to amenities Devils Den, Lake Dardanelle and Mount the most affordable in the region, and
unlike most communities our size. Magazine) are also within an hour and a availability of buildable land makes Van
You can spend the day strolling through half drive of Van Buren. Buren an attractive spot for developers
our historic downtown – shopping, As you will quickly learn while reading and builders.
enjoying a meal or a good book, stopping this magazine, there is no shortage of Served by railroad, interstate
by our visitor’s center at the Train Depot, or things to experience in our region. Fort highways, and a major river port,
cooling off at the splash pad. A wide variety Smith is just across the Arkansas River, industries relying on accessibility to the
of locally owned and recognizable national Fayetteville is less than an hour north on central United States continue to choose
chain restaurants provide opportunities for I-49, and Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Little Van Buren to produce and/or ship their
dining and evening entertainment. Rock are less than three hours away by car. products. The city’s industrial park houses
The adjacent Arkansas River is a great Van Buren boasts a public school several manufacturers, distributors, and
place to test your fishing skills, as are district that prioritizes student success, transportation companies who have been
neighboring Lee Creek and nearby Frog from pre-K through Adult Education. New able to take advantage of the proximity to
Bayou. Cast your line and you may catch career-focused options have been created these thoroughfares.
one of several species of bass, crappie to help students experience internships in The Van Buren Chamber welcomes
and catfish. several fields. Post-secondary degrees and you to our community and looks forward
Our community boasts many parks, certificate programs are available through to helping you learn more about our
with amenities such as golf and disc golf the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith vibrant region. Whether you are passing
courses, softball and baseball fields, and Arkansas Tech University – Ozark through or looking for a place to relocate
walking trails, mountain bike trails, picnic Campus. Arkansas Colleges of Health your home or business, we thank you for
pavilions and playgrounds. A new Skate Education in Fort Smith also offers post- choosing Van Buren!
6 Van Buren Chamber 2024 Directory vanburenchamber.org