Bentonville, Ark., is the home of Wal-Mart and an "A-list destination for top executives." The economic power of of the County is belied by its rural history, although that is changing as it hurtles "rapidly toward an urban renaissance."
"Every week -- generally the early part of the week, when supplier meetings take place -- a who's who of American business descends on Benton County, population 179,756. From Jack Welch and Jeffrey Katzenberg to Warren Buffett and Steve Jobs, they come to mingle and make deals with the top executives of Wal-Mart. What they find is surprising, considering what a corporate capital the town has become.
...For decades, Mr. Walton preferred that his company retain its culture by discouraging suppliers from setting up shop in the area. But by the 1990s, Wal-Mart had relaxed its stance as its rapid growth into a global retailer made an advantage of close proximity to suppliers. The reverberations for Benton County were seismic.
...One reason more luxurious hotels and restaurants haven't moved in: High living goes against Wal-Mart's culture, and many business partners seek to score points by emulating the company's legendary thriftiness.
...Bentonville is, at once, a rural community hurtling rapidly toward an urban renaissance and an insular company town. Whereas a decade ago Bentonville counted a family-owned barbecue restaurant as its finest eatery, it now hosts half a dozen sushi restaurants."
[Editor's note: This article is availble to non-subscribers for a period of 5 days.]
FULL STORY: Greetings From Bentonville

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie