BENTONVILLE, Ark. (May 2, 2016) – Northwest Arkansas residents were recently asked to share their perceptions of satisfaction with life in the region. In the survey of over 1,000 residents in Benton and Washington counties, 95% reported being “very happy” or “fairly happy” with aspects of Northwest Arkansas life directly impacted by foundation investments in downtowns, cultural amenities, and the Razorback Regional Greenway trail system.

The survey was commissioned by the Walton Family Foundation evaluation unit and was designed to gauge the extent to which residents are satisfied with life in the region and view Northwest Arkansas as a great place to live. The survey was first conducted in 2012 and then again in 2015 with the support of The Wolfgang Frese Survey Research Laboratory at Mississippi State University. The follow-up was conducted to determine if levels of satisfaction with the region’s livability have changed over the past three years.

“Our goal in Northwest Arkansas is clear; we support quality of life initiatives that help the region attract and retain top talent,” said Home Region Program Director Karen Minkel. “This survey tracks the impact of the work we’ve done and identifies potential opportunities for the foundation and our partners.”

Northwest Arkansas cultural amenities supported by foundation investments have seen positive shifts in usage since the 2012 survey. At Crystal Bridges alone, the number of residents who reported visiting the museum is up 21 percentage points. The increase in attendance at Crystal Bridges by Hispanic residents outpaces the overall attendance growth with an increase of 32 percentage points.

The Walton Family Foundation’s strategic focus on creating a regional sense of place is reflected in survey results with 69% of Northwest Arkansas residents reporting accessing trails in the last 12 months. Additionally, over one-third of residents reported an increase in visits to downtowns over the last year.

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Northwest Arkansas Council Mike Malone said, “The survey findings reinforce what I consistently hear from area residents. I often hear how appreciative they are to live in an area that offers a friendly environment but with access to outstanding culture and beautiful trails.”

The results of the quality of life survey will help the Walton Family Foundation and other regional organizations make strategic decisions moving forward. For example, residents expressed concern about the affordability of early childhood education and the need for more transportation options. These areas of concern present opportunities for the foundation as well as other entities that have a goal of improving quality of life in Northwest Arkansas.

In addition to the initiatives backed by the foundation, there were other key learnings from the survey. A low crime rate, civic engagement and feelings of acceptance by the community were included as factors that lead to a happy life in Northwest Arkansas, and why people want to stay in the community.

For more details and highlights from the survey, visit www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/2015QualityofLife.

About the Home Region Program at the Walton Family Foundation
The Home Region Program invests in projects that measurably improve the quality of life by creating cultural, educational and economic opportunities throughout Northwest Arkansas and in the Arkansas and Mississippi Delta region. In 2014, the Walton Family Foundation contributed more than $40 million to its home region. To learn more, visit www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org, and join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook.