The Northwest Arkansas Business Journal is accepting nominations for its third annual Northwest Arkansas Outstanding Business Awards recognition program. Arvest Bank is the sponsor.
The Business Journal’s newest awards program recognizes companies that have experienced significant growth and made an impact on their communities and the broader business landscape.
Link here to nominate a business in one of the five categories or a business leader for the Northwest Arkansas Business Impact Award by filling out the short form and submitting it for consideration. The nomination deadline is Dec. 19. Nominations are open to businesses and organizations in Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith metro area.
The 2026 Northwest Arkansas Outstanding Business Awards will be expanded to include five categories and an award for a Northwest Arkansas business leader who has contributed to the growth of the region. The new award, the Northwest Arkansas Business Impact Award, is open to business leaders who live in Northwest Arkansas or the Fort Smith metro area.
There will be 25 finalists and five winners in the categories of small business, medium business, large business, startups and nonprofits. New this year is the medium category for businesses that have 51 to 100 employees. The small business category is for businesses with less than 51 employees, while the large business category is for those with more than 100 employees.
The 25 finalists – five per category – and the winner of the Northwest Arkansas Business Impact Award will be selected by an independent panel of judges and be featured in the Business Journal on March 9. The five winners – also determined by our judges’ panel – will be announced at a luncheon on March 10 at the Holiday Inn in Springdale. Additionally, the winner of the Northwest Arkansas Business Impact Award will be honored at the luncheon.
