Authentic Growth: The Past and Future of Downtown Rogers

Fri 14 Nov 10:15 AM — 11:00 AM (GMT-06:00) Central Time Fayetteville Town Center, Ozark Ballroom 1

Type AIA LU AICP CM Open to All Attendees

Downtown Rogers stands as one of Northwest Arkansas’s most successful examples of intentional, authentic growth. This session explores how a clear master plan and strategic public investment helped transform the district from a pass-through corridor into a thriving destination for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

Panelists will discuss the city’s approach to “government acting like a business” — leveraging public revenue to unlock private development — and how thoughtful placemaking, street design, and mixed-use integration have shaped the downtown experience.

Looking ahead, the conversation will address upcoming opportunities and challenges, including the 71B corridor redevelopment, improved connectivity to the new Walmart Home Office campus, enhanced parking strategies, and ongoing collaboration with regional partners like the railroad and ARDOT.

Speakers

Panelist

Mr. John McCurdy

Director of Community Development City of Rogers

John McCurdy is a Rogers native currently employed with the City of Rogers as the Director of Community Development overseeing city planning and major construction projects. Mr. McCurdy graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math, Science, and Engineering, and retired from active duty on March 31st, 2016 at the rank of Colonel. During a…

Speaker

Jeremy Biggs

VP of Economic Development Rogers Lowell Chamber of Commerce

Jeremy has more than a decade of experience municipal governance and long-range planning. His current role focuses on how public and private development can best address the challenges of affordable housing, infrastructure capacity and resilience, and how to maximize infill opportunities.

Speaker

Lance Jobe

Deputy Director, Engineering Services City of Rogers

Lance Jobe is a licensed, professional engineer and certified floodplain manager with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas. Lance has over 25 years of experience related to the design, permitting, and construction of streets, subdivisions, parks, trails, stormwater infrastructure, and stream restorations. Lance worked for the Texas Department of Transportation for 5 years before returning home to work in the private…