Jennifer Irwin on Leading the Fayetteville Chamber & Strengthening Business Ties

Irwin is the author of two children’s books, “Goodnight, Fayetteville” and “Good Morning, Fayetteville.” (Michael Woods)

What are your top goals for the new year?

My goals for 2025 are to ensure that we are providing the best support for our members and creating valuable benefits for them. I am focused on building stronger relationships with the city of Fayetteville and all businesses in Fayetteville.

What are the biggest issues facing businesses in Fayetteville?

Communities across the country are grappling with this question. The availability of quality, affordable housing in a rapidly growing region is not only a matter of quality of life; it is also critical for economic growth. If we can’t attract a portion of the people moving to this area due to housing challenges, we will miss out on the economic benefits they bring, regardless of where they work. The chamber can help by listening to the community and working closely with the city.

The city of Fayetteville has a new mayor in Molly Rawn. How do you expect that partnership to work?

Since my appointment and Mayor Rawn’s election, we have had several discussions about collaborating effectively. Both Mayor Rawn and I are committed to ensuring that the chamber and the city work closely together for several reasons. We have expert economic development teams that are already collaborating on business and industry issues. It is in everyone’s best interest for Fayetteville to attract new company investments, and for us to assist each other in facilitating inquiries from companies considering relocation to Fayetteville. Additionally, discussing our members’ concerns with Mayor Rawn — whether those concerns pertain to infrastructure improvements or zoning changes — enhances our ability to communicate with our teams and our members, keeping us both well-informed. I anticipate that this new partnership will be productive and beneficial, and I am looking forward to working together.

What is unique about Fayetteville?

We’ve been described as the community of eds, meds and innovation (and the talent pipeline the university and education partners offer), but we also need to continue to be attractive to the other sectors of a complete economy, such as retail and business services, as well as the construction and manufacturing sectors, nonprofits and other sectors. The more diversified economies create opportunities for businesses to form linkages locally more effectively, and they are more resilient in times of economic strife.