Multiple Chambers – 3 States - 1 Voice- A Reach No One Can Build Alone.

There is strength in numbers, and now there is proof of it. Over a dozen regional Chambers, Main Streets and Communities spanning NW Arkansas, SW Missouri, and NE Oklahoma have joined forces to launch the Tri-State Marketing & Tourism Alliance, instantly creating the single largest tourism and marketing network of its kind in the region. Alone, each of these communities is a small market. Together, they expect to represent over 5,000 businesses, hundreds of thousands of Social Media Followers, and 400,000+ residents across three states in a combined reach that no single Chamber, Main Street, or Community could ever deliver on its own.

“This is exactly what happens when communities stop competing and start collaborating,” said John Newby, President/CEO of the McDonald County Chamber. “On our own, we’re dozens of small markets that advertisers and tourists alike can easily overlook. Together, we’re impossible to ignore. That’s the whole idea: the sum of this group is far greater than the total of its individual parts, and the reach we are building together simply doesn’t exist anywhere else in the region.”

What constitutes the region? The region runs from Pryor, OK to the west, as far north as Joplin and Springfield, Branson area to the east, and roughly Fayetteville to the south. But it should be noted, each of the communities in the alliance currently have populations less than 50,000. It may open up to larger communities in the future.

Newby said the early response from advertisers has been nothing short of electric. “In the age of massive media fragmentation, advertisers have been asking for years how to cut through this fragmentation and reach this many households and businesses across three states without having to negotiate dozens of separate deals,” he said. “Now any of the participants can offer this reach in one easy conversation at one incredibaly affordable price. We’re hearing genuine excitement from marketing partners who understand exactly what a footprint of 5,000+ businesses, a massive social media followering, and 400,000+ residents means for them.  It is the scale of exposure, a level of local trust, that is second to none in this region. When advertisers realize what this Alliance makes possible, the reaction is immediate.”

Their intial project, the Ozarks 411 digital and print magazine devoted to tourism and regional lifestyle has many advertisers doing a double take. Most similar regional initiatives charge thousands for a single full-page ad. Because the Alliance is built by and for smaller chambers with fewer resources, advertisers belonging to any one of the participating organizations can secure a full-page ad in the publication for hundreds, a fraction of the going rate. “That’s the benefit of supporting your local chamber,” Newby said. “Our members get the same three-state, 400,000-plus-resident reach that would cost thousands elsewhere, at a price built to reward the businesses that back their community every day. It’s one more reason for chambers across the region are eager to be part of this.”

The opportunity cuts both ways, Newby added. “With retail struggling and AI and Robotics taking jobs, tourism and lifestyle are one of the remaining economic engines left for our communities, yet tourists across this region are often completely unaware of what the town next door offers. By working together instead of in isolation, we can send visitors, and their dollars, flowing between our communities in a way none of us could generate alone.  It is far past time that the smaller communities, and smaller businesses have a viable voice in the region.That’s the real power of this Alliance: it turns dozens of separate economies into one connected regional destination.” Trinda Crow of the Miami Vistors and Convention Bureau added, “Tri-State Marketing and Tourism will be a collaboration of smaller towns within our region. Working together is essential and the scale of exposure will help the reach of all of the communities participating. Miami OK is excited to be a Founding Partner within the Alliance.”

A few of the Founding members of the Tri-State Tourism Alliance include, but aren’t limited to: the Barryville Chamber, Bella Vista Business Association, Cassville Chamber, Centerton Chamber, Decatur Chamber, Gentry Chamber, Gravette Chamber, Grove Chamber, Hollister Chamber. Miami CVB, Monett Chamber, Mount Vernon, McDonald County Chamber, Rea Ridge, and Pryor Chamber.  Newby indicated, “of the nearly forty communities, no one has indicated they aren’t interested, but we don’t include them in our total until we have their numbers so we don’t over inflate our reach”.

“We’re not here to compete with anyone, we’re here to prove what’s possible when communities stop doing it alone,” Newby said. “Any Chamber, Main Street, or Community that wants a seat at a table with this kind of reach is welcome to reach out. The bigger this Alliance grows, the more powerful it becomes for every single member and for the advertisers ready to reach all of us with one simple move.”

Here is what some of the founding organization members are saying:

Jean Galloway, President, Bella Vista Business Association said, “For our members, the Tri-State Marketing & Tourism Alliance is about creating opportunities that a smaller organization simply could not achieve on its own. By joining forces with nearly 30 chambers and business associations, our members gain access to a regional marketing platform that can extend their visibility far beyond our local market. It gives businesses an opportunity to showcase their products, services, and events to visitors and potential customers throughout the Ozarks—while preserving the local identity and relationships that make each organization unique. This is truly the power of synergy: when we work together, we can accomplish far more than any of us could do alone.”

Amanda Davis, President, Grove Area Chamber said, “We are excited to see so many Chambers, tourism organizations and communities come together with a shared vision for the future of our region. Visitors don’t see state lines or county lines when they travel—they see destinations and experiences. By working collaboratively, we have an opportunity to connect those experiences, expand our collective reach and encourage visitors to stay longer, explore more communities and spend more dollars throughout the entire region.

For Grove and the Grand Lake region, participation in the Tri-State Tourism Alliance is another opportunity to strengthen relationships across Northeast Oklahoma, Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas while creating greater visibility for our businesses and attractions. Economic and visitor development are increasingly regional efforts, and partnerships like this allow smaller communities to have a much larger voice and presence in the marketplace. When our communities grow together, our businesses, residents and visitors all benefit. It is exciting to see this many organizations willing to work together to move our entire region forward.”

Josie Reed, Director, Centerton Chamber said: By leveraging combined resources and social media followings, the alliance significantly enhances regional visibility and economic growth, demonstrating the power of strategic partnership and collective reach. 

For additional information and details, please contact: John Newby at: [email protected]

or call his cell phone at: 815-326-9061