120+ Businesses Showcase Local Innovation at Chamber Expo, Drawing 3,200 Visitors
The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce transformed Wednesday, June 3, into a launchpad for local innovation with its annual Business Expo, presented by Citizens Bank. This year's LAUNCHPAD theme invited businesses to ignite fresh ideas, showcase their momentum, and boldly explore the next frontier of local enterprise.
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“This year’s Business Expo was spectacular,” said Amanda Roberts, BACC Membership Engagement Specialist. “We’re so thankful for our sponsors and the incredible businesses that showed up with creativity, energy, and excitement. More than 3,200 people came out to enjoy food, giveaways, interactive booths, and community connection. It’s always exciting to see the community come together in such a big way.”
More than 120 vendors brought the expo to life with interactive booths, live demonstrations, exciting giveaways, and cosmic displays that offered a glimpse into the energy and innovation shaping Independence County’s future. Visitors sampled local flavors at Fuel Stations, watched young entrepreneurs in action at the Junior Cadets Zone, and cheered on one of the event’s most popular traditions — the Mascot Dance-Off.
Peco Foods soared to victory, claiming the coveted Out of the World Award for its Star Trek-themed booth, which delighted visitors with creative samples and stellar giveaways.
Bank of Cave City earned the Best Small Business Expo Booth Award for its small business owner-themed booth titled Big Dreams Star Small. Attendees experienced a constellation of stars and the bank’s very own dancing astronaut.
The always-popular Mascot Dance-Off brought the crowd to its feet, with First Community Bank’s Seymour Money taking home the top prize. Other spirited contenders included Peco Foods’ Super Chicken, Bruno’s Pizzeria’s Pizza Slice, Citizens Bank’s Ceebee the Money Bee, RAWK Imprinting’s RAWK-it the RAWK Hand, Sonic’s Dancing Hot Dog, Regional Industrial Safety Alliance’s Safety Cats, UACCB’s FARM Program farmer, Gentiva’s Dancing Alien, and several other crowd-favorite characters.
The 2026 Business Expo was made possible by presenting sponsor Citizens Bank, with additional support from Bad Boy Mowers, the City of Batesville, Merchants & Planters Bank, Onin Staffing, Optimum, Peco Foods, RAWK Imprinting, The UPS Store, and White River Health.
“We’re proud to be part of an event that continues to grow each year,” Roberts said. “LAUNCHPAD gave our vendors the perfect opportunity to share what they’re working on, where they’re going, and how they’re helping shape our community’s future. They truly delivered out-of-this-world experiences for visitors. It’s always more than a business expo — it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and connection.”
Drawing more than 3,200 visitors, the Chamber’s Business Expo continues to be one of North Central Arkansas’s premier trade shows, connecting Chamber members with the broader community while celebrating the businesses, organizations, and entrepreneurs helping to move Independence County forward.
For more information about the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, visit batesvillearea.com.
