Bentonville, Ark. — Today, as part of the 2025 Heartland Summit, think-and-do tank Heartland Forward honored three cities—Chattanooga, Fargo and Wichita—as Secret Sauce Communities. In showcasing each city’s innovative approaches to economic growth, community development and cultural vitality, the recognition highlights the three cities for having the right ingredients to thrive. 

“Heartland Summit brings people together to engage in conversations about what it takes to advance economic growth in the heartland and turn ideas into action,” said Angie Cooper, executive director of the Heartland Summit and president and COO at Heartland Forward. “We were honored to have Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu and Greg Tehven, CEO and co-founder of Emerging Prairie, join us on stage and share insights into their cities’ economic growth and achievements.  All three cities have carved out a unique identity embracing geographic location and cultural roots—all while growing and strengthening economic growth and overall livability.”

Known as “Gig City,” Chattanooga continues leveraging its first-of-its-kind publicly owned gig internet network to drive tech innovation and entrepreneurial growth, now becoming a hub for quantum and AI. 

“Chattanooga is proof that a mid-sized city can punch above its weight when we focus on innovation and quality of life,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. “We were the first city in the country to roll out citywide gig-speed internet, and today that foundation supports everything from advanced manufacturing to tech startups. I’m proud of how we’ve embraced smart infrastructure, invested in our people and remained deeply connected to the natural beauty that surrounds and am honored to be named a Secret Sauce Community for the second time.”

With an emerging tech scene, boosted by Microsoft’s growing presence, Fargo draws from its deep roots in the agriculture industry to create an exciting ag-tech innovation ecosystem. Nicknamed “Silicon Prairie”, Fargo has been named one of the country’s top boomtowns, with an expected population growth of 78% by 2050. 

“Fargo is thriving because we’ve built a culture that embraces innovation, invests in people and collaborates across sectors to solve big challenges, ” said Greg Tehven, co-founder of Grand Farm. “Fargo isn’t just growing—it’s evolving, and we’re proud to be a model for what’s possible in the American heartland. The opportunity to build and expand on the growing energy in our community is once-in-a-lifetime.”

Deemed the “Air Capital of the World” since the inception of aerospace manufacturing over a century ago by investing in its workforce, Wichita is attracting suppliers and expanding research capabilities. 

“Wichita is experiencing a renaissance, driven by our commitment to innovation, collaboration and community development,” said Wichita Mayor Lily Wu. “From the groundbreaking of the Wichita Biomedical Campus to the expansion of our aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors, our city is positioning itself as a leader in the 21st-century global economy. We’re not only creating jobs but also enhancing the quality of life for our residents, ensuring Wichita remains one of the best places in America to live, work and raise a family.”

A video spotlighting the three secret sauce communities premiered ahead of the panel today. The video can be found here.