Presenting the 2025 Northeast Arkansas Outstanding Business Award finalists

For several weeks, we have been soliciting the region’s business community for nominations for our first recognition program of the year: the Northeast Arkansas Outstanding Business Awards, presented by Arvest Bank.

We were pleased to receive so many nominations of worthy businesses — large, small, startups and nonprofits. An independent panel of regional business leaders whittled that down to four finalists in each of our four categories, and we are pleased to present them in this issue.

As we celebrate these finalists, we recognize the collective impact of their efforts. They have not only achieved remarkable growth but have also made an impact on their communities and the broader business landscape.

We look forward to announcing the four winners — as determined by our judges’ panel — and honoring their achievements with their fellow finalists at a luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the Red Wolf Convention Center in Jonesboro.

Please join us on April 15 to celebrate these outstanding businesses! Contact Rob Gutterridge at rgutterridge@nwabj.com for tickets.

Below are the 2025 finalists. Individual profiles on each business will be posted throughout this week.

• Nonprofit business finalists
  • BRS Cares (Osceola)
  • CASA of the 2nd Judicial District of Arkansas (Jonesboro)
  • Randolph County Heritage Museum (Pocahontas)
  • Wings of Honor Museum (Walnut Ridge)

• Startup business finalists
  • Lemonade House Grille (Jonesboro)
  • Little Lattes (Jonesboro)
  • On Pointe (Jonesboro)
  • Verb Bookstore (Jonesboro)

• Small business finalists
  • ARPets Hospital (Brookland)
  • Gen 4 Jets (Newport)
  • Here We Crumb (Jonesboro)
  • Sue’s Kitchen (Jonesboro)

• Large business finalists
  • Coldwell Banker Village Communities (Jonesboro)
  • Engines Inc. (Jonesboro)
  • FNBC (Ash Flat)
  • Ritter Communications (Jonesboro)