Tech Park Names Confuse Public

Local confusion reigns regarding the difference between Fayetteville’s budding technology and business parks. We spoke to a dozen people connected to both projects, and even most of them were mixed up. Here’s a crack at setting the record straight:

• The Arkansas Business Technology Park sits to the northwest of Interstate 540 between Moore Road and Arkansas Highway 112. Formerly known as the Fayetteville Fiber Park, it contains 289 acres including 189 which are usable. The remaining 100 are in a low lying area and will be preserved as an enhanced wetland.

Including city money and $671,560 received in grants from the Arkansas Economic Development Fund, the project has a $1.5 million budget. Some partial sewer infrastructure exists there, but no water or road construction has been started. McClelland Consulting Engineers Inc. of Fayetteville is redesigning the project and EGIS Consulting is doing the environmental mitigation work.

The new plan is expected to cost less than its original $16 million estimate. Construction is expected to start by late fall. Businesses that handle the manufacturing needs of firms in the following development are expected to be the business park’s main tenants.

• The Arkansas Research & Technology Park is a 60-acre project situated around the University of Arkansas Engineering Research Center west of School Avenue.

The UA Genesis Technology Incubator is the center’s primary tenant.

About 30 adjacent acres on the east side of School Avenue have been acquired by the city. It is not yet clear how closely that property will be incorporated with the research park, but the hope is to turn the area into a technology hub.

Studies are ongoing, and the estimates we received for construction costs varied too wildly to be useful. The research park will, however, operate as an independent foundation.

The primary misperception seems to be that this park will be a haven for startups. Actually, that’s the role of Genesis, which helps fledgling companies with developmental steps such as getting patents.

The research park hopes to attract firms that are already in existence, fairly well funded and that would come to the area to expand the technology efforts within their corporation. Their main attraction should be the park’s close ambiance to the UA’s technology arms.