Author: Talk Business & Politics

Talk Business & Politics

Diamond State Dominates State?s Tiny VC Industry

C. Sam Walls and Joe T. Hays launched an ambitious plan in 1999 to turn Arkansas into fertile VC soil with Diamond State Ventures

Competition Generates Entrepreneurial Spirit

Capital Resource Corp., an affiliate of The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, is showing its support for innovative business ideas to the tune of $104,000 in cash awards for winners of the Governor?s Award for Entrepreneurial Development.

Act 860 Creates New Era For Venture Capital In State

Venture capital advocates in Arkansas are hailing Act 860 of 2003 as the start of a new day for venture capital in Arkansas.

VC in Arkansas Is Unknown Quantity

Arkansas Capital Corporation Group has estimated last year?s venture capital level at $33 million, but Les Lane, vice president of the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority in Little Rock, said a reliable figure is hard to come by.

VC Outlook Presents Ugly, Bad and Good (Mark Diggs Commentary)

New methods specifically designed for the knowledge-based economy must be developed, adopted and implemented along with appropriate policy.

Ecochic Offers Environmentally Friendly Products

Ecochic has about 1,000 SF of showroom space. Arthur-Lane and her husband invested $75,000 to open the new shop.

Parachuting Penguins and PROforma Print Logistics Caters to Travelers, Businesses

Parachuting Penguins offers print, copy and laminating services, and PROforma handles any medium- to large-run print jobs, including print services for promotional items, such as hats, shirts, cups, mugs, etc.

$12M Project Planned for Train Depot

Two companies plan to spend $12 million to renovate the Fayetteville train depot and build a three-story, 40,000-SF building next door on the northwest corner of Dickson and West streets.

Wesner?s Grill Gets Three Stars (Business Lunch Review)

Although Rogers? west side is bustling with new business, the old downtown area has a friendly face that?s satisfied many appetites for more than a half a century.

Wal-Mart Suspends Gun Sales in California

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville will temporarily stop selling guns at its 118 stores in California after hundreds of violations of state laws, California’s attorney general said on April 4.

ABPG Files Answer to Libel Lawsuit

Arkansas Business Publishing Group filed an answer April 1 to a libel suit brought Feb. 25 in Washington County Circuit Court by Melvin Robinson, a trustee for an entity called Genesis Trust.

No ?April Fools? Given to Brass Eagle Execs

After receiving no bonuses in 2001, executives at Brass Eagle Inc. of Bentonville all received bonuses for 2002, according to a proxy the paintball gun manufacturer filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1.

Times Record Cuts 13, Closes Oklahoma Bureau

The Southwest Times Record of Fort Smith, laid off 13 employees in March and closed the newspaper?s six-person news bureau in Poteau, Okla., which had been in operation for the past three years.

Alliance In Place For Long Haul

The circulation ?alliance? between the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Community Publishers Inc. of Bentonville will continue for the foreseeable future, said Paul Smith, general manager of the D-G.

Roebuck Named ME at Herald Leader

Lucas Roebuck took over as managing editor of the twice-weekly Siloam Springs Herald-Leader on March 31.

Broadcast Media Thwarted by ?That? and ?Which? (Media Review)

We can?t get over the inability of many broadcast news people to properly use the words ?that? and ?which.? Seemingly unable to figure out which one is correct, they almost always opt for ?which,? which is correct about half of the time.

Region’s Largest SBA Lenders and Venture Capital Firms

Diamond State Ventures and Arkansas National Bank land atop the list of northwest Arkansas’ largest venture capital firms and largest SBA lenders, respectively.

Securities Commish, Ex-CEO Imply Fraud

Golf Entertainment Inc., the Springdale penny stock company, and an outside entity called Genesis Trust may have been more ambitious than originally thought.

Clear Creek Redefines Upscale Golf Club Digs

The tiny town of Johnson is appealing to the most refined tastes in Northwest Arkansas with its new golf, residential and commercial development. The natural layout of the land will be about the only thing spared at the new Clear Creek Golf Club.

War Doesn?t Deter Customers

Wal-Mart and Tyson should fare well during Iraq conflict.

St. Bernards to expand Maternal Life360 HOME program into Greene County

Then and Now: Cooperative business model a good fit for Mitchell Johnson

Dope Medicinal Wellness opens Fayetteville clinic

Fort Smith metro job numbers up less than 1% in September report