Author: Michael Tilley

Michael Tilley

All Arkansas metro areas see year-over-year job gains in July

Jobless rates in seven of the eight metro areas within or including parts of Arkansas were down compared with July 2021, and all areas posted year-over-year job gains. The largest…

Whirlpool pollution remediation efforts continue; high TCE levels remain in some areas

The ongoing monitoring of cancer-causing chemicals in the ground from when Whirlpool operated a manufacturing plant in Fort Smith shows that the pollution plume is shrinking. Some hot spots remain,…

Sale of former Times Record building top Sebastian County deal in July

A $2.5 million acquisition of the former Times Record building in Fort Smith was the largest Sebastian County property transaction in July. The deal, closed July 20, had Stephens Production…

Peacemaker Festival impact reaches $3.746 million; 2023 acts already being booked

Peacemaker Festival organizers are touting a $3.746 million economic impact with its recently concluded 2022 event in downtown Fort Smith, and festival co-founder Trent Goins says one of the two…

Rise in number of jobless pushes Arkansas’ July unemployment rate up to 3.3%

A slower pace of job growth and a 2.5% rise in the number of jobless pushed Arkansas’ unemployment rate up slightly to 3.3% in July from the 3.2% in June….

Chamber boss notes gains in Fort Smith metro manufacturing jobs, says more coming

A continuing rebound in manufacturing and tourism jobs helped push Fort Smith metro jobs up 2.5% in June, with the region’s June jobless rate of 3.8% well below the 4.8%…

Traffic up almost 25% at Fort Smith Regional Airport, still below pre-pandemic activity

Traffic at the Fort Smith Regional Airport is slowly recovering from COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns in 2020, and Airport Director Michael Griffin estimates a new connection to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport…

Fort Smith metro home sales down 4.4% through June, sales value up 9.7%

Rising interest rates, inflation and concerns about future economic conditions continue to weigh on home sales nationwide and in the Fort Smith metro. Home sales in the region are down…

State of the State Mid-2022: Growth slowing, but state GDP to be positive at year end

Pinning down a clear consensus on the U.S. economy is, as the old saying goes, like trying to nail Jello to a wall. A recession is obvious unless it’s not….

Arkansas metro jobless rates rise in June, but year-over-year job numbers up

Jobless rates in all eight metro areas within or including parts of Arkansas were up compared with June 2021, but all areas posted year-over-year job gains. The largest job growth…

Judge rules against city of Fort Smith in recycling lawsuit

The city of Fort Smith lost a class-action lawsuit related to recycling services, with Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Tabor ruling Wednesday (Aug. 3) that the city owes $745,057…

Arkansas tax revenue up 2.6% in July, 3% above forecast

Arkansas began its fiscal year in July with sales tax revenue of $615.9 million, up 2.6% compared with July 2021, and 3% above the forecast. After ending the previous fiscal…

ArcBest net income up 104% in the first half of 2022

Unwinding the global supply chain continues to benefit Fort Smith-based ArcBest. The logistics and shipping company on Friday (July 29) reported a 104% increase in net income in the first…

Ruling could come soon in Fort Smith recycling lawsuit

A ruling could be issued early next week in a lawsuit filed in late 2017 by Jennifer Merriott against the city of Fort Smith alleging the city lied for almost…

AOG to move offices out of downtown Fort Smith

Fort Smith-based Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corp. (AOG) is in the process of moving out of its downtown Fort Smith offices and locating in a building (former Golden Living headquarters) owned…

Arkansas year-over-year job numbers up 2.75% in June, jobless rate remains at 3.2%

With gains in the broad Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector and in manufacturing, Arkansas’ estimated year-over-year jobs were up 2.75% in June. However, with a slower rate of growth in…

Mercy cancer center also planned for Fort Smith

An announced plan by St. Louis-based Mercy health system to build a cancer center in Northwest Arkansas will not halt plans for a similar center in Fort Smith, according to…

Apartment complex, Movietown are top Sebastian County property deals in June

The sale of an apartment complex in the southwest corner of Grand Avenue and Interstate 540 was the largest Sebastian County property deal in June and, at $9 million, the…

Terry appointed to Sebastian County Circuit Judge post, Fort Smith to hire new prosecutor

Fort Smith City Prosecutor Sam Terry has been appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to fill the vacated term of Sebastian County Circuit Judge Claire Borengasser who retired June 1. Terry’s…

Fort Smith Whataburger one of four planned by franchisee

The Whataburger restaurant to open in Fort Smith is one of four in Arkansas and Oklahoma to be opened and managed by Fort Smith-based WAB Venture Inc., a sister company…