Author: Tina Alvey Dale

Tina Alvey Dale

Fort Smith, Van Buren tourism tax revenue down through May

Hospitality tax revenues are down somewhat in the Fort Smith metro area from last year, but the region is seeing a steady, if slow, upward trend and a bit of…

Fort Smith sales tax revenue up slightly in June report

The city of Fort Smith reported a rebound in sales tax revenue in June, marking only the second time this year collections surpassed the same month in 2024. The increase…

Cpl. Solis focused on ‘safe and vibrant’ downtown Fort Smith

Cpl. Julio Solis with the Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD) is making his presence known in downtown Fort Smith, and his focus is to help downtown visitors and merchants stay…

FCRA board approves new plan to allow extensions for property development

The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) Board of Trustees on Thursday (July 17) passed a resolution to allow more time for property owners to complete building projects on land purchased…

Fort Smith metro building permits up 236% in June

Fort Smith metro building activity in June rose along with the temperatures. Building permits issued in Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren totaled $58.484 million in June, up 236% from…

Fort Smith officials surprised by drop in May sales tax revenue

Fort Smith city administration is a bit worried and confused by lower than anticipated sales tax revenue in the May report, and plans to seek more information from state officials…

Peak Innovation Center hosting numerous career-focused summer camps

Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS) Peak Innovation Center is taking advantage of good ole summertime as a chance to introduce children and teenagers to a wide-variety of career paths. Hundreds…

Multi-year renovation work begins at Fort Smith Museum of History

The first phase of a multi-year major renovation project at the Fort Smith Museum of History in downtown Fort Smith began Monday (June 9) with work on the building’s exterior….

Relationships, working with military qualities sought for Fort Smith airport director

The Fort Smith Regional Airport Commission is putting experience in working with the military and building relationships at the top of their list of qualifications for a new airport director….

Fort Smith metro building activity up more than 15% through May

Building activity in the Fort Smith metro had an upward swing in May. Building permits issued in Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren totaled $29.03 million, up 76.4% from the…

Fort Smith, Van Buren tourism tax numbers down through March

Hospitality tax revenues are down somewhat in the Fort Smith metro area from last year thanks in part to uncertainty about national economic conditions, but area tourism officials say they…

Fort Smith sales tax revenue trending lower through April

Fort Smith sales tax revenue was a little stronger in April than it had been through the first quarter of 2025, but numbers are still under those budgeted for the…

Hager focused on ‘building relationships,’ full buildings in downtown Fort Smith

It’s been almost a year since Amanda Hager was named executive director of Main Street Fort Smith, formerly 64.6 Downtown. As the new director, she ushered in new branding and…

New Braum’s store, distribution center planned for Fort Smith

Fort Smith is getting a new Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Store. A building permit for construction of a new store for the Oklahoma City-based company was issued by the…

TigerSasha working to finish new mural in downtown Fort Smith

Sasha Rayevskiy, better known in the art world as TigerSasha, is making bubbles in downtown Fort Smith. Rayevskiy, a Russian-born American artist from the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk…

Fort Smith metro building permit values up almost 6% through April

Building activity in the Fort Smith metro declined in April but continues to stay ahead of the same time last year. Building permits in Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren…

Incoming Fort Smith Public School superintendent rolls out 100-day plan

Martin Mahan has a plan for Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS) — a 100-day plan in fact. He was named the new superintendent of schools for FSPS on April 8….

Fort Smith tax revenue for streets down 1.5% through March

Fort Smith sales tax revenue was down once again in March, making city revenues generated from sales and use taxes down around 2% from last year for the first quarter….

Fort Smith board reverses course on hiring internal auditor, terminates agreement

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Thursday (April 24) voted during a special called meeting to not hire Rebecca Cowan as the city’s internal auditor. The unanimous vote followed…

Fort Smith’s announced internal auditor hire faces a felony charge

Rebecca Cowan, the person the Fort Smith Board of Directors hired to fill the position of internal auditor, is out of jail on a signature bond for a fugitive of…

769-acre Madison County preserve to be protected, opened to public

Ro Arrington to lead ADFA

Arkansas Hospitality Association names Alicia Payseno as new CEO

USDA launches screwworm website