Business

The Friday Wire: Interchange beauty and municipal hiccups

Beautifying a major Fort Smith interchange, a big money push for the U.S. Marshals Museum and the hiccups of life are part of the Dec. 13 Friday Wire for the…

The Friday Wire: Walmart, Ivy Leaguers and 2014 optimism

The pace of housing growth, Obamacare jobs in Rogers and the possibility of a Walmart store on an Ivy League campus are part of the Northwest Arkansas Friday Wire for…

Centennial Bank appoints new market head for NWA

D. Scott Hancock was recently tagged as the new divisional president for Northwest Arkansas following Centennial Bank’s acquisition of Liberty Bank, according to a press release from bank on Thursday…

Area home sales down in November, average prices rise

Sales of homes in the Fort Smith region showed mixed results in November, with Crawford County beating November 2012's figures by 76.46% while Sebastian County's home sales figures dropped 25.98%…

FDIC report shows Arkansas bank gains, slow economic growth

Third-quarter 2013 banking and other economic data released Thursday (Dec. 12) by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) show improvements in the state’s banking sector and continued signs of muted…

Sheraton Four Points, Joe’s Italian on tap in Bentonville

Roughly one year behind schedule, Kunal Mody, CEO of Little Rock-based Reimagine Hospitality, said the Sheraton Four Points Hotel should open along Walton Boulevard in Bentonville sometime in early 2014…

Arvest Bank To Commission Consumer Sentiment Survey

Bentonville-based Arvest Bank says it will commission a large-scale consumer survey to measure and report economic expectations and consumer sentiment in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. The survey will measure respondents’…

Philanthropists seek business support to reduce child abuse

With more than 35 years of medical practice to his credit, Dr. Jerry Jones at Arkansas Children’s Hospital has seen things. As one of less than 20 physicians in the…

NWA November home sales dip, record year overall

The early start of winter usually signals seasonal slumber for the local real estate market, but despite softer overall sales in November a few agents are celebrating a record year….

Arvest commissions regional consumer confidence poll

Arvest Bank has commissioned a large-scale consumer sentiment survey to measure and report the economic expectations and outlook of consumers in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. The survey will measure respondents’…

Philanthropists Call On Business Support To Reduce Child Abuse

A business push to fund efforts to reduce child abuse is underway. What are the human costs and the price tag for society?

Foreclosure activity remains mixed, re-defaults rise

The foreclosure pace across Arkansas remains mixed as 2013 winds to a close. There were 469 foreclosure filings across the Natural State in November, down 5.25% from the year-ago period,…

Walton Family Foundation Grants $2 Million To UA For Diversity Education

On Wednesday (Dec. 11), the Walton Family Foundation announced a $2.1 million grant to the University of Arkansas to fund several programs within the College Access Initiative and the Center…

November spending slows, consumers may be waiting for better deals

First Data Corporation, a large electronic payments processing company, reports softer spending patterns among consumers so far this holiday season. The report released Wednesday (Dec. 11) found overall retail spending…

Manufacturing focused website set for early 2014 launch

While many Arkansans have come to know Greg Henderson’s work through his satirical news website Rock City Times, his next venture will be anything but a joke. Henderson is set…

Simmons First retiring CEO honored at community event

J. Thomas May came to Pine Bluff-based Simmons First National Corp. more than 25 years ago when the bank enterprise was a $500 million operation. $4.5 billion in assets and…

Tyson expands animal welfare audits

Tyson Foods is expanding its FarmCheck animal welfare program to include its beef and chicken suppliers, according to plans announced in 2012.  The company says suppliers must meet the auditing requirements…

Simmons First Salutes Chairman And CEO Tommy May

J. Thomas May is set to step down from his post as Chairman and CEO of Simmons First National Corp. on Jan. 1, 2014. Despite a debilitating disease, he’ll assume a new high-profile chairman’s position.

Web Site Builder Manufactures Fake News, While Marketing To Manufacturers

While many Arkansans have come to know Greg Henderson’s work through his satirical news website Rock City Times, his next venture will be anything but a joke. Henderson is set…

Execs Optimistic On Economy, Worry About Healthcare, Regulations

Most of the Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas business leaders who responded to an informal survey from The City Wire are optimistic about overall economic conditions in 2014, but worry…