Business

Five slated to enter Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame

The Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame is slated to add five new members to its ranks this year. Class XXXV induction ceremonies are set for 11:30 a.m. March 3 at…

Corporate sale, controversial demolition part of top Fort Smith metro news in 2022

The $435 million sale of Van Buren-based USA Truck to a company based in Germany, and Fort Smith voter approval of a tax extension package valued at more than $210…

Graham family donates to UA’s Anthony Timberlands Center

Tim and Beverly Graham of Springdale and their family have donated $300,000 toward the construction of the $33.5 million Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation at the University…

U.S. economy, manufacturing sector shrank in December, ISM data show

Economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector and the overall economy contracted in December, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). December was the first month that ISM data…

Energy group launches apprenticeship program with $2 million state grant

The educational affiliate of Little Rock-based Arkansas Advanced Energy Association has established an apprenticeship program and hired a director of workforce development, according to a Wednesday (Jan. 4) news release….

Early report finds U.S. holiday sales grew 7.6%

An early report on holiday spending from Mastercard SpendingPulse indicates holiday sales (excluding automobiles) rose 7.6% between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24. The report measures in-store and online retail sales…

Jonesboro airport to receive $5 million in federal aid to extend runway

The city of Jonesboro will receive a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for an extension of the Jonesboro airport runway, Mayor Harold Copenhaver said. Copenhaver and…

‘High growth’ in sales tax collections pushes Arkansas tax revenue up 6.4%

If the economy is slowing, no one told Arkansas businesses and consumers. In the December report, fiscal year-to-date Arkansas tax revenue totaled $4.145 billion, up 6.4% compared with the same…

Rice acres and yield down in 2022 due to weather input costs, other factors

Arkansas rice farmers were hit with a number of dramatic challenges as the planting and growing season unfolded during 2022. Weather patterns shifted from too wet to drought. Input costs…

Fort Smith metro permit values top $480 million in 2022, set new record

Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren building permits totaled $480.376 million in 2022, almost $140 million more than the $343.289 million in 2021. The 39.9% increase sets a significantly higher…

Arvest is state’s top SBA lender for 9th straight year

Fayetteville-chartered Arvest Bank was Arkansas’s top U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lender for the ninth consecutive year. The ranking is based on 7(a) loan production for the SBA fiscal year…

Mulberry to receive $4 million for industrial park

The city of Mulberry is set to receive $4 million in federal dollars for infrastructure work in and around its industrial park near the Interstate 40 interchange, according to a…

Lapovations closes oversubscribed Series A funding round

Fayetteville medical device company Lapovations has closed an oversubscribed Series A funding round led by investments from multiple angel investors and groups. According to a Tuesday (Jan. 3) news release, the company…

Heath Simpson appointed president and COO at Ritter Communications; Lexanne Horton elevated to CFO

Ritter Communications CEO Alan Morse recently announced the promotion of Heath Simpson to president and chief operating officer (COO) and Lexanne Horton to chief financial officer (CFO) as part of…

Fort Smith share of county tax up almost 10% through November

For the first time in 2022, Fort Smith sales tax numbers came in lower than anticipated. The city’s portion of the Sebastian County sales tax totaled $1.938 million in November,…

ASU Chancellor Todd Shields wants to build upon success

Dr. Todd Shields’ daughter, Savvy, competed in a series of beauty pageants during her youth culminating with her win as Miss Arkansas in 2016. She traveled the state and one…

J.B. Hunt provides classroom supplies

Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. has donated more than $200,000 for classroom supplies to elementary schools across the nation since establishing its annual Adopt-a-Class program in 2013. This…

Act 109 qualifies state, public school employees for transformative weight loss surgery

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 36.4% of Arkansans struggle with obesity, ranking our state as the ninth-worst in the rate of obesity. That’s 1,103,155 people who fall…

Harvested corn acres down; winter wheat acres up

Temperatures had a significant, negative impact on corn yields, while skyrocketing input costs compelled many Arkansas farmers to reconsider growing the crop during the 2022 season. Summer drought and early…

Murphy USA donates $25 million to its charitable foundation

El Dorado-based Murphy USA announced Thursday (Dec. 29) that its board of directors approved a $25 million donation to the Murphy USA Charitable Foundation. The foundation funds will support community…