Business

Finding the ‘sweet spot’ customer

A business must focus on customers likely to say yes and not likely to become disgruntled.

Oklahoma Firm Ups Its Ownership In Fayetteville Shale Play

Panhandle Oil and Gas, an Oklahoma City-based holding company, says it has agreed to purchase interests in 193 non-operated natural gas wells and 1,531 acres of leasehold located in Van Buren, Conway and Cleburne counties for $17.5 million from a private seller.

Third quarter unkind to Arkansas-based share prices

That clunk you may have heard was the sound of the weak national economy falling hard on the share prices of the 15 publicly held companies based in Arkansas. Of…

Truck driver turnover on the rise

A combination of lifestyle, competition for “quality drivers” and small increases in freight demand are conspiring to increase the turnover rate for over-the-road truck drivers. According to the American Trucking…

Union Officials, Beebe Visit About Whirlpool Future

Rick Nemeth and other union officials recently visited with Gov. Mike Beebe and his staff about their concerns with Whirlpool maintaining a refrigerator production plant in Fort Smith.

Truck Driver Turnover On The Rise

A combination of lifestyle, competition for “quality drivers” and small increases in freight demand are conspiring to increase the turnover rate for over-the-road truck drivers.

Cargill Lays Off 130 In Springdale

An estimated 130 workers at the Cargill turkey processing plant in Springdale were laid off Monday.

Heifer Supplements Hq Power With Solar Panels

Today, Heifer International unveiled a new 25-kilowatt solar panel array that will provide supplemental electric power to its Little Rock headquarters campus.

Third Quarter Unkind To Arkansas-based Share Prices

That clunk you may have heard was the sound of the weak national economy falling hard on the share prices of the 15 publicly-held companies based in Arkansas.

New CEO named at Summit Medical

Sue Conley, the chief operating officer at Sparks Health System in Fort Smith, will become the new CEO of Summit Medical Center in Van Buren beginning Oct. 1. Naples, Fla.-based…

Regional home sales up in August

Home sales Crawford, Franklin and Sebastian counties during August were up more than 28% compared to August 2010, but sales in the three counties are down almost 5% for the…

Nat Gas Activity Leads American Railcar To Hire 700-plus Workers

St. Joseph, Mo.-based American Railcar, which has major operations in northeast Arkansas, says it will hire up to 700 new workers at plants in Paragould and Marmaduke, Ark. and Kennett, Mo.

Sparks foundation ‘unwinding’ benefit, legal obligations

Tom Webb says he is confident the “old” Sparks Health System foundation will have the funds to settle pension plan obligations and litigation settlements that are or may be part…

The Compass Report: August 2011 Numbers by the Wire

Sales and hospitality tax collections continue to show signs of recovery, especially in the urban areas of the region, according to the August report of Numbers by the Wire. Home…

America’s Car-mart Opens First Mississippi Store

America’s Car-Mart, Inc. today announced the opening of its two newest dealerships, its tenth location in Kentucky and the company’s first store in Columbus, Mississippi.

Home Sales Strong In August

As we previously reported, home sales in Arkansas scored a second straight month of improvement in August after a lackluster start to the year.

AEDC staffer to join Fort Smith chamber as COO

Tim Allen, a project manager with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, will soon join the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce in an organizational move that will see Chamber President…

Arkansas metro jobless rates down in August

The good news is that all eight eight metro areas in or connected to Arkansas saw a jobless rate decline in August compared to July, but seven of the metro…

Arkansas River flotilla planned for October

The Arkansas River Connections on Tuesday (Sept. 27) announced the “Arkansas River Revival,” a 10-day flotilla trip to promote economic development along the Arkansas River. Approximately 15-20 privately owned yachts,…

Open house, concerts set for Fort Smith Convention Center

An open house and more big-name concerts are on tap for the Fort Smith Convention Center. The Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission will host a first-ever open house for…