Business

Businesses need to get smart about social media

Stockman says Facebook, Twitter and other Internet-based outlets are inexpensive and effective methods to reach new customers.

Kentucky firm expanding to Fort Smith, adding up to 15 jobs

Louisville, Ky.-based Metal Sales Manufacturing Corp. is planning to invest $4.1 million and create up to 15 jobs at the former Indiana Tube operation at 7510 Ball Road in Fort…

National Home Centers sells to Stock Building Supply

A building supply company that emerged from bankruptcy July 1, 2009, has purchased Springdale-based National Home Centers, which entered bankruptcy reorganization in early December. According to this report in ProSales…

The City Wire Special Report: Seeking Google’s Fiber — Part IV

Editor’s note: This is the final installment in a four-part series attempting to explain what Google’s plan to build an ultra-high speed Internet connection could mean for the Fort Smith/Van…

Little Rock captures $62 million project, 200 new jobs

Southwest Power Pool formally announced Friday (Feb. 26) it will build a $62 million corporate headquarters building in Little Rock as part of an expansion that will add 200 new…

Physicians group continues to expand

story by Marla Cantrell [email protected] Last June, David Gooch, founder of the Independent Physicians Alliance, introduced the organization to the community. The concept was simple: form a hub of services,…

Regional bankruptcies and incorporations

Following are recent bankruptcy and incorporation filings from Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian counties. The information is provided by The Daily Record. a Little Rock-based news and legal information publisher….

Optimism grows for national trucking sector, USA Truck

National trucking economist Bob Costello is beginning to replace his cautious optimism with simple optimism. For a trucking sector that has been in a freight funk since October 2006, that’s…

Prosperity group report seeks lower state spending, tax policy changes

The Arkansas Chapter of Americans for Prosperity has released a report that called for reduced state spending and changes in the state’s tax policy. “This overview isn’t about what we…

Fort Smith airport garners ESPN mention

story by Marla Cantrell [email protected] It was home movie night at the Feb. 23 meeting of the Fort Smith Airport Commission. John Parker, airport director, showed commissioners video of crews…

Alma Water Park offers lessons for Fort Smith, Sebastian County

story by Marla Cantrell [email protected] Fort Smith and Sebastian County officials are looking at two plans for a proposed water park at Ben Geren, at a cost of $4.75 million…

Networking events require effort to create quality connection time

Stockman says it’s up to the small business owner to make the most of networking opportunities.

Area home sales dip in January

January homes sales activity in Crawford and Sebastian counties did not help continue regional housing sector gains made in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to the King Realty Group…

Beebe places two from area on state economic development panel

The Fort Smith area has been known for not having many of its citizens appointed to key Arkansas boards and commissions. That reputation took a fortunate hit Friday (Feb. 19)…

It’s official: Trane will cut 212 jobs at Fort Smith plant

Trane announced Friday (Feb. 19) it will cut more than 210 jobs at its Fort Smith plant (4811 S. Zero St.) as part of a production shift to a Trane…

Fort Smith enplanements up in January

So far, so good. Maybe. January enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport totaled 5,496, up 0.8% over January 2009. However, comparisons with 2009 should come with a caveat that…

Regional bankruptcies and incorporations

Wal-Mart reports income boost, but holiday sales falter

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported Thursday morning (Feb. 18) that its fiscal year 2009 net income was up 6.9% over the 2008 period, but the company said fiscal first quarter 2010…

I-49 section gets $5 million; far less than requested

Folks at the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department are a little puzzled as to what to do with $5 million they received from the feds for a section of Interstate…

HMA exec: Health care reform likely to be incremental

A corporate boss over Summit Medical hospital in Van Buren and Sparks Health System in Fort Smith says national health care reform is likely to come in incremental changes rather…