Business

Vertical farming research to expand in Arkansas

During the next 30 years, the world’s population is expected to increase by more than 3 billion people and feeding this many new people will be a challenge for farmers….

Skyline Report: commercial real estate market in Northwest Arkansas remains ‘strong, healthy’

The commercial real estate market in Northwest Arkansas remained “strong, balanced and healthy” amid a flat vacancy rate in 2020, according to a new real estate report. The overall vacancy…

Walmart provides update on workforce, officer diversity

Walmart, the nation’s private largest employer with a workforce of about 1.6 million, said it’s making progress toward its mission to become a more diverse and inclusive company, including an…

Fort Smith School Board to keep mask mandate in place through school year

The Fort Smith Public Schools Board of Education agreed at its regular board meeting Monday (April 26) to keep the district’s mask mandate in place until the end of the…

Fort Smith sales tax revenue posts slight increase in March report

Fort Smith’s sales tax revenue rose again in March, coming in around 1% higher than the same period in 2020, but collections were one of the lowest monthly collections in…

CoorsTek to invest another $9 million in Benton facility, add 50 jobs

Ceramics manufacturer CoorsTek announced Monday (April 26) an additional expansion of its manufacturing footprint in Benton. The company plans to add an additional $9 million in capital investment and 50…

ASU chancellor, wife set up scholarship endowments

Arkansas State University Chancellor Kelly Damphousse and his wife Beth Damphousse have made personal commitments to future generations of students. For the Day of Giving, which is Tuesday (April 27),…

Banks strategically manage in-person, digital offerings

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift in customer banking preferences and increased digital banking offerings, bank executives said. Meanwhile, U.S. banks closed a record number of branches in 2020. Still,…

Manufacturing orders increased by 0.5% in March

New orders for manufactured durable goods rose by 0.5%, or $1.4 billion, to $256.3 billion in March, from February, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau released Monday…

Sultana museum fundraising campaign begins

Had it been a battle during the Civil War, it would have ranked as one of the worst in terms of loss of life. It turns out that when the…

The Supply Side: Dollar, discount stores lead retail store growth for 2021

As Walmart and other retailers focus and spend heavily on omnichannel shopping, other discounters such as Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Ross have announced expansion plans for more stores in…

UA blockchain case study shows technology benefits

The Blockchain Center for Excellence at the University of Arkansas recently released a whitepaper showing the success of a blockchain software that’s nearly eliminated invoicing disputes between shippers and carriers…

Walmart preps for employee return to corporate campus, will not require vaccination

Bentonville-based Walmart is planning for up to 50% of its corporate employees to return to their offices by July, more than a year since most at the corporate campus moved…

Settlement reached between Bielema and Razorback Foundation

Former University of Arkansas head football coach Bret Bielema and the Razorback Foundation announced Friday (April 23) a settlement of a contract dispute that will see the former coach paid…

Pay for top six Walmart execs reaches almost $80 million

Walmart’s top six executives cumulatively received total compensation of $79.93 million in fiscal 2021 which ended Feb. 1. The combined salaries and benefits equate to $9,124 for every hour of…

Rural Energy for America grants awarded in Arkansas

U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton—along with Congressmen Rick Crawford, French Hill, Bruce Westerman and Steve Womack—announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded over $90,000 in federal…

Simmons First National Corp. shuffles senior management

Pine Bluff-based Simmons First National Corp. announced changes to certain senior leadership roles Thursday (April 22). The following changes are effective as of April 26, 2021: Bob Fehlman has been…

Tyson Foods to invest $48 million in poultry expansion in Pine Bluff

Tyson Foods plans to invest $48 million in its poultry operation in Pine Bluff. Company officials say nearly 70 jobs will be created by the project, which is expected to…

Bank OZK first quarter net income and revenue beat estimates

Bank OZK posted first quarter net income of $148.416 million, well ahead of the $11.866 million in the same quarter of 2020. Quarterly revenue of $266.753 million was up from…

Governor, legislative leaders tout budget management; outline plans to recess and hold special session this fall

The leaders of the two legislative chambers and Gov. Asa Hutchinson outlined expectations for the end of the 93rd Arkansas General Assembly, and it should be an unprecedented and lengthy…