Business

Fort Smith lifts water conservation measure

The water tanks and reservoirs are full again – or full enough – in parts of Fort Smith, allowing city officials on Thursday (Aug. 21) to lift water conservation measures….

Levitt AMP music series returns to downtown Fort Smith

Main Street Fort Smith will bring music back to downtown Fort Smith with the Fall 2025 Levit AMP Fort Smith Music Series, starting in September. The 2025 series is the…

ATU announces $7 million maintenance plan, bonus pay

The Arkansas Tech University (ATU) Board of Trustees on Thursday (Aug. 21) approved a $7 million plan to address deferred facilities maintenance on the main Russellville campus. Suzanne McCall, ATU…

JBU fall enrollment hits record of over 1,400 students

John Brown University in Siloam Springs reached a record enrollment of 1,423 students this fall, officials announced Thursday (Aug. 21). The private university welcomed 441 new students for the start…

CBID, Main Street Fort Smith discuss coordinating on downtown efforts

In what began as a discussion about the need for a full-time director, members of the Central Business Improvement District (CBID) Commission agreed during a Thursday (Aug. 21) meeting to…

AG Griffin, Arkansas Children’s update on national opioid research center

Arkansas Children’s and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin provided an update on the 2023 announcement of the National Center for Opioid Research & Clinical Effectiveness (NCOR) on the Arkansas Children’s…

Arkansas Community Foundation CEO Heather Larkin retiring

Arkansas Community Foundation announced Thursday (Aug. 21) that longtime President and CEO Heather Larkin will retire at the end of 2025, concluding 27 years of dedicated service to the Foundation,…

NativState signs agreement with TotalEnergies

Stuart Allen owned a swath of land in central Arkansas and in 2020 he started to explore ways to monetize it. Many property owners make money by selling timber off…

Walton Family Foundation executive director to step down in December

Stephanie Cornell, executive director of the Walton Family Foundation, said she will step down at the end of this year after more than two years in the role. On Thursday…

Walmart net income up 56.1%, revenue up 3.7%

Second quarter net income for Walmart was $7.026 billion, up 56.1% compared with the same period in 2024. Per share earnings were 88 cents before adjustments reduced them to 68…

Terrence Ward named Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce interim Executive Director Terrence Ward has been named the permanent executive director of the organization. The board of directors announced Wednesday (Aug. 20) that it…

Target names next CEO, earnings miss expectations

Target will have a new CEO to start the next year as Brian Cornell becomes chairman for the retailer. The board unanimously elected Micheal Fiddelke as Target’s next CEO, effective Feb….

Firm, Fayetteville to build public pocket park

Specialized Real Estate Group, in partnership with the city of Fayetteville, recently broke ground on a new public pocket park located along the Razorback Greenway, adjacent to the South Yard…

Then & Now: Dr. Kimberly Polite ‘packages professionalism’

As a business professor, business leadership consultant, and cosmetic line founder, Dr. Kimberly Polite “packages professionalism” in all its different aspects. “It takes multi-layers to be successful in the business…

Foreclosure numbers decline 25% in the Fort Smith metro

The number of Fort Smith metro properties in some form of a foreclosure filing is down 25% in July compared with a year ago and much better than the national…

The Supply Side: Retailers engaged in expansion, technology investments

Many retailers are investing in stores, people and technology to ensure they remain relevant in the evolving retail sector. Burlington, Walmart, Five Below, and Tractor Supply are just a few…

Merrill Steel to build $32 million facility in Osceola

Merrill Steel announced Wednesday (Aug. 20) it will open a steel fabrication facility in Osceola. The project will cost $32 million and create 108 new jobs during the next three…

Fort Smith Board tables action on acquiring, managing cemeteries

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Aug. 19) tabled action on options to acquire or support four cemeteries in the city that cover around 105 acres. Cemetery managers…

Trane Technologies to expand Fort Smith plant, add more than 60 jobs

Trane Technologies plans to invest almost $6 million to expand manufacturing capacity at its Fort Smith plant. The expansion is expected to add 63 jobs to the 272 jobs now…

Utilities Black Hills, NorthWestern to combine in all-stock merger

Rapid City, S.D.-based Black Hills Corp. and Sioux Falls, S.D.-based NorthWestern Energy Group Inc. will merge in an all-stock deal, forming a publicly traded electric and natural gas utility valued…

Rep. Carol Dalby sworn in as president of Arkansas Bar Association

Then and Now: Purpose-driven business important to Jeff Clapper

The Compass Report: Relative declines seen in Arkansas metro economies

Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: ArcBest goes electric, Baptist Health nurse receives national award