Northwest Arkansas

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Standard Mileage Rate Gets Temporary Boost

The Internal Revenue Service announces an increase to the optional standard mileage rates for the final four months of 2005, due to climbing fuel prices.

Diesel Prices Tighten Transportation Industry

The national average price for on-highway diesel fuel has risen 26 percent over the summer, from $2.26 per gallon on May 2 to $2.84 as of Sept. 12. That?s a 52 percent jump since September 2004, when diesel was selling for $1.87 per gallon.

U.S. Membership Program Extends to Area Chambers

Bentonville, Rogers, Siloam Springs, Springdale and Fayetteville Chambers of Commerce have joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce through the Federation Membership program, becoming the first to join the U.S. Chamber as a regional Chamber.

Edge Enterprises Plans Soy Product

BioBased Systems of Rogers begins producing its traditional residential and commercial insulation products for agricultural use, such as chicken houses.

Rogers Lab Raven Makes ?Big Air? Elite

Raven, a Laborador retriever owned by Tim Ross of White River Retrievers, has been participating in Dock Dogs Big Air Dogs competitions, a staple of ESPN?s Great Outdoor Games, The Sporting Dog Challenge and the Super Retriever Series.

Wal-Mart Buys Stake In Central American Firm

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville says it will buy a 33.3 percent stake in Central American Retail Holding Co. for an undisclosed price from Dutch retailer Royal Ahold NV.

Glass Sales Reflect Boom

Three local glass companies share 80 percent of market opportunities.

D-G Turns NWA Profit, Prompts CPI Purchase

After losing money in Northwest Arkansas for five years in a row, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s northwest edition began turning a profit in so Walter Hussman decided it was a good time to buy 11 newspapers from the Walton-owned Community Publishers Inc.

Labor Remains Tight

With so many Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Arkansas shelters, Arkansas Construction Education Foundation Inc. began surveying construction companies for job openings.

Enco Rebar Reaps Return

Buddy Metcalf, Arkansas sales manager for Enco Materials Inc., said sales in the Springdale office have doubled over the last two years.

Commercial Building Renovations Catch On

Renovating an old building can cost twice as much as tearing it down and building a new one in its place. So why do developers do it?

Quantum Communications Wires National Networks

Jason Johnson has done everything from retrofit security systems at the Stephens Inc. building in Little Rock to installing the mythical red hotline phones often seen in Hollywood war rooms.

VCC Ranks as Largest Contractor in U.S.

Vratsinas Construction Co. of Little Rock was the largest retail contractor in the United States last year with 10,824,000 SF of shell space under contract, according to Retail Traffic magazine.

Effort Needs Uniting (Jeff Hankins Commentary)

Leaders in West Memphis and Marion know they have an ideal site for an automotive plant, at the same time, they are clearly frustrated.

Building Banks? Buy the Dozen

Contractors bid for their share of the booming bank building business.

Professional Office Market is Overbuilt in Spots

With mid-year vacancy rates hitting 12.7 percent, be watchful of Bentonville’s over supply, a market forecast says.

5-Star Productions Gains Success with Market Change

Mike Hart’s company, 5-Star Productions Inc., is having its best year ever. sales reached $100,000 in July alone.

Residents, Companies Offer Help for Hurricane Evacuees

The Fort Smith community has shown an outpouring of support for the thousands of evacuees who came to Fort Chaffee from the Gulf Coast.

Kerzen Creates Hanna’s Vision (Real Deals)

Kerzen Construction Co. of Fayetteville buys a $45 million building permit and Home Place Retirement Development Corp. begins construction on a 194-unit, $15 million apartment complex in Bentonville.

Bye-Bye Mr. Tux

Jay McClelland and Doug Maritan are buying the on the 3,142-SF Mr. Tux building and its 10,000-SF lot at 608 W. Dickson St.

St. Bernards to expand Maternal Life360 HOME program into Greene County

Then and Now: Cooperative business model a good fit for Mitchell Johnson

Dope Medicinal Wellness opens Fayetteville clinic

Fort Smith metro job numbers up less than 1% in September report