Northwest Arkansas

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Then & Now: Hood finds balance in Home Depot role

Editor’s Note: The following story appeared in the Jan. 16 issue of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal. “Then & Now” is a profile of a past member of the Business…

SBA lending in NWA down more than 23% in FY 2022

Northwest Arkansas banks underwrote fewer Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to area businesses during the most recent fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. According to agency data, 10 lenders with…

Connections: First Community Bank appoints 4 NWA board members

Arkansas-based First Community Bank has appointed Nathan Ogden (owner/president, Pick-It Construction), Ashley Harris (vice president, marketing and communications, Ozarks Electric Cooperative), Meredith Lowry (partner, Wright Lindsey Jennings) and Dr. Wesley…

Economists: U.S., Arkansas economies not likely to see recession in 2023

According to three economists who spoke Friday (Jan. 27) at the 29th annual Arkansas Business Forecast Luncheon held in Rogers, Arkansas and the U.S. will likely avoid economic recession primarily…

Tyson Foods makes another leadership change

David Bray, who has managed Tyson Foods’ poultry business since July 2021, is being replaced by Wes Morris. Bray spent 14 years at Tyson Foods, most of them working in…

Sam’s Club to build 30 new clubs, expand fulfillment network

Sam’s Club, the warehouse club division owned and operated by Walmart Inc., announced Thursday (Jan. 26) plans to build 30 new U.S. locations. A timeline was not disclosed, but Sam’s…

UA renames Razorbacks basketball practice facility for donors following $5M gift

The nonprofit Razorback Foundation announced Thursday (Jan. 26) a $5 million donation from the Marty and Marsha Martin family of Little Rock. That donation will secure naming rights to the…

Signature Bank announces new mortgage division president

Fayetteville-based Signature Bank of Arkansas has promoted Kim Whedbee to president of its mortgage division. According to a news release Thursday (Jan. 26), her predecessor, Christine Morrison, has retired from…

Global wilderness education event to be hosted in Bentonville

Black Mountain, N.C.-based Wilderness Education Association Inc. will host its 34th annual International Conference on Outdoor Leadership in Bentonville. The conference will take place Feb. 8-11 and is open to…

Bentonville IT executive launches medical billing service

Medical practice owners in Northwest Arkansas considering outsourcing their insurance and patient billing have a new option. Mikal Murders of Bentonville has launched a HIPAA-compliant, full-service medical billing and consulting…

Walmart raises minimum hourly wage for store employees to $14

Walmart said Tuesday (Jan. 24) it will raise the starting and minimum wage for all employees who work in stores to $14 per hour beginning next month. Walmart spokesman Jimmy…

Northwest Arkansas sales tax revenue up 12.29% in January report

Sales tax revenue reported in January was up 12.29% for the four largest cities in Northwest Arkansas. Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale had cumulative sales tax revenue of $8.82 million…

Resplendent Arkansas launches in Fayetteville

The Arkansas branch of Austin, Texas-based Resplendent Agency recently became an independent company to focus on its Arkansas clients. Resplendent Arkansas is the temporary brand, said Andrea Ritchie, president of…

Oklahoma solar power company enters Northwest Arkansas market

Oklahoma energy services company EightTwenty Solar has expanded to the Northwest Arkansas market with a Fayetteville office at 5 E. Mountain St. A spokeswoman said the market entry would create 20 jobs….

Real Deals: Lowell multifamily planned after land sale worth $1.6M

Ten acres along U.S. Highway 71B in Lowell sold recently for $1.6 million. The purchase price equals $3.67 per square foot. 906 N Bloomington LLC, managed by Ray Osment and…

UA incubator selects 6 startups for third cohort

The University of Arkansas announced Friday (Jan. 20) that six startups will participate in the third cohort of the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP). The spring 2023 cohort includes five…

Walmart delivering via drone in 7 states

Bentonville-based retailer Walmart Inc. said recently it now operates, with its vendors, 36 drone delivery hubs in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia. “I’m incredibly proud of…

Education nonprofit to honor Shelley Simpson

Economics Arkansas, a nonprofit educational organization that promotes economic literacy to K-12 students, will present the 2023 Excellence in Free Enterprise Award to J.B. Hunt Transport Services President Shelley Simpson….

The Supply Side: IGD names Walmart’s top 5 tech innovations in 2022

Besides being the nation’s largest retailer, Walmart is slowly becoming a technology company. The Bentonville-based retail titan spent big on technology innovations last year in hopes of adding additional revenue…

Arkansas Tech University elects Jim Smith board chairman

Arkansas Tech University announced Thursday (Jan. 19) the election of Fayetteville attorney Jim Smith as chairman of the ATU Board of Trustees. Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Smith to a five-year…

Oklahoma court ruling threatens poultry industry in Arkansas

GDP up 4.3% in the third quarter, consumer confidence declines

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

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