Tag: Investments

Penchant for Pension

The state?s largest pension fund has selected a new property manager for three of its Little Rock properties.

Governor?s Entrepreneurial Award Needs More Support

The Governor?s Award for Entrepreneurial Development competition needs additional financial support to survive.

OTC Bulletin Board to Be Phased Out

The OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB), the online marketplace for over-the-counter equity securities, is being phased out in 2003.

SBIR Model Molds ?Virtual? Into Reality

Virtual Incubation LLC, a business incubator for innovative technology startups, is growing a client portfolio that to date could achieve $44.1 million in total Small Business Innovation Research funding if all of its proposals go through.

Is ?Buzz? Burned Out of VC? (Ron Goforth, Guest Commentary

There has been scant investing activity in new ventures in the state, particularly in the increasingly discussed knowledge-based enterprises.

Diamond State Dominates State?s Tiny VC Industry

C. Sam Walls and Joe T. Hays launched an ambitious plan in 1999 to turn Arkansas into fertile VC soil with Diamond State Ventures

Competition Generates Entrepreneurial Spirit

Capital Resource Corp., an affiliate of The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, is showing its support for innovative business ideas to the tune of $104,000 in cash awards for winners of the Governor?s Award for Entrepreneurial Development.

Act 860 Creates New Era For Venture Capital In State

Venture capital advocates in Arkansas are hailing Act 860 of 2003 as the start of a new day for venture capital in Arkansas.

VC in Arkansas Is Unknown Quantity

Arkansas Capital Corporation Group has estimated last year?s venture capital level at $33 million, but Les Lane, vice president of the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority in Little Rock, said a reliable figure is hard to come by.

VC Outlook Presents Ugly, Bad and Good (Mark Diggs Commentary)

New methods specifically designed for the knowledge-based economy must be developed, adopted and implemented along with appropriate policy.

Region’s Largest SBA Lenders and Venture Capital Firms

Diamond State Ventures and Arkansas National Bank land atop the list of northwest Arkansas’ largest venture capital firms and largest SBA lenders, respectively.

Sunbelt Sells Out to its Franchisees

Sunbelt Business Brokers, the Charleston, S.C., business brokerage with local offices in Fayetteville, Fort Smith and Little Rock, was recently bought out by its franchisees.

Airport Bonds get ?BBB? Rating from Fitch

Fitch Ratings, a San Francisco-based credit rating agency, recently assigned a ?BBB? rating to $37.3 million worth of Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority revenue bonds for the 2003 refunding series.

That?s the ?Ticket?

Ticketsage Inc. of Fayetteville is Northwest Arkansas? lone representative among the eight firms that get to play a developing company?s version of ?Star Search? March 3-4 at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock.

Something Has to Give

Uncertainties have made companies reluctant to invest in capital spending until some international issues are resolved.

Centra RAKOing It In

Centra Industries Inc. of Fayetteville has done a reverse merger into a shell provided by RAKO Capital Corp., originally a Nevada mining company.

Slow Growth Ahead, Economists Predict

In 2003, Arkansas? economy should continue to see a slow recovery.

Howell Suits Start to Flow (Gwen Moritz commentary)

The inevitable flood of litigation related to the life and death of former Springdale and Fayetteville banker M. David Howell Jr. has started.

Iraq, Rate Fluctuations Will Rule Investor Fate

Rebecca Garner, president and chief investment officer of Garner Asset Management Co., said the biggest single trend she sees among investors headed into 2003 is a cry for dividends.

Lynch Mob Forms

A new wealth management team has been formed within the Fayetteville office of Merrill Lynch.

Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: ‘Oceanscape’ playground work begins, Mercy stroke program renewed

Walmart likely to tap insiders for expected leadership changes

Dan Wright re-elected Arkansas Farm Bureau president

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Tourism tax numbers down through August, job numbers up