HealthTech Arkansas Raises $815K for Startups
by Arkansas Business Staff – 2 weeks ago
HealthTech Arkansas of Little Rock announced last week the six startup companies selected for its accelerator program.
Small Business
Texarkana Project Expected to Propel Downtown Growth
2 weeks ago
After a decade of hope and false starts, the revitalization of downtown Texarkana achieved a breakthrough with the sale July 31 of the historic Hotel Grim to a housing development group.
Update: Venture Center Sparking New Entrepreneurship Program
2 weeks ago
The Venture Center says it's launching a new offering in partnership with the Little Rock Regional Chamber.
Hot Springs Tourism: Nearly 8M Visitors in 2018 Spent Record $677M
Travelers have increased their spending in Hot Springs, the state's tourism mecca, by nearly 30% since 2013, according to data presented Monday to the area's tourism industry. read more >
Arkansas Business Announces CFO Finalists, Tickets Info
Arkansas Business' 2019 CFO of the Year finalists and Lifetime Achievement Award winners will be recognized at a luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock. read more >
NABE Survey: 34% of Economists Expect Recession in 2021
A number of U.S. business economists appear sufficiently concerned about the risks of some of President Donald Trump's economic policies that they expect a recession in the U.S. by the end of 2021. read more >
US Retail Sales Up Solidly In Sign of Consumer Optimism
Americans spent more at retail stores and restaurants in July, a sign that concerns over weakening economic growth and a persistent trade war that have roiled financial markets have yet to dampen consumer confidence. read more >
Livestock Companies Tie for Biggest SBA Loans of FY18
While the average SBA loan in Arkansas last year was just shy of $600,000, the smallest was only $5,800. read more >
Texarkana Says Own Sales Tax Fails Constitutional Test
Texarkana, Arkansas, is in an awkward position: arguing that its own tax is unconstitutional. read more >
Unemployment Rates Trend Lower in Arkansas
The unemployment rates in most of Arkansas' metro areas continued to move downward or stay stable in June, with Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Little Rock and Texarkana seeing declines. read more >
Chainwheel Store to Be Sold to Trek Bicycle
Longtime Chainwheel Inc. owner Bruce Thalheimer is selling his upscale bicycle store in Little Rock to a vendor, Trek Bicycle Corp. of Waterloo, Wisconsin. read more >
Distribution Center Tops $20.7M Mark (Real Deals)
Glen Una Holdings Little Rock LLC of Los Gatos, California, purchased the 104 Champs Blvd. project from RCS-Little Rock LLC, an affiliate of Real Capital Solutions of Louisville, Colorado. read more >
Uniting Little Rock, One Opportunity Zone at a Time (Frank Scott Commentary)
Little Rock's opportunity zones provide an opportunity to display just how closely the city of Little Rock can work with our economic development partners, our civic institutions, our congressional delegation and Gov. Hutchinson's economic development team to invest in these communities. read more >
US Consumer Confidence Rebounds in July
American consumer confidence rebounded this month to the highest level since November after drooping in June. read more >
US Business Economists See Slower Growth and Profits Ahead
U.S. business economists expect economic growth to slow this year, and a rising proportion of them think corporate sales and profits will decline. read more >
The Wages of Raising the Bare Minimum
As the minimum wage for Arkansas is raised, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas Hospitality Association fear increasing costs. read more >
Walk-On's to Hold Groundbreaking Thursday For Conway Restaurant
Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar, a Cajun-themed restaurant/sports bar co-owned by NFL All-Pro Quarterback Drew Brees, will hold a groundbreaking at 11 a.m. Thursday for its new restaurant in Conway. read more >
Little Rock OKs Plan for Downtown Entertainment District
Leaders in Little Rock have approved a measure that would create an entertainment district in the city's River Market area, which would allow open containers of alcohol outdoors in a four-block zone on the weekends. read more >
FDA Closes Case on Alma Grocery's Animal Waste
An Alma wholesaler and discount grocery store operator reached an agreement last week with the federal government in a case that may turn your stomach. read more >
Arkansas Unemployment Drops to 3.5%, A New Record Low
Arkansas' unemployment rate dropped by one-tenth of a percentage point in June, to 3.5% from 3.6% in May. read more >
FIS, State Announce Sponsorship Will Continue at Fintech Accelerator Demo Day
Global financial services company FIS of Jacksonville, Florida, and the state will continue to sponsor the Fintech Accelerator next year. read more >
Douglas Hutchings to Lead ARA Academy
The Arkansas Research Alliance announces that Douglas Hutchings has been named director of the ARA Academy of Scholars & Fellows, effective July 1. read more >
Crystal Bridges Adds Three (NWA Movers & Shakers)
Neal Johnson has joined Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville to support the new contemporary art space The Momentary. Emily Neuman and Erin Anson Ellis have also joined the staff. read more >
Mundo-Tech Announces $800K Expansion, Will Create 7 Tech Jobs
Mundo-Tech, a tube bending and fabrication supplier for the aerospace and defense industries and commercial companies, announced Wednesday that it is expanding its facility in Rogers. read more >
Arkansas Business to Honor 2019's 'Best Places to Work'
Arkansas Business will honor more than 40 companies designated among this year's "Best Places to Work" during an awards luncheon in September. read more >
Priority1 Inc. to Add 50 Employees in Little Rock
Priority1 Inc. of Little Rock, a privately held third-party logistics services company, says it will hire at least 50 new corporate headquarters employees as a result of its continued national growth. read more >
Government Stars Are Aligned (Lisa Ferrell Commentary)
Investing in opportunity zones means investing in communities around Arkansas and joining the broader effort to combat poverty and geographic inequality. read more >
Ozone Action Days: It's Good Business (Tab Townsell Commentary)
For "Telecommute Month," Metroplan highlights the health and financial benefits of a growing workplace trend. read more >
Startup Junkie Opens New Springdale Office
Startup Junkie consultants will start meeting with entrepreneurs, innovators and small business owners in Springdale at its new Fairlane Station office this month. read more >
Arkansas Companies Dealing With Tariff Costs
President Trump's tariffs of 25% on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods is making some Arkansas business either absorb their price increases or pass the cost hikes to their customers. read more >
Taste of Jamaica Offers Authentic Cuisine in LR
After eight years of serving jerk chicken out of their food truck, Grab-a-Bite, Rose Walker and her husband, Anthony, have opened Taste of Jamaica in Little Rock. read more >
Protecting Your Business (Brett Morrison Commentary)
Fraud can be committed by your most trusted employee or a leader in your organization and shouldn't be thought of as something that only happens to other organizations or businesses. read more >
Jonesboro Overhead Door, Tri County Garage Door Announce Merger
Jonesboro Overhead Door and Tri County Garage Door recently merged under a single ownership. read more >
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