Dillard's Inc. of Little Rock reports net income of $109.6 million, down about 2 percent from the same time last year as same-store sales slid 1 percent. "We are disappointed with our first quarter performance," Dillard's CEO William T. Dillard II said in a news release. read more >

Workforce development has become a popular issue as industry leaders have said they have a hard time finding enough quality workers to fill their needs. It’s a renewed focus of groups like the Northwest Arkansas Council, which recently announced a three-year plan to strengthen the area’s workforce development and the ties between employers and schools. read more >

The Outlets at Little Rock will open this summer. Michael Barelli, vice president of New England Development, recently talked to Arkansas Business about the 325,000-SF shopping center coming to central Arkansas. read more >

A 123,000-SF Kroger Marketplace under construction in Benton is worth $12 million, according to the building permit on file with the city. read more >

The valuation of large commercial projects underway in Arkansas approached $2.2 billion, nearly double the tally from a year ago. The big leap was thanks in no small measure to the $700 million construction contract for the Big River Steel Mill manufacturing facility near Osceola. read more >

Robinson Center is a multipurpose venue. It must accommodate the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Broadway plays, Ballet Arkansas and commencement ceremonies — in addition to conventions and conferences — and each of these has different and sometimes even opposite technical requirements, particularly acoustical requirements. read more >

The University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees on Friday unanimously approved a 3.86 percent increase for tuition and fees in the next academic year. read more >

Walton Arts Center officials say the planned renovation and expansion of its theater complex and headquarters on Dickson Street may cost as much as $23 million. read more >

Business among the largest Arkansas general contractors was down as a group during 2013. Nine of the firms on this year’s list of largest commercial contractors recorded revenue gains while 13 reported declines. Three firms reported no change. read more >

The relationship between the management of CDI Contractors LLC of Little Rock and half-owner Dillard’s Inc. was under tremendous stress in the days before CDI’s chief financial officer disappeared on Jan. 28. read more >

Arkansas Tech University's Board of Trustees on Thursday awarded an $11.6 million construction contract to CDI Contractors LLC for a four-story, 66,900-SF academic, student support and administrative facility on the Russellville campus. read more >

Dillard’s Inc. apparently was so unhappy that its construction arm wasn’t considered to build the Ronald McDonald House in Little Rock that it withheld a donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas. read more >

A new academic center, consolidating campus administration and enrollment services, becomes a landmark gateway to campus. read more >

Details of the proposed renovation and additions to Little Rock's Robinson Center Auditorium were revealed Tuesday at a luncheon hosted at the center. Includes a slideshow of project plans and a video detailing the structure's new design. read more >

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith said Tuesday CDI Contractors of Little Rock will be construction manager on a $15 million, 58,000-SF visual arts facility scheduled to open in fall 2015. read more >

The CEO of Clark Contractors, the construction business he started in 2009, William Clark has a strong base to build upon. read more >

No. 2 VCC of Little Rock nearly caught up with No. 1 Nabholz Construction Corp. of Conway in 2012. Meanwhile, Clark Contractors more than doubled its revenue in 2012. read more >

It looks like 2012 was a good year for CDI Contractors LLC of Little Rock. read more >

CDI Contractors LLC of Little Rock and Hunt Construction Group Inc. of Phoenix will lead the renovation of Robinson Center Music Hall. read more >

The last time Jan. 28 fell on a Monday, the chief financial officer of one of the state’s largest construction companies left home early in the morning and vanished. read more >