Westrock Officially Opens 570,000-SF Facility in Conway
The state-of-the-art facility is only at 75% capacity, with pre-fitted infrastructure for up to six more packaging lines. read more >
by Chloe McGehee -
UCA Establishes College of Science and Engineering
UCA also received accreditation for its engineering physics program. read more >
by Chloe McGehee -
Discovering Arkansas: Census Bureau Estimates Show Rising Population
More than half of Arkansas’ 75 counties have seen their populations grow since 2020, and the state’s population is growing at close to 2%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. read more >
by Marty Cook -
Municipal Goals: Arkansas Cities Invest in Youth & Amateur Sports Facilities
Many Arkansas cities are building sports complexes as recreation and economic development hubs. The idea is to maximize revenue from tournaments and daily user fees, and to capitalize on growing sports tourism. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Why Do Banks Fail? Arkansas Execs Offer Some Answers
Johnny Allison, CEO of Centennial Bank of Conway, and Randy Dennis, who leads DD&F, share their thoughts. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
PattiCakes Won’t Reopen After Fire, Owner Pursuing New Project
Owner Patti Stobaugh said the decision to move on from the business after 18 years marked a "very tough day." read more >
Texas Pharmaceutical Company FarmaKeio Expands to Conway
The company acquired a 16,000-SF facility with plans to create 74 jobs. read more >
UCA Fundraising Campaign Surpasses $100M Target
The campaign, which began silently in 2017 and went public in 2021, was bookended by major gifts from the Windgate Foundation. read more >
Nick Stevens Appointed Executive Director of Creative Institute
He co-founded the Conway institute in 2020. read more >
Mercer Gets OK for $81M Acquisition of Structurlam
A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge approved the sale, setting the stage for operations to resume at Structurlam's 288,000-SF plant in Conway. read more >
Structurlam Files for Bankruptcy Protection, Agrees to $60M Sale
The deal with publicly traded Mercer International includes its facility in Conway, which suspended operations in January. read more >
Westrock Reports Losses for Q4, Full Year
An increase in sales was offset by rising labor and production costs, among other challenges. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Production Delays Caused Walmart to Cancel Structurlam Contract
The cancellation of the deal led Structurlam to suspend operations at its Conway facility, resulting in 144 workers being laid off. read more >
by Marty Cook -
Structurlam Suspends Operations in Conway, Lays Off 144
The company is seeking new clients after Walmart Inc. canceled an exclusive production agreement. read more >
by Scott Carroll -
Hendrix College Names Karen Petersen Next President
Petersen comes to Hendrix from the University of Tulsa. She's set to become the college's second woman president. read more >
Westrock Announces Extra $90M for Conway Plant With Q3 Results
The company also reported the acquisition of California-based Kohana Coffee LLC, a move that will help it develop and distribute ready-to-drink products. read more >
Westrock Begins Renovations at Former Kimberly-Clark Plant in Conway
Nabholz Construction Corp. of Conway is the lead contractor on the project. read more >
The Conductor Sets Opening Date for New Home
The entrepreneurial support organization will host events and programming at the center as well as rent co-working space, desks and access to meeting rooms. read more >
Northwest Bike Boom Inspires More Trails
Other Arkansas cities plan greenways of their own. read more >
by Marty Cook -
Little Rock Region Saw Post-COVID Housing Boom, Report Says
Housing starts in the region hit a 14-year high. Meanwhile, affordability remained among the best in the nation, according to Metroplan. read more >