Innovate Arkansas News

Diamond State Ventures Seeds New Fund with $75M in Capital

Diamond State Ventures II will invest between $75 million and $90 million in the next five years.

SBA Lending Activity Down From Previous Years

Lenders and the U.S. Small Business Administration made 303 unique 7(a) loans in Arkansas during its fiscal 2008, which ended Sept. 30.

Arkansas Entrepreneurs Stay Optimistic in Tough Economy

Entrepreneurs meeting at the Arkansas Venture Forum in Little Rock Wednesday didn't seem fazed at the prospects of starting a new business in the current dismal national economy.

Arkansas.gov Ranks Among Nation's Top 10 Government Web Sites

The state's official Web portal, Arkansas.gov, recently was named among the top 10 state sites for the fourth time in six years by the Center for Digital Government's Best of the Web competition.

Small Business Center Lands $93,000 SBA Grant to Assist Veterans

The state's congressional delegation announced this week that the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will receive a $93,405 grant through the U.S. Small Business Administration's Veterans Assistance and Services Program.

Nano Development Seeks New Kind of Cancer Fight

A team of scientists led by Dr. Alexandru Biris at the Nanotechnology Center at UALR in collaboration with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is developing a method for attacking cancer cells by killing them from within.

BioVentures Startup Receives SBIR Grant to Develop Imaging Materials

One of the early-stage companies in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences BioVentures center is the recipient of Small Business Innovation Research Grant from the Department of Energy, the center announced recently.

Time Magazine Editor-at-large to Speak at Venture Forum Conference

A week from today Josh Quittner, editor-at-large for Time Magazine, will be the featured speaker at the 2008 Arkansas Venture Forum Conference, organizers announced recently.

UA Sustainability Center's Grant from Wal-Mart to Create 'Agile Agriculture' Program

The Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas announced Monday that the center has received a $549,976 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation to create a sustainable food system that links small producers with large markets.

Coalition Launched to Address Energy, Economic Development

A coalition of economic development, energy and environmental leaders on Tuesday announced the formation of Progress Arkansas, a group charged with the task of building consensus and broad support for economic, energy and environmental policies.

Little Rock 'Hot,' Magazine Concludes

Southern Business & Development magazine's summer 2008 issue places the Little Rock area at the top of its list of "Hot Markets in a Cold Economy."

Insight Ecosystems Fills Smaller Banking Niche

Keith Henkel's Insight Ecosystems is looking to provide to small and mid-sized banks the same services as larger financial services providers at a more affordable price.

Center Puts 'Technology' in Small Business Development

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and other higher education institutions in the state recently acknowledged the Arkansas Small Business Development Center's shift toward assisting high-tech and innovative businesses.

Southern Arkansas University Starts Construction of Science, Technology Center

Southern Arkansas University of Magnolia officials recently announced that its new University Science and Technology Center is expected to be completed within the next year.

White County Has Felt Fayetteville Shale Play's Effect

Economic impact study shows jobs and tax collection are up in White County. Study ties the county's success to exploration in the Fayetteville Shale Play.

Small Business Makes Adjustments As Credit Markets Apply Squeeze

Small business owners are not feeling the full force of credit crisis.

IA Client Lydia Carson Named to National Innovation Board

Lydia Carson, a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's executive MBA program, has been named to the advisory board of Planet Eureka! USA National Innovation Marketplace.

King Disposal Recognized as SBA Minority Business of the Year

Joe King, owner of King Disposal Inc. in Palestine, recently received the Minority Business of the Year award from the U.S. Small Business Administration as part of Minority Enterprise Development Week, Memphis-based alt.Consulting announced Monday.

UAMS Researcher Awarded $2.7 Million to Study Brain Activity of Addicts

Warren K. Bickel, director of the Center for Addiction Research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, recently received his fourth concurrent grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Confucius Institute Helps Arkansas Companies Go Global

The Confucius Institute, headquartered at the University of Central Arkansas at Conway, offers cultural and language training to Arkansas businesses looking to diversify into China.

Officials Break Ground on Tyson-Syntroleum Synthetic Fuel Plant

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday for the Dynamic Fuels plant in Geismar, La., a joint venture of Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale and Syntroleum Corp.

Bentonville Company Has BIG Ideas

Ken Trussell, 46, started Bentonville International Group Inc. in early 2007 and has been in the technology industry for more than 20 years.

UPDATED: 2 Wind Industry Firms Bound for Little Rock to Employ 830

Two manufacturers in the wind industry announce plans to move to Little Rock and together employ 830 people.

Johansons Mentor Small Business, Build 'Incubator'

When the Johansons decided to build another office building down the street, they decided to more or less duplicate their model and make it more of an official small business incubator.

Fort Smith High School Entrepreneurs Seeking Sponsors

The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center at Fort Smith is seeking sponsors for the Fort Smith High School Entrepreneurship Program.

Arkansas Biotechnology Researchers Pitch to Venture Capitalists

Venture capitalists from Arkansas and seven other states are at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce today and tomorrow to hear about potential investment opportunities in medical technologies developed at Arkansas universities.

VIDEO: Mike Beebe, Richard Bell to Talk Alternative Energy at Winrock

In this THVideo, Tommy Foltz, executive director of the Arkansas Clean Transportation Partnership, talks about Arkansas' first Alternative Fuel Vehicle Odyssey Day, taking place Friday in Little Rock.

Little Rock Inventor Finds Local Market

Shoppers can now find the GoateeSaver, a product of Little Rock inventor Scott Bonge, at the Drug Emporium in Little Rock.

Registration Open for 2008 National SBIR Conference

Hartford, Conn., has been selected as the location for the next national SBIR conference, to be held Nov. 12-14.

National Science Foundation Awards UA Researchers $7M Grant to Lead Alliance

The National Science Foundation announced Monday that it has awarded University of Arkansas researchers a five-year, $7 million grant to create alliances between K-12 teachers and university faculty in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.

RF Controls Sponsors University of Arkansas RFID Research Center

RF Controls LLC of St. Louis announced this week that it has become a lab sponsor of the RFID Research Center at the University of Arkansas' Information Technology Research Institute of the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

UA Researcher Awarded Grant to Develop Technology to Treat Diabetes

Kaiming Ye, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, has received a $244,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, the school announced recently.

UALR's Arkansas Small Business Development Center to Offer 'Advanced Invention to Venture' Workshop

The Arkansas Small Business Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will soon sponsor the first Advanced Invention to Venture workshop in Arkansas.

ABF Freight System, Acxiom Listed as Innovators in InformationWeek 500

ABF Freight System Inc. of Fort Smith and Acxiom Corp. of Little Rock announced this week that they have been cited as innovators in information technology by InformationWeek magazine's 2008 InformationWeek 500 list.

Little Rock MSA No. 54 Among Milken's Best-Performing Cities List

The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metropolitan statistical area ranked No. 54 among the Milken Institute's 2008 list of America's Best-Performing Cities Index.

Report: Arkansas Students Rank Low in Math, Science Proficiency

The American Electronics Association recently released a rather dismal report that analyzes the latest math and science scores for U.S. fourth- and eighth-grade students.

New CEO of State Chamber Targets Business Climate

Randy Zook, the new president and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas, is keeping an eye out for legislation or regulations that might hurt businesses in the state.

AEDC Reports Increased Economic Development

Last year was a banner year for economic development in the state, according the Arkansas Economic Development Commission's annual activity report for 2007.

Economic Literacy Programs Fill Educational Void in State

Educators and nonprofit groups in Arkansas are joining forces to promote economic and financial literacy starting at an early age.

UCA to Host Shale Summit

The University of Central Arkansas' Strategic Growth Institute will host a seminar on Oct. 3 to provide an update on the production and economic significance of the Fayetteville Shale drilling operations, the school announced Monday.

UALR's Virtual Reality Center Aiding Businesses

UALR offers virtual reality as a tool that lets businesses display their projects before breaking ground in the real world.

Wal-Mart Foundation Donates $369,000 to ASU's Arkansas Biosciences Institute

The Wal-Mart Foundation donated $369,000 to the Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State University today in Gov. Mike Beebe's conference room at the Capitol.

Water Study Addresses Problems, Proposes Policy Changes

The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation released a study Thursday that examines the future of Arkansas' water supply, one that those involved with the report say is uncertain unless long-term solutions are adopted.

ASTA to Launch Online Database To Bring Arkansas Classrooms Into 21st Century

A state technology task force recently announced the formation of the Science and Mathematics Accessible Resource Tool (SMART) Portal, an interactive database that will allow teachers throughout the state to access and share lesson plans and professional development materials.

Web Video Startup Station X Attracts Capital, Page Views

Station X, Innovate Arkansas' first official client, is a Little Rock-based Internet TV network that provides original broadcasting through niche programming like its first show, Beer Utopia.

Commerce Arkansas Power Lunch to Feature Ranger Boats Officials

Forrest L. Wood, founder of Ranger Boats of Flippin, and Irwin L. Jacobs, owner of Ranger's parent company, Minneapolis-based Genmar Holdings, Inc., will be the featured guests at the Oct. 22 Commerce Arkansas Power Lunch in Little Rock.

Arkansas Professors Land NASA Grant for Black Hole Research

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock astrophysics professor and three colleagues from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville have received a $1.4 million grant from the Arkansas NASA EPSCoR Office to further their study of super-massive black holes.

Omnibalm Recognized by Chain Drug Review as Top Niche Product

Omnibalm Daily Foot Therapy, a product of Little Rock-based Balm Innovations, has been named a "Small Chain Niche Pick" and a "Key Special Niche Product" in Chain Drug Review's second annual Niche Products Report.

ARTP Welcomes Winrock, Karen McSpadden

The University of Arkansas Technology Development Foundation welcomes Innovate Arkansas as the newest affiliate in the Arkansas Research and Technology Park.

Green Valley Network Created to Foster Sustainability

The University of Arkansas Technology Development Foundation announces the creation of the Green Valley Network to foster collaboration and commercialization of sustainability technology.

Matt Leftwich Named Chief Operating Officer for Space Photonics

Space Photonics, Inc.'s Board of Directors names Matt Leftwich, long-time employee and senior engineer, as chief operating officer.

Connect Arkansas Takes Steps to Empower Local Communities

Connect Arkansas has based its e-Communities program on the principal of creating a level playing field by bridging the digital divide to bring technology awareness, training and access to all of Arkansas' counties.

Interdisciplinary Project Involves Students in Sustainability Research

Students at the University of Arkansas are designing a sustainable future using algae from local streams.

State Business Leaders Positive About '08 Prospects

The mood of the Arkansas business community is upbeat regarding expectations for 2008, according to a June survey by Inc. Tanc.

Sigrah-Zellet Sale Results in New Fayetteville Poultry Products Company

Pacific Vet Group, a leading distributor of animal health products in Asia, has purchased Sigrah-Zellet, LLC, of Fayetteville and will create a new Fayetteville-based entity named Pacific Vet Group-USA.

South Arkansas Rich in Resources

Rising energy prices have made exploiting many of Arkansas' natural resources more viable, and many of those resources are in south Arkansas.

NWACF Gives UAMS $100,000 for New Fayetteville Campus

The Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation on Thursday gave the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences $100,000 to help establish a new northwest Arkansas satellite campus.

University of Arkansas Researchers Combine Technologies to Heal Patients, Virtually

University of Arkansas researchers seeking new ways to make health care more efficient and cost-effective have built a new kind of hospital: one that uses location aware systems, sensors, smart devices, radio-frequency identification and virtual reality.

Study Shows Promise for Item-level Use of RFID in Retail Environment

A new study by the RFID Research Center at the University of Arkansas shows further promise for the use of radio-frequency identification tags on individual retail items.

Group Provides Support Network for Arkansas Inventors

The Arkansas Inventor's Network is a non-profit established as a support group for innovative people who need help getting their ideas off the ground.

Susan Allen of ASU Receives Patent for Body Limb Movement Limiter

Susan Allen, professor and director of the Arkansas Center for Laser Applications and Science at Arkansas State University, has been granted a personally owned patent for a body limb movement limiter.

Task Force for 21st Century Economy Unveils New Web Site, Prepares for Final Report

The Task Force for the 21st Century Economy presents interim findings and unveils its new Web site to Gov. Mike Beebe and the state legislature.

Arkansas Venture Forum Conference Taking Applications

Entrepreneurs seeking to compete for capital in the Arkansas Venture Forum Conference, to be held Nov. 18-19 in Little Rock, must submit applications by Aug. 29, as organizers have begun the selection process.

State's High-Impact Firms Create Jobs, Growth

"High-impact" firms create Arkansas' new jobs and growth, according to a study recently released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Eight Two-year Colleges to Offer Degrees, Certificates in Entrepreneurship

Eight of Arkansas' two-year colleges will begin offering a business degree option and certificate in entrepreneurship this fall.

Biris Named to Romanian Nano-Medicine Institute

The newly-formed Romanian Nano-Medicine Institute names Alex Biris, chief scientist at the Nanotechnology Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, as its honorary president.

Chemical Company Acquires Fayetteville-Based Company Created at the University of Arkansas

INEOS, the third largest chemical company in the world, recently acquired Fayetteville-based Bioengineering Resources, Inc (BRI).

Tip Announces First Competition

The National Institute of Standards and Technology announces the opening of its 2008 Technology Innovation Program solicitation.

Going High Tech: Simulated Training with Manikins Advances Medical Education

In the last few years, medical training has been taken to a new level at UAMS with the introduction of computerized Sim Man, Sim Baby and Noelle, a high-tech childbirth simulation manikin that can simulate scenarios from high-risk complications to normal birth.

Sustainability: The Life and Times of Freshwater Macroinvertebrates

Biological sciences professor Michelle Evans-White and her colleagues assess stream health, and therefore water quality.

Space Photonics Awarded $3.825 Million In Small Business Innovation Research Contracts In 2007

Space Photonics, Inc. of Fayetteville received a total of $3.825 million from Small Business Innovation Research programs during 2007.

SBDC Opens Satellite Office

The Small Business Development Center at the University of Arkansas partners with the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce to open the first Net Access Center in northwest Arkansas.

ABI Faculty Attend, Present at World Congress on In Vitro Biology

Seven members of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute faculty at Arkansas State University recently attended and participated in the World Congress on In Vitro Biology held in Tucson, Ariz.

ASTA Announces $350,000 Available to Enterprises Seeking Technology Development

The Arkansas Science & Technology Authority announces $356,975 in grant funding available to qualified companies through the Technology Transfer Assistance Grant program.

LEED Standards Shifting to Meet Evolving Market

Some developers and architects feel that LEED building standards don't offer enough points for design and site selection, but the U.S. Green Building Council is making changes to address those concerns.

Arkansas Clean Coal Technology Conference to Feature Gephardt, Ross

The Arkansas Clean Coal Technology Conference will be held July 17-18 at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope.

Greenland Composites Gets Home Depot Distribution Deal

An award-wining "green" product manufactured locally is expanding and capturing new markets.

Genomics Research Focuses on Rice Variety Improvement

Crop varieties can be improved through the study of genomics without creating genetically transformed varieties. That is the mission of a multistate research project led by the University of Arkansas System's Division of Agriculture.

R&D Tax Credits Energize Startup Tech Companies

So far, state agencies have granted more than $3 million in R&D tax credits to about 20 tech companies around the state, allowing the startups to hire more staff and invest in marketing and commercialization efforts.

Little Rock Makes 'Digitally Savvy' Ranking

A recent study conducted by Scarborough Research of New York ranks Little Rock as the 21st most "digitally savvy" city out of 79 surveyed cities.

Internet Video Startup Receives $20,000 in Seed Capital from ASTA

Station X LLC, a Little Rock Internet video startup, receives $20,000 in seed capital from the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority.

UAMS Researcher Receives National Attention for Drug Treatments

A treatment for drug addiction may be possible, thanks to a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences researcher.

Three Patents Pending Just the Beginning for UAMS Surgery Resident

Justin Regner, a second-year surgery resident for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, has patents pending on three of his inventions.

UPDATED: Conway Wins HP Center and 1,200 Jobs

Hewlett-Packard of Palo Alto, Calif., announced Thursday that it would open a customer service and technical support center in Conway that will employ 1,200.

UALR Nanotechnology Researchers Brief Legislators on Innovations

UALR's nanotechnology researchers brief legislators on industrial applications of their research.

UA Brings International Solar Boating Competition to Fayetteville

The University of Arkansas' College of Engineering brings Solar Splash, the world championship of intercollegiate solar boating, to Lake Fayetteville June 18-22.

THV Video: Fund for Arkansas' Future Invests in Small, High-risk Startups

Today's THV reports on the Fund for Arkansas' Future, an investment firm that bets on small, long-shot startups hoping for big returns for the state.

Balm Innovations LLC Expands New Product into Four States

Balm Innovations, LLC of Little Rock announces that its newest product has hit the shelves of stores in Arkansas and four other states.

Gov. Beebe Reflects on Emerging Nanotech Industry

Gov. Mike Beebe talks about the state's latest advances in nanotechnology and the university research that supports them on his weekly radio address "Ask the Governor" on KARN.

UPDATED: Verizon to Acquire Alltel In $28 Billion Deal

A day after reports leaked that the two companies were in talks, Verizon Wireless announced Thursday that it will buy Alltel Corp. of Little Rock in a deal worth $28 billion.

Connect Arkansas Bridges Digital Divide with ASTA Funding

Connect Arkansas has been approved for funding by the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority (ASTA).

UPDATED: Transition, 'Not Funeral,' Alltel's Ford Says of Verizon Buy

Little Rock might become a regional headquarters for Verizon and the existing call center operations, which he put at more than 500 jobs, are likely to be preserved.

Alltel Arena GM Waits for Expected Logo Change

Verizon Wireless has its name on two indoor arenas for now, but only one of them is Verizon Arena. It remains to be seen if North Little Rock's Alltel Arena will become Verizon Arena, too.

Alltel to Employees: No 'Immediate Impact' on Your Job

In an e-mail to employees on Thursday announcing the sale to Verizon Wireless, Alltel Corp. of Little Rock told employees "there will be no immediate impact on your job."

UPDATED: Scott Ford, Other Executives Could Reap Rewards in Alltel Sale to Verizon

The deal to sell Alltel Corp. of Little Rock to Verizon Wireless would mean a substantial payout for Alltel executives, according to filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Professionals Latch Onto LinkedIn

LinkedIn, a social networking site, offers professionals yet another way to connect with one another.

SBA Announces Disaster Assistance for Arkansas Businesses

As a result of the president's federal disaster declaration, SBA is now authorized to offer disaster assistance to Arkansas small businesses affected by the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes that began May 2.

Duralor Plans Springdale Headquarters, Will Add 110 Workers

Duralor LLC, which makes coatings for cutting tools and machine parts, breaks ground on its international headquarters in the Springdale Technology Park, a move company officials said will create 110 jobs there.

Arkansas Institutional Fund Invests $4.5 Million in Petra Capital

The Arkansas Development Finance Authority announced Tuesday that its Arkansas Institutional Fund will invest $4.5 million in Petra Growth Fund II, managed by Petra Capital Partners of Nashville, Tenn.

Jubilant Organosys Invests In, Forms Partnership with Safe Foods

Safe Foods Corp. of North Little Rock says that a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jubilant Organosys Ltd. of Noida, India, now has a minority investment in the company through a stock purchase agreement.

Senate Proposal Could Add Costs For Small Business Owners

A proposal before Congress could raise the cost of doing business with credit and debit card issuers.

Arkansas World Trade Center to Host Trade Mission to Mexico City

The Arkansas World Trade Center has organized a business trade mission to Mexico City June 23-27. The delegation will participate in an informative briefing on the benefits of bilateral trade under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

UA Team Takes 1st Place at Tri-State Governor's Cup Event in Las Vegas

MerchantEyes, a graduate business plan team from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, took first place Thursday in the first Tri-State Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup competition in Las Vegas.

UALR Nanotechnology Center Serves Growing Market

The Nanotechnology Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is serving a growing market, working to create new technology products for entrepreneurs and investors.

Green Building Council to Hold Sustainable Conference in Hot Springs

The U.S. Green Building Council Arkansas Chapter is hosting its Sixth Annual Sustainable Arkansas Convention and Expo in Hot Springs May 19-20 at the Hot Springs Convention Center and Embassy Suites.

Arkansas Adds Online Withholding Tax Registration, Payments

The more than 70,000 businesses in Arkansas that make state income tax withholding payments can now pay them through Arkansas.gov, the state's official Web site.

Infor Donates Supply Chain Network Design Software to University of Arkansas

Infor SCM Network Design will be implemented by the Supply Chain Management Research Center in the Sam M. Walton College of Business as part of its ongoing research into supply chain management.

Fort Smith High School Entrepreneurship Program Awards Scholarships

A high school entrepreneurship program offered through the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Fort Smith awarded $500 scholarships to two teams for their winning business plans.

Study Shows Chinese Attitudes Open to Help on Logistics (Touchpoints by Andrew Jensen)

Consumer goods producers around the world are falling all over themselves to enter the Chinese market, and no longer just to take advantage of its cheap labor pool.

UCA Breaks Ground on $18 Million Business College Building

University of Central Arkansas breaks ground on the new $18.1 million building that will be the new home of its business college.

AEDC: Plenty of Workers for New Industry If Arkansans Obtain Skills

Arkansas has plenty of workers for new industries if those workers can be equipped with the necessary skills, the deputy director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission told attendees at Thursday's Breakthrough Solutions Conference in Little Rock.

Panel Discusses Progress Toward Statewide Broadband Access

An advisory group working to improve statewide access to broadband Internet is about to be another step closer to that goal. Includes comments from Sam Walls of Arkansas Capital Corp.

Delegates Represent Arkansas at Economic Convocation in Washington D.C.

Thirteen economic influencers and college students were chosen by the National Academies to represent Arkansas at a national economic convocation held in Washington, D.C. Tuesday.

Engineering Sustainability

On the production end, the sustainability movement challenges researchers to design and build efficient, less wasteful and clean - or "green" - products and processes. As a fundamentally applied science, engineering has a huge responsibility in this endeavor.

The Business of Sustainability

What does environmental sustainability have to do with selling tires, televisions and laundry detergent? Businesses and organizations can become more sustainable in virtually all facets of operation.

Catapulting Arkansas Through Nanotechnology

The science makes it possible to build objects that take on dramatically different properties than their larger counterparts. Because of these differences, the time is right for researchers to jump wholeheartedly into the nanotechnology arena.

The Accelerator: Alex Biris

Dr. Alex Biris is working on "the next big thing" in the Arkansas Nanotechnology Center - along with scientists who are a part of an extended research network.

Tracking Down Good Health Care

The director of the new Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics leads a team of researchers who are investigating the supply-chain network and information and logistics systems within U.S. health care.

Protein Power

A team of University of Arkansas researchers uses cutting-edge techniques and equipment to study protein molecules at the atomic level, and their work ties together medical advances with a fundamental understanding of these important structures.

Pathogen Protection

At the University of Arkansas, researchers seek to reduce the number of foodborne illnesses in three ways: prevention, containment and reduction.

Feedstock Shock Slows Biodiesel Momentum

In Arkansas, biodiesel production capacity is poised for a major increase from the current level of 27 million gallons a year by plants at Batesville and Stuttgart. But the momentum slowed in the summer of 2007 as prices for vegetable oil and animal fat used as feedstock to produce biodiesel spiraled up.

It's Location, Location, Location!

GPS (Global Positioning Systems) location data is mapped using GIS (Geographical Information Systems) software to display location of assets or other items of interest. It's a tool for hunters, fishermen and people who want to track their exercise performance.

Developer Announces Planning of New Multi-Tenant Building

IDEA Partnerships, LLC and Clayco Realty Group announced that they are embarking on design and pre-leasing of a new, 60,000 SF office and laboratory multi-tenant building in the Arkansas Research and Technology Park.

Technology Lets Businesses Deposit Checks Electronically

Technology now allows merchants to deposit checks from a computer at their offices rather than requiring a visit to a bank.

Office Occupancy Holds Steady

Occupancy estimates for the Pulaski County office market indicate little change from last year's 85 percent mark. The survey in the 2008 Arkansas Business Office Retail Warehouse Lease Guide covers about 10 million SF of office space.

Arkansas Economy In Good Shape, But Worker Shortage Remains a Concern, Panelists Say

The specter of economic doom and gloom that has dominated the national scene isn't so apparent in Arkansas, according to a discussion at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Economic Forecast Conference.

Study Shows Some Biofuels Not So Green

The biofuels industry is trying to move away from cropland-based biofuels as a recent report shows it's not as green as previously thought.

Rogers Architecture Firm Builds Green Headquarters

Benchmark Group builds LEED-certified home office at Rogers.

EnviroGuard Technologies Blows Green Air for Less

EnviroGuard Technologies LLC gives homeowners an alternative way to heat and cool their homes while reducing their carbon footprints.

Burkhalter & Stevens Inc. Focuses on Green Building

Little Rock contracting firm helps advance green commercial developments.

Rising Rail Use Helps Firms

The rail industry in Arkansas is growing, reflecting a national trend, and a railcar manufacturing plants in northeast Arkansas are capitalizing.

Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup Winners Announced

Winners of the Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup business plan competition received a total of $104,000 in cash prizes.

AccuPal Takes A Bite Out of Dental Pain

Dr. Michael Zweifler's new product, AccuPal, preconditions palatal tissue to make palatal injections more comfortable for dental patients.

Tax Deadline Extended for Disaster Areas

The Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration is extending the deadline for taxpayers in the 52 counties declared disaster areas to file and pay any tax due on their individual or corporate income tax returns until August 15.

Argenta CDC Builds Four LEED-certified Homes in North Little Rock

The U.S. Green Building Council announces that the Argenta Community Development Corporation has been awarded a Gold LEED-H certification rating for building four green homes in North Little Rock.

Arkansas Institutional Fund Invests $5M in Noro-Moseley

The Arkansas Development Finance Authority announced Monday that the Arkansas Institutional Fund has committed $5 million to the sixth fund of Atlanta-based venture capital fund manager Noro-Moseley Partners.

Commercializing Our Innovations (Jerry Adams Commentary)

The challenge is to get the "commercializable" idea through an intense process from a fledgling business on to a healthy business employing more and more of our citizens, young and old.

Dynamic Duo Combine Skills for Web Training

Two northwest Arkansas entrepreneurs hope to be remembered as the pair that killed the worn-out VHS tape, brought corporate training and people development into the 21st century, and saved businesses time, money and headaches.

In Job Creation, Goals Confront Market Reality

Arkansas has made some gains in bringing up the state's per capita income, but more work is needed.

Enterprising Females Forge Own Opportunities

Women-Owned Firms Generate $6B in State.

Infrastructure Fuels J. B. Hunt Intermodal

Infrastructure improvements and high diesel prices are driving intermodal growth for rail companies and J.B. Hunt.

Higher Fuel Prices Can be Boon For Logistics Firms

Northwest Arkansas logistics firms have seen more companies seeking outside assistance to lower operating costs.

Congressmen Call for Fuel Price Investigation

Arkansas' congressmen are asking for a “congressional investigation” into the excessive price of diesel fuel.

Symposium Considers How to Encourage Entrepreneurship in Arkansas

A panel discussion at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce Thursday focused on ways to spark the entrepreneurial spirit in Arkansas.

UALR Students' Nano-Counterfeiting Start-up to Compete in Business Contest

Three University of Arkansas at Little Rock students will showcase their plan to use nanotechnology to detect counterfeit products in the Rice University Business Plan Competition - the largest and most profitable intercollegiate graduate-level competition of its kind.

Pixel Splendor Strives to be Web Contender

Pixel Splendor offers corporate Web design services.

AssessPro A Natural Resource for Headhunters

AssessPros provides a human resource management system to employers.

Fort Smith Director Named to Task Force

Gary Campbell was recently named to the state's Task Force for the 21st Century, an outgrowth of Accelerate Arkansas, an organization dedicated to raising the state's per capita income to at least the national average by 2020.

Popularity of Shiloh Software, Services Spurs Name Change (Touchpoints by Andrew Jensen)

Customers of Bentonville Software Associates changed the company's name long before the move became official in January.

Innovate Arkansas (Editorial)

The launching of Innovate Arkansas will help the state achieve economic development success.

Winrock International to Launch Innovate Arkansas Initiative

Winrock International will launch the Innovate Arkansas program, which will develop and manage a state technology commercialization initiative for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Arkansas Small Business Development Center Nets National Accreditation

For the third time in a row, UALR's Arkansas Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) has earned full accreditation from The Association of Small Business Development Centers, the national accrediting body for Small Business Development Centers.

Electric Transportation of Arkansas Keeps Wheels Rolling

Electric Transportation of Arkansas brings all-electric vehicles to Little Rock.

End2End Accounts for Business Technology

End2End combines technology and accounting to help businesses.

SBA Lending Declines in Arkansas in 2007

2007 was a record-setting year for Small Business Administration-guaranteed loans nationally, but the same was not true in Arkansas.

Stimulus Plan Includes Treats For Companies

The recent $168 billion economic stimulus package offers incentives for small business owners.

Businesses of All Sizes Need Big Web Presence

Web sites can strain the shallow pockets of small businesses but can also allow them a chance to compete with the big boys.

Arkansas at a Glance

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission names these industries principal in Arkansas: manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, business services and tourism. Principal manufactured goods are chemicals, food products, lumber, paper, electronic equipment, rubber and plastic products, furniture, home appliances, apparel, machinery, transportation equipment and steel.

UALR Engineering & IT College Expansion Gets Under Way

Gov. Mike Beebe and University of Arkansas at Little Rock Chancellor Joel E. Anderson mark the start of construction on the university's $30 million expansion of the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology.

Credit Cards Create Convenience for Small Business Owners

Credit Cards Offer Convenience, Flexibility for Small Business Owners

Power List Profiles 187 Industry Leaders

Arkansas Business brings you the Power List, which profiles executives at the top of the largest or most influential organizations in 20 industries.

UALR Nanochemists Discover Novel, Semi-Conducting Nanotube

A UALR chemistry professor working with colleagues at Stanford University, has developed a technique that could break through bottleneck that so far has stymied the scientific quest to create a new generation of electronic systems on the nano-scale.

It's Time to Review Your 2008 Business Strategy (Jim Karrh Commentary)

A good marketing strategy doesn't require hundreds of books on the topic.

UA to Receive $4 Million From State Fund

Nanotechnology researchers at the University of Arkansas will receive a $4 million grant from the state's General Improvement Fund.

SBDC and SBA Partner in Arkansas to Serve Veterans

The Arkansas Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) and the Arkansas District Office of the U. S. Small Business Administration are partnering to provide small business services to veterans in the state including mobilization planning guides, free training, and loan programs.

Employee Handbooks Can Keep Business Owners in Clear (Bottom Line)

Firing an employee is never an enjoyable task for a manager or business owner, regardless of the reasons. But there is a possibility that the awkwardness of letting someone go won't stop at the office or even with chance encounters at the grocery store. It could proceed all the way to court.

Arkansan Helps California Firm Expand in LR

An Arkansas native helps a San Diego high-tech firm expand into the Little Rock market.

Power Technology Expands: Alexander Firm Creates Niche In Giant Industry

Alexander firm grows distribution business in addition to manufacturing operations while taking on a more international flavor.

Intel Chip, Item-Level Tracking on RFID Horizon in '08 (Touchpoints)

The new year will bring a number of advances in the world of Radio Frequency Identification, University of Arkansas professor Bill Hardgrave said.

Touchonix Taps Into Consumer Database

A Bentonville company has develop a new generation of interactive in-store kiosks for retailers and vendors.

Checkpoint Systems Joins the UA RFID Research Center

Checkpoint Systems Inc. of Thorofare, N.J., a retail security technology supply firm, has become a strategic partner in the RFID Research Center at the University of Arkansas

Can Technology Entrepreneurs Become Effective Executives? (R.R. Goforth Commentary)

Sometimes, the founder of a company isn't the right person to take it to the next level.

Fund for Arkansas' Future Invests in Infusion Group

The Fund for Arkansas' Future, an early stage investment fund based in Little Rock, has invested $400,000 in Infusion Marketing Group LLC, a company formed by two former Acxiom executives.

UA Grad Turns Ag-preneur, Revolutionizes Soil Testing

A University of Arkansas graduate has developed an automated soil-testing unit, which could be digging up commercial success.

New Entrepreneur Courses Certify Non-MBA Students

A new certificate available at the University of Arkansas will help non-MBA graduate students learn the basics of entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurs Face Decision That Could Make or Break Their Business

A business name doesn't have a price tag or bar code but it often brings as much to the register as any item in the store it represents.

AutoProbe Fits Nicely in Precision Ag Push

Like "green" in architecture and "lean" in manufacturing, "precision" is the buzzword in agriculture.

AT&T Set to Offer RFID Technology to Hospitals

AT&T is getting into the business of supplying RFID tracking systems to health care providers so they can keep up with expensive equipment and even at-risk patients.

Accelerate Arkansas Unveils Strategic Plan

The board of Accelerate Arkansas unveiled a road map for bridging the gap between the average income in the state and the nation.

Invotek Awarded Three SBIR Grants

Alma-based Invotek Inc. recently earned three Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grants totaling $1.95 million for developing typing techniques for people with disabilities.

UPDATED: Business Group Suggests Strategy for Income Development

Accelerate Arkansas unveiled on Tuesday a five-point strategic plan for bringing Arkansas' per capita income to the national average by 2020.

Acxiom Corp. Listed on InformationWeek 500

Acxiom Corp. ranks No. 117 on the InformationWeek 500 list.

UA, State Firms Lead in RFID Technology

The University of Arkansas and several of the state's large companies are leading the way in discovering practical business uses for radio frequency identification

Process Dynamics Lands DuPont Deal

DuPont recently purchased IsoTherming technology and intellectual property from Fayetteville-based Process Dynamics Inc.

UALR Lands $750,000 NASA Grant

NASA has given the University of Arkansas at Little Rock a $750,000 grant to conduct research into noninvasive methods of exploring the subsurface of the moon for ores and minerals.

ASTA to Provide Share of $9 Million Grant to 3 Universities

The Arkansas Science & Technology Authority said Tuesday that it received a $9 million grant from The National Science Foundation to establish the Arkansas ASSET Initiative.

ASU Receives $1.5 Million To Study Biofuels

The federal government recently awarded Arkansas State University in Jonesboro $1.5 million for its Biofuels Research Program.

AEDC Director Targets Global Marketplace

The AEDC's Maria Haley is focused on tying education and economic development together so the state can attract more high-paying knowledge-based jobs.

UA, Space Photonics Receive NASA Grant

NASA has given a grant to the University of Arkansas and a Fayetteville-based company to aid space exploration.

Hall Tapped for IEC

The Innovation and Entrepreneur Center of Fort Smith has landed a rising star in Michelle Hall as its new director.

UA RFID Center Forms Global Alliance

The University of Arkansas RFID Research Center joins seven other research centers in the U.S., Europe and Asia to found the Global RF Lab Alliance.

Students Win Governor's Cup Awards

The Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation honors entrepreneurial college and graduate students with the annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup awards.

UPDATED: World Trade Center Opens in Rogers

The Arkansas World Trade Center opened its doors in January but had to wait until April to host the dignitaries worthy of a true grand opening.

Wal-Mart, UA, Blue Cross Partner on Research Center

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville says it will partner with the University of Arkansas and Blue Cross Blue Shield to create a research center to focus on "improving the health care delivery system with the use of information technology."

Groups Preparing Way for Entrepreneurship

Jeff Erramouspe, practice director for Austin, Texas-based TIP Strategies, says the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Fort Smith has collected $300,000 in seed money that will cover operations through 2007 and into 2008.

Arkansas Ranks 47th In Economic Transition

Arkansas is trailing in converting to the “New Economy,” according to a study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

Fayetteville Firm at Work on Space Station Components

Space Photonics Inc. of Fayetteville says it has started work on fiber optic components for use on the International Space Station.

Johnson Sponsors Accelerate Arkansas Bills

Sen. Bob Johnson asks for $96.7 million in appropriations on behalf of economic development group Accelerate Arkansas.

UALR Nanocenter Gets SBA Grant to Share Technology with Schools, Businesses

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Nanotechnology Center has received a $493,615 grant from the Small Business Administration to assist researchers at other state universities and Arkansas businesses to create significant innovations through the science of working with materials at the atomic level.

Group Suggests Start-up Incentives

Accelerate Arkansas intends to propose legislation to coordinate and fund university R&D projects and the incubation of start-up companies in the state.

Hospitals Embrace High-tech Care

Little Rock hospitals are turning to technology for everything from better entertainment centers in patient rooms to faster access to medical records.

Vegrandis, Space Photonics Get Government Funding

Vegrandis LLC of Fayetteville received a $150,000 award from the National Science Foundation.

Biofuels: State Hopes to Spin Straw Into Gold

The economic potential and the interest in biofuels is picking up in the state.

$5.1 Million Coming to Develop Arkansas Delta

Four of Arkansas' members of Congress announced a $5.1 million investment to assist in the economic development of the Arkansas Delta.

EquityNet Eases Investor Worries

Fayetteville company launches Web site geared toward linking investors with entrepreneurs.

Inventor Designs High-Tech Paper

Researchers at the University of Arkansas develop titanium nanowires that could become an alternative to conventional paper.

Forum Fosters Entrepreneurs

Arkansas Venture Forum Conference allowed entrepreneurs learn how to attract investors.

NanoMech Develops Nanotechnology for Implants

NanoMech is developing implant coatings to improve functionality and lifespan.

Biodiesel Plant Planned for Little Rock Port

Green Way Bio Energy LLC of Little Rock plans a 10 million-gallon biodiesel production facility at the Little Rock Port.

State to Get Another Biodiesel Plant

Arkansas SoyEnergy Group LLC, led by the Hornbecks of DeWitt, plan to build an all-soybean biodiesel plant.

Fund for Arkansas' Future Invests $300,000 with Balm Innovations

The Fund for Arkansas' Future says it has invested $300,000 with skin cream maker Balm Innovations.

NSF Grant to Fund Mid-South Community College Transportation Center

Mid-South Community College announces it will use a $419,383 grant from the National Science Foundation to establish a center to study transportation and logistics technology.

Patriot BioFuels Plans to Quadruple Production to Meet Demand

Patriot BioFuels gets more funding from two of the its original financial backers to ramp up production of biodiesel.

SFC Fluidics Lands Grant

SFC Fluidics LLC of Fayetteville receives a $100,000 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research award from the New Science Foundation to develop a laboratory-on-a-chip.

UALR Hires Director for Nanotechnology Center

UALR's new director of its Nanotechnology Center hopes to turn research into economic development engine for the state.

Entrepreneurship and the Reality of Faith (Steven B. Weintz Commentary)

Faith is an essential element of the entrepreneurial psyche.

Advisers Prep Company Path

No captain of industry built it all alone. Most successful business owners will readily admit that there's a network of professionals and advisers who helped make their ventures successful.

Statewide Private Equity Transactions Slip Slightly

The eight firms on the Business Journal's annual list of private equity firms closed 37 transactions in 2005, down 7.5 percent from 40 transactions closed in 2004.

Fund for Arkansas' Future Invests in Patriot BioFuels

The Fund for Arkansas' Future has invested $100,000 in the startup Patriot BioFuels Inc.

UAMS Researchers Look to Future

Entrepreneurs seeking to grow companies from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences research got a boost with a roundtable that allowed face to face meetings with venture capitalists.

BioDetection Can Cut Testing Time

New technology developed by BioDetection Instruments LLC of Fayetteville could drastically cut testing time for food processors such as Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale.

Fund for Arkansas' Future Makes First Investment

Arkansas angel investors group makes its first investment after raising $6.6 million.

Stuttgart Biodiesel Startup Company Sees Great Potential in State

Arkansas is finally about to get its first producer of biodiesel fuel.

Milken Study: State Lags in Knowledge-based Economy

Arkansas is operating on the periphery of the knowledge-based economy, according to a report by the Milken Institute.