Northwest Arkansas Business Journal

1 day ago | talkbusiness.net | Michael Tilley

Fort Smith may arguably be the third-largest city in Arkansas and center of the state’s third-largest metro area, but the Mercy Fort Smith hospital emergency room is the busiest in the state, according to Ryan Gehrig, president of Mercy Arkansas Communities. Gehrig spoke Friday (May 2) to more than 150 people who gathered for a tour of the hospital’s new emergency room and intensive care unit (ICU) facility.

1 day ago | talkbusiness.net | Michael Tilley

An income tax extension for those in storm-damaged areas and income tax payments made prior to April were primarily responsible for a 15.5% decline in Arkansas tax revenue in April. The April revenue was 9.2% below the budget forecastArkansas’ fiscal year-to-date (July 2024-April 2025) tax revenue is $6.852 billion, down 5% compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year, according to Friday’s (May 2) report from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).

2 days ago | talkbusiness.net | Michael Tilley

“There’s no chance they’ll bring that mission to Fort Smith.” That was the first thought Col. Jay “Evil” Spohn had when asked to review sites for a planned new foreign military pilot training center. Spohn, now commander of the 188th Wing at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, flew at Ebbing in 2007-2009 when the 188th had a manned mission.

2 days ago | talkbusiness.net | Michael Tilley

An almost completed “solar garden” adjacent to the First National Bank of Fort Smith Phoenix bank branch in Fort Smith is also a pause point with just under $1 million the bank has spent on solar energy infrastructure. First National Bank CEO Sam Sicard said the “solar garden” – his term – idea hit when bank officials were trying to figure out what to do with less than a half acre next to the bank branch.

3 days ago | talkbusiness.net | George Jared

The farmer members of Riceland Foods have elected three new members to its board of directors. Benjamin Nobles of Poplar Bluff, Mo. will serve as the new director representing District Four. Mikka Felty of Stanford, Ark. will serve as a director of District Two. Gary Sitzer of Weiner, Ark. will serve Riceland members in District Three. Riceland’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Rich Hillman welcomed the incoming directors.