http://www.talkbusiness.neten-USBreaking business news from around Arkansas60http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=6682ad60-9297-4dae-ba81-f6606b50f450&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ officials said today that they expect overall residential customer electricity rates to decrease over 10 percent in 2010... [...]]]>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:34:27 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><strong>Entergy Arkansas</strong> officials said today that they expect overall residential customer electricity rates to decrease over 10 percent in 2010 even with a requested increase in base rates.<br /> <br /> Lower system fuel costs and a ?sizeable reduction? in a federal regulator payment were cited for the expected lower residential rates.<br /> <br /> <strong>Entergy Arkansas</strong> predicted that residential customer bills will still be around $10 a month lower in July when new base rates, if approved, would go into effect.<br /> <strong><br /> Entergy</strong> has asked for a $223 million increase in base rates, its first request for a base rate increase in 25 years. <br /> <br /> ?We are very pleased by these developments,? said <strong>Hugh McDonald, president of Entergy Arkansas</strong>. ?Customers have been impacted by high fuel costs over the past several years, and it is good news that Entergy Arkansas will be able to keep customer bills relatively low for the foreseeable future. We expect lower fuel prices and a downward adjustment in System Agreement payments to more than offset an increase in base rates.?<br /> <br /> <strong>Entergy Arkansas</strong> is the state?s largest electric utility providing service in 63 of Arkansas? 75 counties. </font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=cc92c2a1-d74b-4433-be05-369a61304064&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[, which acquired Alltel last year, said it invested $56 million in Arkansas during 2009 to improve its cellular... [...]]]>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:01:18 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><strong>Verizon Wireless</strong>, which acquired Alltel last year, said it invested $56 million in Arkansas during 2009 to improve its cellular network.<br /> <br /> The investment includes adding new cell sites and network upgrades, deploying cells on light trucks to handle increased call volume during high traffic community and university events, as well as other projects to expand services and coverage for wireless customers in Arkansas.<br /> <br /> <strong>Verizon</strong> said it added or expanded over 60 cell sites in metropolitan and rural areas throughout the state in 2009.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=5ba10eb2-8b78-4177-b428-48e5bb54ef5e&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ <br... [...]]]>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:59:45 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Arkansas will be ground zero for several conferences aimed at highlighting and moving forward the state?s intellectual commercial prospects.<br /> <br /> <strong>Rob Moritz</strong> with our content partner, the <strong>Arkansas News Bureau</strong>, reports on one conference taking place in Little Rock this week.<br /> <br /> </font><blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">The first in a series of regional conferences organized by the National Academy of Sciences wraps up today at the Clinton presidential library, with business leaders highlighting a variety of innovations and new business possibilities.</font><br /> <br /> <font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">?We now have a cluster of IT companies, particularly with the influx of (Hewlett-Packard) and Acxiom, and for all practical purposes Alltel was an IT company, and then there?s Verizon,? Dr. Mary Good with UALR tells Moritz.</font><br /> </blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Several related conferences are planned in the coming weeks. You can read more at <strong><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://arkansasnews.com/2010/03/09/national-academy-of-sciences-studies-business-innovations-in-arkansas/">this link</a></font></strong>.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=f1dc3a58-7fc2-4eed-9d5d-d84188ef3062&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ says that state unemployment remained unchanged at 7.6% in January 2010.? One year ago, the... [...]]]>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:25:03 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">The <strong>Arkansas Department of Workforce Services</strong> says that state unemployment remained unchanged at 7.6% in January 2010.? One year ago, the state?s unemployment rate was 6.5%.<br /> <br /> The state revised its December 2009 jobless rate from 7.7% to 7.6%.<br /> <br /> The January U.S. unemployment rate declined from 10% in December to 9.7%.<br /> <br /> <strong>DWS Communications Director Kimberly Friedman</strong> said, ?Although Arkansas is still feeling the effects of the recession, our rate has only increased two-tenths of a percentage point since July 2009. It is too soon to tell, however, if our unemployment rate is stabilizing.?<br /> <br /> For the month, jobs in the <strong>trade, transportation and utilities</strong> sector fell by an estimated 7,600 workers.? Retail trade was the biggest decliner due to the fall-off from a ramped-up holiday workforce.<br /> <br /> <strong>Government</strong> employment declined seasonally by 4,500 workers due to winter break at public schools.? <strong>Manufacturing</strong> posted job losses of 3,900 in January, while <strong>professional and business services</strong> added 1,600 jobs during the month. </font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=360d3d05-8d57-4195-aa75-7827c456dd5d&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[, discusses the good headaches that come from a company that... [...]]]>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:58:59 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><strong>Kenny Tomlin,</strong> CEO of Rogers-based <strong>Rockfish Interactive</strong>, discusses the good headaches that come from a company that receives international recognition.<br /> <br /> His firm was selected as <strong>Advertising Age?s</strong> "Small Agency of the Year," which brought worldwide exposure to his ?small shop? of 80 employees. ?<br /> <br /> In an online edition of <strong>Ad Age</strong>, <strong>Tomlin</strong> offers advice to the next small agency winner:<br /> <br /> </font><blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">No, money does not begin to fall from the sky when the award is announced; you still have to earn the business. But you can bet that you will be contacted by marketers who otherwise would not have bothered.</font><br /> <br /> <font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">The next Small Agency of the Year will quickly have to figure out how to manage a significant increase of RFPs without taking too much time away from current client work. You might find yourself turning business away. You'll have a very busy HR executive, you will be constantly reevaluating your floor plan to figure out how to get another body into your space, and you will be taking calls from the press and asked to speak at industry events.</font><br /> <br /> <font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Naturally these are the types of growing pains that any agency would love to have because they represent opportunity.</font><br /> </blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><br /> You can read the full op-ed at <strong><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://adage.com/smallagency/post?article_id=142705">this link</a></font></strong>.? We were proud to select <strong>Rockfish</strong> as <strong>Talk Business?</strong> ?One To Watch? award winner this year.? You can read an article on their successful business at <strong><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=b47d7ef7-f71e-4f7a-8c7d-ce3634fe7831&amp;WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55&amp;Type=0">this link</a></font></strong> or check out <strong>Tomlin?s</strong> interview from our TV program last year <strong><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl0dNJlrW2M">here</a></font></strong>.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=fd6fafe9-cb69-4abf-9772-dc3bc765aadc&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ who recently predicted financial improvements in 2010, were afforded a favorable second... [...]]]>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:11:52 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Executives with Springdale-based <strong>Tyson Foods,</strong> who recently predicted financial improvements in 2010, were afforded a favorable second opinion from <strong>Fitch Ratings</strong>.<br /> <br /> Chicago-based <strong>Fitch</strong> rated <strong>Tyson Foods?</strong> debt BB and gave the company a stable outlook. The stable rating not only provides independent confirmation of recent comments by <strong>Tyson Foods?</strong> execs, but maintaining the rating helps <strong>Tyson Foods</strong> avoid higher costs related to debt financing.<br /> <br /> ?Tyson's ratings reflect its leading U.S. market positions, strong brand recognition and the diversification provided by its chicken, beef, pork and prepared foods businesses,? <strong>Fitch</strong> noted in the statement. <br /> <br /> ?Operating earnings and cash flow volatility combined with high debt levels have historically caused significant swings in Tyson's credit statistics. However, solid liquidity and declining debt levels are viewed positively,?<strong> Fitch</strong> added.<br /> <br /> Read more from our content partner, <strong>The City Wire</strong>, at <strong><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.thecitywire.com/index.php?q=node/8824">this link</a></font></strong>.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=263f7b5d-22ca-4849-b8e7-78a8308bdf53&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[If you?re a manufacturing concern in Arkansas and want to learn more about tax breaks and grant opportunities for your business, then check this out.<br... [...]]]>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:09:26 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">If you?re a manufacturing concern in Arkansas and want to learn more about tax breaks and grant opportunities for your business, then check this out.<br /> <strong><br /> Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions (AMS)</strong> will host a free lunch and learn for manufacturers interested in learning how to best utilize government grants and programs currently available to grow their businesses. ?<br /> <br /> Programs to be reviewed include Technology Transfer Assistance Grants (TTAG), Trade Adjustment Assistance Grants (TAA), Incumbent Workforce Training (IWTP) and manufacturing utility tax credits.<br /> <br /> The event is free on March 16th from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the <strong>Pulaski Technical College</strong> business and industry center near the <strong>Little Rock Airport</strong>.? <strong><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.mfgsolutions.org/">Click here</a></font></strong> for more information.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=166d66a2-d374-48b9-a4f3-9cc6439ce40e&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ for an... [...]]]>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:44:50 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Aluminum die casting company <strong>Pace Industries</strong> has acquired the zinc die casting division of <strong>Del Mar Industries</strong> for an undisclosed sum.<br /> <br /> Fayetteville-based <strong>Pace </strong>said the acquisition was effective immediately.<br /> <br /> ?Now more than ever, companies are looking for ways to efficiently grow business,? said <strong>CEO Scott Bull</strong>.? ?This acquisition not only helps us achieve that goal but strengthens our position and expands our capabilities in the zinc die casting sector.?<br /> <br /> <strong>Del Mar</strong>, which is based in Gardena, California is a 65-year old company.? <strong>Pace</strong> has zinc die operations in Harrison, as well as St. Paul, Minnesota and North Billerica, Massachusetts.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=3cc8d5f0-a294-400a-9cb4-39d72b2614de&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[, a $1.25 billion, 185-mile natural gas pipeline that will serve the... [...]]]>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:28:44 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Construction has begun on the <strong>Fayetteville Express Pipeline</strong>, a $1.25 billion, 185-mile natural gas pipeline that will serve the <strong>Fayetteville Shale</strong> region in Arkansas.<br /> <br /> The 42-inch pipeline will originate in Conway County, travel through White County, and terminate at an interconnection in Panola County, Mississippi.<br /> <br /> The project is a 50-50 joint venture between <strong>Energy Transfer Partners</strong> and <strong>Kinder Morgan Energy Partners</strong>.? When the pipeline is in service in late 2010, it will have initial capacity to transport 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.<br /> <br /> ?The start of construction on FEP marks an exciting milestone for us as this project will ensure that our customers have strategic takeaway capacity out of the Fayetteville Shale,? said <strong>Luke Fletcher, VP for Energy Transfer Partners Interstate Pipeline Division.</strong></font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=dd6f70c8-5a04-45c7-ac5c-168e0078afb0&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ Jones will be at... [...]]]>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:18:27 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">If you?re a <strong>Dallas Cowboys</strong> or running back <strong>Felix Jones</strong> fan, this item might be for you.<br /> <br /> Jones will be at the Little Rock <strong>Dillard?s</strong> at <strong>Park Plaza</strong> on Saturday, March 13, 2010 to sign autographs and to promote fashion items from<strong> Perry Ellis</strong>.<br /> <br /> The event starts at 2pm and you?ll have to purchase a minimum of $50 worth of <strong>Perry Ellis</strong> merchandise to make the autograph cut.<br /> <br /> For more details, contact <strong>Dillard?s</strong> at <strong>Park Plaza</strong>.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=2b7a19f6-7254-417f-93fa-8d2f913c058b&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ says it will give about 580 dealerships that are losing their franchise agreements the chance to be reinstated.<br... [...]]]>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:35:20 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana"><font color="#000000"><strong>General Motors</strong> says it will give about 580 dealerships that are losing their franchise agreements the chance to be reinstated.<br /> <br /> Last year, <strong>GM</strong> said it would terminate franchise agreements with about 2,000 of its local auto dealers nationwide.<br /> <br /> The <strong>Detroit Free Press</strong> reports:</font> <br /> <br /> </font><blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">General Motors is preparing to provide some of its dealers with rejected franchises an opportunity to reinstate their stores, and the Detroit automaker plans to provide details during a webcast today at 2 p.m.</font><br /> </blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana"><br /> The move could result in several Arkansas auto dealerships getting a second chance to avoid closure or a new business path. You can read more on this subject at <strong><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20100305/BUSINESS01/100305035/1319/Hundreds-of-GM-dealers-could-get-their-stores-back">this link</a></font></strong>.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=325a3bf9-ce8f-4c01-9ee9-9759bb644c4c&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ today announced that it will close nine financial centers in nine cities throughout Arkansas in June as part... [...]]]>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:30:10 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><strong>Simmons First National Corp.</strong> today announced that it will close nine financial centers in nine cities throughout Arkansas in June as part of a ?Branch Right Sizing? initiative. <br /> <br /> The affected branches are in: Altus, Grady, Gould, Leslie, Cherokee Village, El Dorado, Huttig, Jonesboro, and Hector.<br /> <br /> After the closing of these nine financial centers <strong>Simmons First</strong> will conduct business from 79 offices of which 75 are financial centers in 40 communities.<br /> <br /> ?Our purpose is to make sure our financial centers are located in the most convenient locations to best serve our customers, and to accomplish this goal in an efficient profitable manner,? said <strong>CEO Tommy May</strong>.<br /> <br /> ?Over the last three years Simmons First has closed, consolidated and opened new financial centers to continually manage our product delivery system and best meet the needs of our customers.? The affected financial centers have experienced a decline in transaction activity over the past several years.? This decline in activity, without realistic expectations for reversing the decline has led us to the decision to close these locations,? <strong>May </strong>added.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=0af26bd3-6c05-4a1e-8d65-eab3bf4351cb&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ Those assets have been under the supervision... [...]]]>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:41:53 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Remember the old <strong>Alltel</strong> assets that weren?t sold to <strong>Verizon</strong>?<br /> <br /> Those assets have been under the supervision of a trustee as federal regulators dot the I?s and cross the T?s on a pending sale to <strong>AT&amp;T</strong> and <strong>Atlantic Tele-Network (ATN)</strong>.<br /> <br /> <strong>ATN</strong> is locating its wireless division headquarters ? <strong>Allied Wireless</strong> ? in Little Rock under the direction of <strong>former Alltel executive Frank O?Mara</strong>.<br /> <br /> <strong>ATN</strong> says that it expects the <strong>Alltel</strong> sale to close in the next 1-2 months.<br /> <br /> ?We don?t see in front of us any real impediments for approval,? said <strong>ATN CEO Michael Prior</strong>. ?So far our predictions [for a closing date] have been overly optimistic.?<br /> <br /> The <strong>FCC</strong> meets on March 16 and the <strong>ATN-AT&amp;T-Alltel</strong> deal could find its way on that agenda.<br /> <br /> <strong>Prior </strong>warned that he expected to lose customer traffic when the deal closes and a transition is completed. ?<br /> <br /> ?It?s going to be a challenge to replace that traffic in the short-term,? <strong>Prior</strong> said.? ?It could hold our business flat.?<br /> <br /> He said that currently the company?s wireless division is ?making good use of its time? with strategic planning decisions in part thanks to $10 million in financial incentives from the state of Arkansas.<br /> <br /> <strong>ATN</strong> earned $5.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 on revenue of $59.5 million.? One year ago, the company had net income of $6.6 million on revenue of $55.4 million.? <strong>ATN</strong> said its wireless business grew 35% year-over-year.<br /> <br /> When the <strong>Alltel</strong> assets are folded into <strong>ATN?s</strong> operations, it expects revenue to grow by an additional $450 million to $500 million.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=e3b96b8e-97c2-4b20-bbfe-e2fb783b9759&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[board of directors has approved an annual dividend of $1.21 per share, an 11 percent increase from the $1.09 per share... [...]]]>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:25:43 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><strong>Wal-Mart Stores' </strong>board of directors has approved an annual dividend of $1.21 per share, an 11 percent increase from the $1.09 per share paid during fiscal year 2010. <br /> <br /> For this current fiscal year, the annual dividend will be paid in four quarterly installments of $0.3025 per share.<br /> <br /> <strong>Wal-Mart</strong> says that its dividend payout this year will return more than $4.5 billion to shareholders.? <strong>Wal-Mart</strong> has increased its dividend every year since its first declared a dividend of $0.05 per share in March 1974.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=aeded5d9-5e70-439a-88e2-6379378fcbe9&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ announced today that sales for the four weeks ended February 27, 2010 were $499.2 million compared to monthly sales one year... [...]]]>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:11:06 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><strong>Dillard?s</strong> announced today that sales for the four weeks ended February 27, 2010 were $499.2 million compared to monthly sales one year ago of $497.7 million.<br /> <br /> That?s a slight uptick in sales versus one year ago for the Little Rock-based mall retailer.<br /> <br /> <strong>Dillard's</strong> same-store sales increased 2% for the four-week period.<br /> <br /> After months of belt-tightening, <strong>Dillard?s</strong> <strong><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=a91d9c55-e991-4f7c-866a-baa889a53c85&amp;WeblogID=">recorded</a></font></strong> a fourth quarter profit of $79.5 million on Monday.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=0f1170dd-154a-4af6-85a9-3fc59e7cee6e&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ ., headquartered in Irving, Texas, says it will close... [...]]]>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:01:13 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Another economic blow for the community of Hope.<br /> <br /> <strong>Commercial Metals Co</strong>., headquartered in Irving, Texas, says it will close its joist and deck fabricating facility in Hope as the company exits the business altogether.<br /> <br /> As many as 60 remaining employees at the Hope factory will be released by late-April.? The company had already scaled back production and employees in January.<br /> <br /> A company official says there is little likelihood that the plant would re-open under a different production line.<br /> <br /> More from the local paper, <strong>The Hope Star</strong>, at <strong><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.hopestar.com/news/business/x1013164565/CMC-a-Hope-business-calls-it-quits">this link</a></font></strong>.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=16f8dd22-c3cb-4a0c-b1ae-1746d3086088&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ The City... [...]]]>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:39:20 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Two major developments could re-shape the greater Fort Smith region?s influence in Arkansas and Washington, D.C.<br /> <br /> <strong>The City Wire</strong> reports that efforts are underway to create a western Arkansas-eastern Oklahoma regional economic alliance.<br /> <br /> </font><blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">The Regional Economic Development Alliance ?is one of the top four goals of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber? according to Rob Ratley, Arkansas manager for Oklahoma City-based OG&amp;E and head of the chamber?s economic development division.</font><br /> </blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><br /> There is also a new push to re-start the region?s <strong>I-49</strong> coalition, the interstate project that remains incomplete in western Arkansas.? That simple fact is the biggest reason that supporters of the major road project are having trouble finding renewed support in the halls of Congress.<br /> <br /> <strong>Cong. John Boozman?s</strong> spokesperson shares this:<br /> <br /> </font><blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">?The I-49 Coalition is also working to increase the membership. Getting members to join the caucus is increasingly difficult because the only unfinished portions of I-49 are in Arkansas,? said Boozman spokeswoman Sara Lasure.</font><br /> </blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">You can read more on both of these efforts at <strong><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.thecitywire.com/index.php?q=node/8618">this link</a></font></strong> and <strong><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.thecitywire.com/index.php?q=node/8573">this link</a></font></strong>.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=379376dc-91a0-40ef-9afe-b3a54ccd0015&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[, dedicated its $28 million customer service... [...]]]>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:15:49 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Today, the company that bills itself as the world?s largest technology firm, <strong>Hewlett-Packard</strong>, dedicated its $28 million customer service center in Conway.<br /> <br /> <strong>H-P</strong> said it plans to employ more than 1,000 employees in Conway, a slight revision from its previously announced hiring of 1,200 workers. Average salaries are expected in the $40,000 range.<br /> <br /> The state-of-the-art center will support customer service for <strong>H-P?s</strong> home, business and enterprise clients.? It will also house some sales representatives working with large corporate accounts.<br /> <br /> ?H-P is a company founded on innovation focused on driving growth and the highest levels of service in the world,? said <strong>Mark Hurd, H-P chairman and CEO</strong>. ?H-P demands great talent and we believe we found that in Conway.?<br /> <br /> <strong>H-P</strong> chose Conway in part due to its close proximity to the universities and colleges in central Arkansas.? Conway is home to three colleges ? <strong>UCA, Hendrix</strong> and <strong>Central Baptist College. UALR</strong> is less than 30 minutes from Conway.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=ccc12c2e-500e-45df-b89f-e83fe328beec&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[Key tax collections fell below last year?s levels in February, but overall receipts surpassed expectations thanks to a significant amount of fewer tax... [...]]]>Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:48:15 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000">Key tax collections fell below last year?s levels in February, but overall receipts surpassed expectations thanks to a significant amount of fewer tax refunds.<br /> <br /> ?Refunds were well below forecast, which was a good sign,? said <strong>John Shelnutt</strong>, chief economist and head of the state?s Office of Economic Analysis and Tax Research.<br /> <br /> He warned that with two months to go in the tax refund season that state finance officials are ?not making a trend of it? and will be watching to see how individual tax refunds fluctuate in March and April.<br /> <br /> February?s <strong>net available general revenues </strong>totaled $365 million, 12.5% below last year, but 8.5% above forecast.<br /> <br /> <strong>Gross receipts</strong> were down 7.2% from one year ago to $158.1 million.? Those collections ? which include sales and use taxes ? were 2.7% below forecast.<br /> <strong><br /> Individual income taxes</strong> were down from last February by 11.4%.? Income taxes from individuals neared $180 million, 0.3% below expectations.<br /> <br /> However, tax refunds to Arkansans were much less than expected for the month.? <strong>Individual income tax refunds</strong> in February totaled $134.6 million, about 10.8%, or $16.3 million, less than forecast.<br /> <br /> <strong>Corporate income taxes</strong> trended higher although total collections don?t significantly impact overall revenues.? Collections topped $4.1 million, a 25% increase over last year and 42% above forecast.? Corporate tax collections can fluctuate widely and make up a small percentage of overall taxes.<br /> <br /> <strong>Year-to-date net available general revenues</strong> totaled $2.87 billion, roughly 1.7% below last year, but 0.6% above the last revised budget forecast.</font> http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=a91d9c55-e991-4f7c-866a-baa889a53c85&WeblogID=2c1ca2ae-06e6-4883-9e3a-554f31d9db55<![CDATA[ recorded quite a turnaround despite lower sales with a fourth quarter profit of $79.5 million.? One year ago,... [...]]]>Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:57:41 GMT<font size="2" face="Verdana" color="#000000"><strong>Dillard?s</strong> recorded quite a turnaround despite lower sales with a fourth quarter profit of $79.5 million.? One year ago, <strong>Dillard?s</strong> lost $149.3 million.<br /> <br /> For the fourth quarter, which is the mall retailer?s most active sales period, revenue declined to $1.8 billion from $2 billion one year earlier.? Company officials credited better margins and tighter expense controls for the improved bottom line.<br /> <br /> ?We are very pleased with our solid fourth quarter operating performance marked by gross margin improvement of 820 basis points of sales and continued cost reduction. Additionally, we achieved strong cash flow from operations for the year as well as notable year-over-year reductions in inventory and debt,? said <strong>CEO Bill Dillard</strong>.<br /> <br /> ?Moving ahead, we will maintain our disciplined approach to these areas while effecting continued merchandise mix improvements to further strengthen our appeal to the Dillard?s customer,? he added.<br /> <br /> <strong>Dillard?s</strong> closed four stores in the fourth quarter of 2009 and announced plans to close two more in Texas in the first half of 2010.<br /> <br /> For the full year, <strong>Dillard?s</strong> reported net income of $68.5 million on sales of $6.1 billion.? One year ago, the company posted a net loss of $241.1 million on sales of $6.8 billion.? For the full year, same-stores declined 10 percent, the company said.</font>