October 2009
2 posts
14 tags
Mitsubishi to bring 400 jobs to Fort Chaffee →
Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas has announced it will build a $100 million wind turbine manufacturing plant on 90 acres at Fort Chaffee that will employ up to 400 once fully operational. Ivy Owen, executive director of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (left), and Fort Smith City Administrator Dennis Kelly share a laugh prior to the start of a press conference detailing the decision by...
14 tags
Whirlpool: Recall of 150 workers possible →
A few laid off Whirlpool workers and, indirectly, the area economy may have a financially brighter holiday season. Whirlpool Corp. confirmed Friday the possible recall of up to 150 workers to support increased refrigerator production planned at its Fort Smith plant for at least the remainder of 2009. Sources have told The City Wire that up to 200 could be recalled, and that seven previously...
September 2009
1 post
11 tags
SBA to Ease Limits on Loans for Buyouts →
The Small Business Administration, after enduring a backlash from lenders and business appraisers, plans Oct. 1 to modify a restriction it had placed on loans used to finance acquisitions of small companies.
In March, the SBA, capped the guarantee it was willing to extend on “goodwill” financing, which is the amount of a loan used to purchase an existing business’s intangible...
August 2009
6 posts
23 tags
FSM: Cap and trade bill will wreck U.S. economy
Former energy executive Claiborne Deming told a Friday lunch gathering of about 100 Fort Smith area business and civic leaders that the proposed federal cap and trade bill is “extraordinarily draconian,” will destroy the U.S. economy, and it was “hijacked” by environmental extremists in the Democrat Party. And those were the kind things he had to say.
The American Clean Energy and Security Act of...
11 tags
State's Jobless Rate Rises to 7.4 Percent
Arkansas’ unemployment rate rose to 7.4 percent in July, compared with 7.2 percent in June. The state’s jobless rate was 5 percent in July 2008 The U.S. rate for July fell slightly to 9.4 percent, compared with 9.5 percent in June. The nation’s unemployment rate in July 2008 was 5.8 percent. Arkansas’ civilian labor force decreased 5,200 in July, the state Department of...
21 tags
Financing your firm with a credit card? Bad idea!
Think twice before slapping down that credit card to cover costs at your new business. The high cost of plastic credit can drag down growth at a young firm and increase the chance that it will fail in its first three years, according to a study conducted for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. For every $1,000 in unpaid credit card debt, a start-up business increases the probability that it...
9 tags
Tyson to pay 2 Million in Pollution settlement
Tyson will may more than two million dollars as a part of a settlement over pollution. Prosecutors say that the Tyson plant near dakota city, nebraska polluted the missouri river. Tyson says the company cooperated with state and federal regulators and made operational and equipment changes when it became aware of the wastewater issues.
Read the statement or watch the video: KNWA/Fox24
The good...
6 tags
Wall Street: Bailed out - Main Street: Can't get...
Where’s My Stimulus?
As the government throws billions at bailouts, Main Street is feeling left out.
During her four years as an entrepreneur, Trina Nelson has seen plenty of ups and downs. But nothing prepared her for the crisis last December, when the American economy lay in tatters and her Dallas-based catering business nearly collapsed.
“The phones stopped ringing,” says the founder of...
11 tags
Whirlpool to slash 300 jobs
Whirlpool Corp. plans to cut as many as 50 salaried jobs by late August and about another 250 hourly positions in September at its Fort Smith plant. The factory manufactures side-by-side refrigerators and icemakers.
Company officials announced Thursday between 40 and 50 salaried jobs would be eliminated, Jill Saletta, Whirlpool spokeswoman, stated in an e-mail. Whirlpool will offer severance...
July 2009
3 posts
6 tags
FORT SMITH : Proposed rule bans signs along city...
BY DAVE HUGHES
FORT SMITH - The city’s enforcement against signs in rights of way has been so lacking that many people believe the practice is legal, a staff member told city directors Tuesday. Wally Bailey, director of planning, presented a draft ordinance to city directors Tuesday that would for the most part ban placement of signs next to city streets. Signs for businesses, real estate,...
6 tags
“Questions continue about the possibility of Whirlpool Corp. losing its contract...”
– Questions linger about Whirlpool, Sears relationship - The City Wire
13 tags
Small business owners react to Obama Health Care...
Small business owners employee about 80% of the population! Read more & send in your story! via: http://bit.ly/3×5Ygy
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I am a restaurant owner, and I have had this restaurant for over 16 year. I have over 10 employees currently, some part-time, and some full time. It is not I don’t want to provide health care for my employee, I just can not afford. Obama’s health care plan...