NEWS IN BRIEF

Osceola gets grant to prep for steel mill

Osceola has received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Commerce Department for infrastructure improvements in preparation for the Big River Steel mill planned on a site near the city, the agency announced Tuesday.

The grant will allow the city to make water and sewer infrastructure upgrades to support development, according to a news release. The money was awarded by the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration.

“The Obama Administration is committed to improving our nation’s infrastructure, which is crucial for both economic growth and job creation,” Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said in the statement.

Osceola is planning to spend another $4.8 million to upgrade infrastructure - mainly for water and sewer needs - over the next few years to accommodate the steel mill and other industries, said Mayor Dickie Kennemore.

  • Jessica Seaman

Springdale Wal-Mart planning to hire 300

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

will hire about 300 people for a new Wal-Mart Supercenter off Elm Springs Road in Springdale. The store is scheduled to open this summer. Prospective employees are being asked to apply from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at a temporary hiring center at 5320 W. Sunset Ave., Suite 183, in Springdale. Applications also are being accepted at careers.walmart.com.

The global retailer is particularly interested in hiring military veterans through its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, which offers a job to qualified veterans who have been honorably discharged within the past 12 months. More information on the veteran program is available at walmartcareerswithamission.com.

  • Cyd King

Arkansas Index dips to end day at 335.86

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, fell 0.58 to 335.86 Tuesday.

“The major averages closed in positive territory following a round of generally positive earnings releases while the day’s economic announcements were not as encouraging,” said Bob Williams, senior vice president and managing director of Delta Trust Investments Inc. in Little Rock.

Among Arkansas financial-services firms, First Federal rose 1.6 percent while Home BancShares pulled back about 2 percent in light trading. Dillard’s set another all-time high during the day before closing below session peaks.

The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.

Business, Pages 27 on 04/30/2014

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