Correction: Marc Fusaro is an associate professor of economics at Arkansas Tech University’s College of Business. His last name was misspelled in this article.
Special-needs center
opens in Russellville
Pediatrics Plus opened a 23,000-square-foot, $4 million facility Monday in Russellville.
As many as 50 jobs will be created by Pediatrics Plus, a developmental preschool and therapy center for special-needs children. Pediatrics Plus opened its first facility in Conway 12 years ago. It now employs about 400 with offices in Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock and Russellville.
Pediatrics Plus purchased the former Hog Wild Fun Center at 301 N. Sidney Ave. in January. It can accommodate as many as 300 students and includes classrooms, a library, nurse's office, a commercial kitchen and 10,000 square feet of space for therapy.
Among the positions expected to be added are certified teachers, teaching assistants and occupational, physical and speech therapists. Services are offered from birth to 21 years of age.
-- Chris Bahn
Arkansas Tech index
sees rise in 11 cities
Eleven cities on the Arkansas Tech Business Index saw increases in May, the university's College of Business, which created the list, said Monday.
Fort Smith had the highest index value for the third month in a row. Its value increased by 2.77 points to 109.70 in May.
The index is a ranking of 16 cities in the state created by measuring labor, housing market, construction and retail sales indexes. The index has a base value of 100. A rating above 100 indicates a city is doing better than the state average from 2009 to present.
West Memphis saw the biggest gain on the index in May, rising 2.91 points to 95.31.
"[West Memphis] home sales were strong," said Marc Fusarocq, associate professor of economics at the university, in a prepared statement. "In addition to more houses being sold than usual [in West Memphis], larger houses were sold in May. The average home sale price rose from $92,000 in April to over $138,000 in May."
-- Jessica Seaman
State stocks begin
week with 5.15 jump
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, gained 5.15 to 347.01 on Monday.
"Stocks kicked off the week on a positive note as reduced concerns surrounding global conflicts and an encouraging housing report helped the market advance," said Bob Williams, senior vice president and managing director of Delta Trust Investments Inc. in Little Rock.
Arkansas stocks finished strong with Acxiom and ArcBest both up nearly 4 percent, Williams said.
On the downside, USA Truck gave up more than 2 percent on below average volume, he said.
While trading was light among most component issues, Dillard's saw heavy activity, Williams said.
Total volume of the index was 15.4 million shares.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business on 08/19/2014