News in brief

$500,000 Tyson gift aids arts center redo

Tyson Foods has made a $500,000 donation toward the Walton Arts Center's $23 million expansion.

The center announced the gift Wednesday along with plans to name a renovated exterior Tyson Plaza and the primary entry from Dickson Street the Tyson Entrance. Tyson Foods has been a longtime supporter of the center, sponsoring seasonal programming, education programs and capital projects.

"In the last few years our region's population has grown by nearly 8 percent, versus the 3 percent nationwide average. Needless to say, this area is booming," Sara Lilygren, Tyson Foods' executive vice president of corporate affairs, said in a news release. "We find it so important to give back to this community and we're delighted to support access to cultural and recreational assets like the Walton Arts Center."

The Walton Arts Center plans to add 30,000 square feet of space, including an atrium lobby that connects to Dickson Street. Renovation is expected to be completed by fall 2016.

-- Robbie Neiswanger

Jonesboro's Hytrol to expand, hire 36

Hytrol Conveyor Co. of Jonesboro announced Thursday that it plans a $12 million expansion that will add at least 36 jobs.

The project includes a 62,000-square-foot expansion of its facility, a new paint system, lasers, brake presses and computerized numerical control equipment.

Hytrol designs and manufactures advanced conveyor systems. It has about 800 employees.

Hytrol is in the process of hiring the new employees, said Chris Glenn, a Hytrol vice president.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the project should be held within two weeks, Glenn said. It is expected to be completed in eight months.

-- David Smith

Arkansas Index rises 0.73 to end 379.57

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, rose 0.73 to 379.57 on Thursday.

"U.S. stocks ended modestly higher on Thursday as investors shook off some mixed economic data," said John Blackwell, senior vice president and managing director of equity trading at Stephens Inc. in Little Rock. "The Arkansas Index moved higher as 10 stocks advanced, seven declined and one was unchanged."

Communications Sales and Leasing was up 3.2 percent in average trading.

Windstream gained 3 percent on light volume.

Acxiom fell 5.2 percent and recorded a 52-week low.

Total volume of the index was 20.9 million shares.

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

Business on 05/22/2015

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