News in brief

$968,397 in grants available for ports

Grants worth $968,397 will be given out to commercial ports in fiscal 2017 by the Arkansas Waterways Commission.

Applications for the grants, intended for capital improvements, will be accepted through Aug. 16. Grant totals for 2017 are more than double the $450,644 given out by the commission in fiscal 2016.

Ports chosen to receive the funding will be notified in late September, said Gene Higginbotham, executive director of the Arkansas Waterways Commission. Money for the grants is generated from a tax collected on the value of goods that are transported through the state on barges.

Last year's grants ranged from $50,000 to $125,644 and were given to ports in Osceola, Fort Smith, Little Rock, Helena-West Helena and Crossett.

They used the money on projects including upgrading railroad ties in Helena-West Helena and installing security fencing and cameras in Little Rock.

-- Chris Bahn

Business workshop to focus on capital

A workshop to help women and members of minority groups increase their access to entrepreneurial information, resources and training will be held in Little Rock on Aug. 27.

The workshop is a collaboration between the University of Arkansas Clinton School for Public Service and "Start Here, Little Rock," a program to help people get involved in entrepreneurial activities.

Gaining access to capital for "entrepreneurs from every part of our society is vital for success in modern innovation," said Skip Rutherford, dean of the Clinton School.

The one-day workshop will be held at Sturgis Hall at 1200 President Clinton Ave. beginning at 10 a.m. There is no charge for the event.

-- David Smith

America's Car-Mart gains 9.1% for week

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, rose 0.60 to 342.27 Friday.

Shares of America's Car-Mart rose 9.1 percent for the week and Dillard's rose 7 percent. P.A.M. Transportation shares rose 5.4 percent.

Murphy Oil shares fell 5.5 percent for the week while Bear State fell 3.9 percent and Bank of the Ozarks fell 3.5 percent.

Total volume for the index was 21.7 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 07/30/2016

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