Arkansas Capital Corporation Announces Martha Moore Appointment to Board of Directors

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The Arkansas Capital Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Martha Moore, owner and president of McCormick Works in Ozark, Ark., to its all-volunteer board of directors. “I am pleased to have Martha join our board, as she brings valuable business skills and insight, as well as geographic diversity to our board,” said Rush Deacon, acting president of Arkansas Capital Corporation. Moore was recently awarded the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas’s “2013 Woman Business Leader of the Year.” The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas established this award to recognize a woman in Arkansas who has shaped the success of her organization/business and demonstrated leadership, professional achievement and contributed not only to her workplace, but also her community. [Read more…]

SBA Lending in Arkansas Rises in 2013

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Arkansas Small Business Administration Loans Supported, 2009-2013 Good news for the state’s small business environment: The number of loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration is increasing nationwide, and Arkansas is no exception. In Arkansas, for the SBA’s fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 237 loans worth a total of $116 million were approved. Compare that to 2012, when it approved 194 loans for a total of $93.9 million. Linda Nelson, director of SBA’s Arkansas district, said the state’s business environment is improving and its “startup ecosystem” is developing, particularly in northwest Arkansas. Nationwide, the SBA showed similar improvement, announcing that it supported loans worth $29 billion, or 54,106 loans. SBA Administrator Jeanne Hulit credited the Obama administration for its support of small business programs. With SBA loans, the administration acts as a sort of mediator between the bank and the entrepreneur. [Read more…]

Picasolar Wins Cleantech Regional Open, Selected for NREL Growth Forum

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UA startup Picasolar added some more “hardware” to its growing trophy collection last week with a win at the Cleantech Regional in Austin, Texas. Next up is the NREL Industry Growth Forum in Denver, where Picasolar will be one of 30 national startups to present. Its sister firm, IA client Silicon Solar Solutions, just last week was named to the prestigious DOE SunShot incubator program. [Read more…]

Enhancing Business Success through Public Service: How Ben & Jerry’s became so Good

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By: Greg Cooper; Digital Literacy Instructional Staff at Arkansas Capital Corporation Ben-and-Jerrys If you believe that failure gets you nowhere and that businesses can’t promote the common good for all, then you should talk to Ben Cohen. Cofounder of Ben and Jerry’s, Cohen spoke to a packed house at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service on October 22nd. And yes, free ice cream was handed out to everyone afterwards. The Ben & Jerry story starts back to Cohen’s childhood friendship with his now business partner, Jerry Greenfield. Cohen fondly recalled being the two largest kids in their junior high gym class and the bond formed by always being the very last two to finish running laps together. [Read more…]

Arkansas Capital Welcomes Bruno’s Little Italy

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Bruno's Little ItalyThe much anticipated Bruno’s Little Italy is now open, and The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group is proud to have played a major role in bringing back one of Little Rock’s most popular restaurants. Bruno’s Little Italy is located at 310 Main Street in downtown Little Rock and is serving as one of the anchor tenants in the Main Street revitalization. Bruno’s is now open for dinner from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday nights. Bruno’s will also begin serving lunch in the coming weeks. Lunch hours will be from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  [Read more…]

Arkansas Capital Corporation Is Pleased to Showcase the Work of Local Artists

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  Jason SmithIn August, The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group was looking for inspiration for its staff, clients and visitors. We found in the work of Robert Bean and decided to share his artwork by opening up our offices to visitors as part of downtown Little Rock’s 2nd Friday Art Night. We were so happy with the enthusiasm and response of our guests, that we have decided to open our offices again. This time, we are inspired by the works of Jason Smith, Diane Harper and Dominique Simmons. [Read more…]

The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group Announces VetLoan Advantage Incentive

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flagSix Bridges Capital Corporation, in partnership with The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, announced a new loan incentive for veterans. VetLoan Advantage offers veteran-owned businesses a substantially lower processing cost on SBA 504 loans, allowing more opportunity for veterans to expand their existing businesses with fixed assets. VetLoan Advantage promotes entrepreneurship and business ownership among vets and their spouses. VetLoan Advantage provides capital for businesses to purchase commercial owner-occupied real estate, construct new building and purchase machinery and equipment. “Veterans have a track record for success in running small businesses but may be challenged with finding financing that’s right for them,” said Al Hodge, senior vice president, Arkansas Capital Corporation and Six Bridges Capital Corporation. “VetLoan Advantage offers veterans a lower cost way to raise the capital for fixed-asset needs. We are proud to provide this incentive and benefit for our men and women who have served our country.” [Read more…]

VetLoan Advantage Provides Needed Capital to Capital Business Machines

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Capital Business Machines logo In the business technology business since 1975 and in its current location since 2000, the Rogers family, owners of Capital Business Machines, Inc., realized they needed more space to expand their operations. Through the use of VetLoan Advantage, an option utilized with the SBA 504 product, and offered by Six Bridges Capital Corporation, Capital Business Machines was able to obtain ownership of a new facility that’s both bigger and more flexible for their long-term growth. VetLoan Advantage allows veterans to receive a one-third reduction in the SBA 504 loan processing fee, making it easier for veterans to expand their businesses. VetLoan Advantage offers qualifying veterans and their families a lower cost option to raise capital for fixed-asset needs.

Capital Business Machines
Capital Business Machines

“I would recommend that veterans check out the VetLoan product,” said Brett Rogers, president of Capital Business Machines. “We were able to stop leasing a building and get into a place of our own with very little pain. And overall, businesses can gain access to money at better rates than what they can get elsewhere, which makes it easier for them to take that next step.” [Read more…]

Connecting Arkansas Internet Conference Set for September 25-26

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Connecting Arkansas Internet ConferenceConnect Arkansas, a project of Arkansas Capital Corporation, is hosting the Connecting Arkansas Internet Conference September 25-26 at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Little Rock. The goal of this conference is to provide a thorough picture of high-speed Internet in Arkansas and how it is and will continue to impact all communities, no matter how large or small. Moving to a digital age and economy has not been without its challenges, and Arkansas is not alone in them, with around 30 percent of Arkansans not having high-speed Internet at home. National and state data are consistent when it comes to the reasons these respondents give for not using the Internet – they can’t afford a computer and/or the service, or they don’t believe it’s to their benefit to be connected. The Connecting Arkansas Internet Conference will look at the challenges of delivering high-speed Internet to all Arkansans and how local, regional, and state leaders from both the public and private sectors are working to address them. There will be opportunities to see how Arkansas can learn from other states – and what other state can learn from Arkansas. [Read more…]

$22 million Main Street redevelopment project dedicated

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Mann on Main
PHOTO BY GAVIN LESNICK
A crowd is gathered for the dedication of the Mann on Main, a $22 million effort to redevelop the seven-story structure at left and the three-story adjoining annex to the right.
A $22 million redevelopment of a historic structure on Little Rock’s Main Street was formally dedicated Thursday, the latest effort in an ongoing process to revitalize the once active downtown stretch. The Mann on Main project in the former Blass Department Store at Fourth and Main streets was opened during a ceremony that featured Gov. Mike Beebe and Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, who both stressed the importance of bringing life back to the once-thriving area. It’s been plagued in more recent years by vacant structures and boarded-up windows. “Main Street was and is the most important street in the state of Arkansas,” Stodola said. “It’s a crossroads to the capital. It’s the crossroads to the river. It’s the crossroads to the excitement and activity that downtowns bring to a community.” [Read more…]

Developers Mark Opening of Mann on Main in Little Rock

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Mann on Main Doyle Rogers Co. and Moses Tucker Real Estate on Thursday marked the grand opening of its Mann on Main mixed-use building, the fully restored and redeveloped former Blass Department Store at Main and 4th streets in downtown Little Rock. The $22 million project includes the Mann Building, a 90,000-SF office building at the corner of 4th and Main; the Mann Lofts, a 30,000-SF multifamily residential component; the ground floor retail of both buildings; and a four-level parking garage at the corner of Louisiana and 4th streets. [Read more…]