After two years of pandemic havoc, people tired of being cooped up are ready to travel. The state’s two largest airports, located in Little Rock and Bentonville, are reporting major progress towards recovering the amount of passenger traffic seen before…
Jay Chesshir
- February 2022Magazine
Turn the Page: Experts Say COVID Not Atop Small Business’s List of Concerns in 2022
by Dwain Hebdaby Dwain HebdaIt’s something of a trick question to say that small business’ primary challenges are not COVID-related in the new year. After all, nearly everything concerning small business has in some way been affected by COVID, from staffing to inflation to…
- AMP NewsBusinessBusiness servicesEntrepreneurshipIndustriesSmall businessStartup ARTechnology
Venture Center Program for Local Entrepreneurs, ‘Spark!’, Now Accepting Applications
by AMP Staffby AMP StaffThe Venture Center, the Little Rock Regional Chamber, Arvest Bank, and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) have teamed up to host the third year of Spark!, a local small business pre-accelerator program. Applications are open now…
Czech firearm company Ceska Zbrojovka Group (CZG) has closed its acquisition of Colt. CZG announced in February that it was acquiring 100 percent of parent company Colt, the Colt Manufacturing Company, and Colt Canada Corporation. On Monday, May 24, CZG…
- BusinessJanuary 2021Magazine
2021 Influencers of the Year: Jay Chesshir, President/CEO, Little Rock Chamber
by AMP Staffby AMP StaffJay Chesshir is well-known for his involvement in the capital city’s development. In 2006, the proud native of Nashville (Howard County) became the 15th president and CEO in the 143-year history of the chamber. Chesshir began his career at the…
- AMP NewsBusiness
LR Regional Chamber Names New Director of Business Retention and Expansion
by AMP Staffby AMP StaffThe Little Rock Regional Chamber has named a new director of business retention and expansion. Raymond Omar Long will serve as the chamber’s new director, where he will oversee the existing industry support program. In his new role, Long will…
- BusinessMagazineSeptember 2020
On The Waterfront: Port of Little Rock Thrives As Site For Industry
by Dwain Hebdaby Dwain HebdaA quick spin through the Port of Little Rock yields a glimpse of the city’s industrial community foreign to many residents. Everything out here is huge — the gargantuan factories sprawling across the landscape; the raw materials and finished products…
- AMP NewsBusinessStartup AR
2020 Spark! Program Aims to Boost 10 Central Arkansas Startups
by Tyler Haleby Tyler HaleTen Central Arkansas startups will soon have the opportunity to spark their business growth. The Venture Center and Little Rock Regional Chamber are launching the second annual Spark! pre-accelerator program. Through this program, 10 local startups will receive “mentorship, publicity…
- June 2020Magazine
Central Arkansas Continues to Hold Sway: Momentum Building in Little Rock Metro
by Dwain Hebdaby Dwain HebdaDespite the impressive gains made by other quadrants of the state, Central Arkansas continues to hold sway over the largest share of the state’s economic activity, thanks to a central location, an abundance of resources and a pro-business attitude. These…
- AMP NewsBusinessStartup AR
Venture Center, Little Rock Chamber Kick Off First Spark! Pre-Accelerator
by Tyler Haleby Tyler HaleSix Arkansas companies have been selected to participate in the inaugural Spark! pre-accelerator cosponsored by the Venture Center and the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. Over the course of 14 weeks, the six companies will participate in a boot…