Pictured above: A Standard Lithium bromine tower in El Dorado hints at big things to come in south Arkansas. (Photos provided) In a nutshell, more of the same is what Arkansans can expect of the state’s economy in 2024. The…
Michael Pakko
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Manufacturers Bullish on Natural State; Will Workforce Be Ready?
by AMP Staffby AMP StaffPictured above: The Amazon distribution center in Little Rock, shown under construction, opened last year. (Photos provided) By Mark Carter and Dwain Hebda A bird’s eye view of Arkansas economic development in 2024 would include some now-familiar landmarks —…
Even the most dutiful shunners of social media must know by now that Arkansas sits in the direct path of the total solar eclipse expected to take place on April 8 — barring, of course, the moon being blown out…
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Opponents Claim Issue 4 Would Create a Lucrative Monopoly for Medical Cannabis Industry
The Arkansas Legislature has not been happy about some of the previous ballot issues approved by voters, such as those raising the minimum wage, creating the medical marijuana industry and legalizing casinos in Crittenden, Garland, Pope and Jefferson counties. The…
The Colonial Pipeline is back in business after a cyberattack on May 7 forced the pipeline operator to take it offline. Colonial Pipeline announced on its website that it was restarting operations on Wednesday, May 12 at 4pm CST. Despite…
As the impact of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) works its way through the economy, national economic forecasts are showing an increasingly grim outlook. In addition to disruption of world supply chains, the decline in consumer spending associated with “social distancing” is…
- MagazineManufacturingNovember 2019
Manufacturers Leading Job Growth in Arkansas
by Mark Carterby Mark Carterby Mark Carter Arkansas manufacturing seems to be finding its footing following a rough patch to open the 21st century. Manufacturing jobs in the Natural State are up 8 percent since 2014 and outpacing the national average of 6.4 percent,…
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Cash & Candor: Competition is Good for Democracy, SB163 is Not
by Caleb Talleyby Caleb Talleyby Caleb Talley I wondered how deep we would get into the current legislative session before my weekend-column hiatus was forced to end. Less than a month, and I’m surprised it took that long. And since I haven’t contributed to…
Arkansas will experience slow, steady growth over the next couple of years, said Michael Pakko, chief economist and state economic forecaster at the Institute for Economic Advancement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Pakko presented his forecast today, Nov. 5,…