by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

An investigation is underway on 4811 S. Zero Street LLC, in Fort Smith, a company state officials suspect has connections to Chinese foreign nationals who may want to be near the foreign military pilot training center at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in the city.

Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward sent a letter dated July 23 to Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin asking him to investigate the company which was created June 14, with the incorporator being Pei-Te Lin. The company’s agent address is 300 S. Spring St., in Little Rock.

The building at 4811 S. Zero St., is the former Trane manufacturing plant that closed in 2017 and was recently sold in an auction. The building and property sold for $5 million, according to Sebastian County Assessor Zach Johnson.

Attorney General investigating Fort Smith company for potential China connections