Cost of I-49 segment between Barling and Alma rises to $1 billion

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Federal legislation that delivered $83 million for a foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith also brings to Arkansas $67 million to help complete Interstate 49 between Alma and Barling. Every dollar will be needed. The cost for the almost 14-mile segment has ballooned to $1 billion.

State officials in October 2022 ceremonially broke ground on the 13.7-mile segment that will connect a segment of I-49 in Barling north to the I-40 interchange in Alma. That section will include a bridge over the Arkansas River and have interchanges at Highway 22, Gun Club Road, Clear Creek Road and I-40. The bridge across the Arkansas River will be east of Trimble Lock & Dam and the U.S. 59 bridge. There are 180 miles of the I-49 route to build in Arkansas between Alma and Texarkana.

The MilCon-VA bill recently approved by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden included the $67 million for the work between Alma and Barling. The bill, pushed by U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., was primarily focused on providing additional funds and programs for veterans’ health care but included money for other projects.

Cost of I-49 segment between Barling and Alma rises to $1 billion

UAMS Establishes Institute for Community Health Innovation

By David Wise

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) announced today the establishment of its eighth institute, the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation, effective March 1.

The institute will work with communities across Arkansas to conduct community-based research and deploy community-driven programs to improve health outcomes in rural and medically underserved regions of the state.

The institute, which will be based in Northwest Arkansas, will have staff and offices across the state, including in Batesville, El Dorado, Fort Smith, Helena-West Helena, Jonesboro, Lake Village, Little Rock, Magnolia, Pine Bluff and Texarkana.

UAMS Establishes Institute for Community Health Innovation

Gov. Sanders: New Air Force mission in Fort Smith will have ‘generational impact’

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

The plaudits were frequent and magnanimous Friday (May 5) as political and business leaders met at the Ebbing Air National Guard base in Fort Smith to ceremonially mark the U.S. Air Force’s decision to locate a foreign military pilot training center on the base.

Ebbing, home to the 188th Wing in Fort Smith and co-located with the Fort Smith Regional Airport, was selected in March by the U.S. Air Force to be the long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland, Poland, Germany and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Ebbing was selected over the Selfridge Air National Guard base north of Detroit.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the federal agency managing the FMS, notes that the program provides “responsible arms sales to further national security and foreign policy objectives by strengthening bilateral defense relations, supporting coalition building, and enhancing interoperability between U.S. forces and militaries of friends and allies.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/05/gov-sanders-new-air-force-mission-in-fort-smith-will-have-generational-impact/

(from left) U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., Gov. Sarah Sanders, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, participate in a press conference Friday (May 5) at Ebbing Air National Guard base in Fort Smith.

ABF Freight hit with $535K penalty for clean water violations

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

ABF Freight, the less-than-truckload (LTL) subsidiary of Fort Smith-based ArcBest, has agreed to pay a $535,000 penalty to resolve allegations that the company violated requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA).

The settlement was detailed in a press release Monday (March 20) from the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to the release, in April 2015, ABF voluntarily disclosed to the US Environmental Protection Agency that it failed to obtain industrial stormwater permit coverage at multiple facilities. The company discovered additional areas of noncompliance with the CWA through internal compliance audits, which were conducted at nearly all its facilities during 2013 and 2014.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/abf-freight-hit-with-535k-penalty-for-clean-water-violations/

Final decision places foreign pilot training center in Fort Smith

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

It’s official. Fort Smith will be home to a foreign military pilot training center, initially bringing more than 500 military personnel and an estimated 300 “dependent families” to the city during the next two years.

It was announced Wednesday (March 15) that U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has signed the final “record of decision” to place the unique operation at Ebbing Air National Guard Base located adjacent to the Fort Smith Regional Airport.

Ebbing, which is home to the 188th Wing in Fort Smith, was selected on June 8, 2021, by then-acting Secretary of the Air Force John Roth to be the long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The Air Force also selected Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Selfridge, Mich., as the alternative site.The Air Force also selected Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Selfridge, Mich., as the alternative site.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/03/final-decision-places-foreign-pilot-training-center-in-fort-smith/

ArcBest sells FleetNet in a $100 million cash deal

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Fort Smith-based ArcBest announced Tuesday (Feb. 28) the sale of its FleetNet segment to Cox Automotive in a $100 million cash deal. The maintenance and repair unit of ArcBest generated 6.4% of overall revenue in 2022 and 1.5% of operating income.

Cox Automotive is a division of Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises, which also owns Cox Communications. Cox Enterprises has more than 55,000 employees and more than $20 billion in annual revenue.

“FleetNet has been a valuable part of ArcBest, giving us insight and expertise in equipment maintenance and repair. As an integrated logistics company, it is no longer core to our growth strategy,” said Judy McReynolds, ArcBest chairman, president and CEO, said in a statement. “We’ve enjoyed working with the wonderful team at FleetNet and have benefitted greatly from their innovative mindset.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/02/arcbest-sells-fleetnet-in-a-100-million-cash-deal/

Fort Smith remains preferred site for foreign pilot training center

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

A final Environmental Impact Statement released in late January by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) continues to show Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith as the “preferred” site for a for a foreign pilot training center.

Ebbing was selected June 8, 2001 by acting Secretary of the Air Force John Roth to be the long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. In addition to Ebbing, the Air Force selected Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Selfridge, Mich., as the alternative site.

A final “Record of Decision,” or ROD, could come in late February or early March.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/02/fort-smith-remains-preferred-site-for-foreign-pilot-training-center/

An F-16 flown by the Singapore Air Force.

U.S. Marshals Museum begins to hire workers ahead of summer opening

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

With a summer opening still on the horizon and an estimated $3 million needed for construction and operational needs, the Fort Smith-based U.S. Marshals Museum is starting the drive to hire employees who will be needed once the doors open to the public.

Museum staff posted a job announcement for a facility sales manager on social media and employment sites like Linkedin on Thursday (Jan. 26). Museum President and CEO Ben Johnson said more employment announcements will be posted in the coming days and weeks as museum administration seeks to fill positions before the museum opens in the summer. The museum employs eight, Johnson said. That number is expected to grow to 20 or more when it is time to open the doors.

“It depends on the interest and applicants we get. It depends on whether we have enough full-time or whether we will need to fill with part-time (employees),” Johnson said.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/u-s-marshals-museum-begins-to-hire-workers-ahead-of-summer-opening/

U.S. Marshals Museum on track to open in summer 2023

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

The contractor and design team have met and surveyed the exhibit space at the U.S. Marshals Museum, and work on preparing the space for all the museum experiences will begin later this month, according to the new president and CEO of the museum.

Ben Johnson, who took over as the new president and CEO of the museum in August, said Thursday (Oct. 6) that things are on track for the museum to open in summer of 2023, “as long as there are no national or international issues” to slow down things.

Representatives from Little Rock-based CDI Contractors, the general contractors for the museum building, and from Los Angeles-based Thinkwell Group, the contractors for the exhibits (or experiences), met in September to look at the space where the experiences will be housed, Johnson said.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/10/u-s-marshals-museum-on-track-to-open-in-summer-2023/

U.S. Marshals Museum CEO resigns, national search to begin

Patrick Weeks, who faces two felony charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, has resigned as president and CEO of the U.S. Marshals Museum. Museum Board Chair Doug Babb said Friday a national search will begin for the position.

“We are most grateful to Patrick for his valuable contributions to the museum project. He oversaw the construction of the museum building and worked with Thinkwell Group to design all of the museum experiences which will soon be under construction,” Babb said in a press release.

Weeks, hired in June 2014 as museum president and CEO, succeeded Jim Dunn who had served as museum president since 2009. Weeks was arrested Dec. 21 on two felony charges of aggravated assault with a firearm and was placed on administrative leave Dec. 23 by the museum board.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-03-06/u-s-marshals-museum-ceo-resigns-national-search-to-begin

U.S. Marshals Museum

The U.S. Marshals Museum under construction in Fort Smith

State Representative Lowery exits Secretary of State’s race, will seek Treasurer’s post

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

State Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, said Friday (Jan. 21) he would leave the Secretary of State’s race and would instead seek the Republican nomination for Treasurer of State.

Sen. Mat Pitsch, R-Fort Smith, has already announced for the Treasurer’s seat. No Democrats have announced yet.

Lowery has served in the Arkansas House of Representatives since 2013. He is the chair of the House Insurance & Commerce Committee.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/01/rep-lowery-exits-secretary-of-states-race-will-seek-treasurers-post/

Dodroe Named Arkansas Air National Guard Commander, Gentry to Command 188th

by Talk Business & Politics staff

Col. Leon Dodroe, former commander of the 188th Wing in Fort Smith, was promoted to brigadier general and assumed command of the Arkansas Air National Guard. Col. Jeremiah Gentry was promoted to 188th commander.

Dodroe replaced Brig. Gen. Thomas Crimmins who was selected by the U.S. Air Force as senior defense official and defense attaché to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Dodroe enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1993 and served with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga. In 1995, he was selected for pilot training and received his commission through Officer Candidate School. Upon completion of flight training school in 1996, he was assigned as the Fixed Wing Platoon Leader for the Southern European Task Force at Vicenza, Italy. He has also served in the Arizona Army National Guard, and the U.S. Army Reserve, holding numerous leadership positions before joining the Arizona Air National Guard in 2010.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/08/dodroe-named-arkansas-air-national-guard-commander-gentry-to-command-188th/

C-130 aircraft line up to take off at the Little Rock Air Force Base.

Fundraising Finish Closer for Marshals Museum in Fort Smith

By KYLE KELLAMS

The United States Marshals Museum received an anonymous $5 million dollar gift that moves the fundraising finish line much closer.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/fundraising-finish-closer-marshals-museum

COURTESY / THE UNITED STATES MARSHALS MUSEUM

Reaper to Conduct First Flight from Fort Smith as Part of 188th Exercise

by Tina Alvey Dale (tdale@talkbusiness.net)

The remotely piloted aircraft used by the 188th Wing is for the first time being launched from the Fort Smith Regional Airport as part of the exercise Establish Fury designed to exhibit the 188th’s access to military airspace, especially the Razorback Range at Fort Chaffee.

The exercises, being held through July 14, will welcome the MQ-9 Reaper aircraft based at Houston’s 147th Attack Wing and other Air National Guard forces, a press release said.

The MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft will launch from the Fort Smith Regional Airport for training flights over Razorback Range at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center near Charleston. The close proximity from launch location to training area provides more time for training rather than transport, which is the norm for other locations, said Capt. Dylan Hollums, 188th public affairs officer.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/06/reaper-to-conduct-first-flight-from-fort-smith-as-part-of-188th-exercise/

The MQ-9 Reaper arrives at the Fort Smith Regional Airport as part of a 188th Wing exercise.

Historic Fort Chaffee Army Barracks to Become Residential, Retail Quarters

By JACQUELINE FROELICH

Plans to renovate more than 20 historic barracks and buildings, originally constructed in 1941 as part of Camp Chaffee, a U.S. Army base east of Fort Smith, will soon be transformed into contemporary living and commercial quarters, recently approved by the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/historic-fort-chaffee-army-barracks-become-residential-retail-quarters

An aerial view of Chaffee Crossing Historic District.

COURTESY / FORT CHAFFEE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Camp Chaffee U.S. Army training base circa 1940s.

COURTESY / FORT CHAFFEE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Arkansas Commits $17 Million for Ebbing Military Mission; Governor Outlines Merit Bonuses, New School Vaccine Policy

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Governor Asa Hutchinson made news on three fronts Tuesday (June 8) in his weekly press briefing. Hutchinson outlined the state’s commitment to a new military mission in Fort Smith, performance bonuses for state workers, and a loosening of student quarantines for those fully vaccinated.

The governor said Arkansas will put up $17 million as part of its commitment to the new F-35 and F-16 military mission at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith. The money will be used to extend the runway at the base by 1,300 additional feet. The city of Fort Smith has committed $5 million to the runway extension.

The state’s portion of the $22 million commitment will come from either legislative approval to use rainy day or restrictive reserve funds or the governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund, Hutchinson said.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/06/state-commits-17-million-for-ebbing-military-mission-governor-outlines-merit-bonuses-new-school-vaccine-policy/

Fort Smith Selected for Military Pilot Training Center; Estimated $1 Billion Economic Impact

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith has been selected by acting Secretary of the Air Force John Roth to be the long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

In addition to Ebbing, which is home to the 188th Wing, the finalist sites for the center were Hulman Field (Indiana), Buckley Air Force Base (Colorado), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (Texas) and Selfridge Air National Guard Base (Michigan).

Officials announced the selection process on July 20, 2020. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the federal agency managing the FMS, notes that the program provides “responsible arms sales to further national security and foreign policy objectives by strengthening bilateral defense relations, supporting coalition building, and enhancing interoperability between U.S. forces and militaries of friends and allies.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/06/fort-smith-selected-for-military-pilot-training-center-estimated-1-billion-economic-impact/

An F-16 flown by the Singapore Air Force.

Charity Motorcycle Rally Returns to River Valley

By ANTOINETTE GRAJEDA

After a year-long hiatus due to the pandemic, the Steel Horse Rally is returning to the River Valley May 7-8. Events will take place in Fort Smith and Pocola, Okla., including a new Cops and Cones motorcycle exhibition. Attendees can wear masks, but they're not required.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/charity-motorcycle-rally-returns-river-valley

COURTESY / STEEL HORSE RALLY

‘Military Judgment,’ Not Politics, Likely to Guide FMS Site Location Decision

by Michael Tilley (mtilley@talkbusiness.net)

Former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and a defense industry lobbyist with ties to Fort Smith believe a decision to locate a pilot training center for the U.S. military’s Foreign Military Sales will be based on “military judgment” and not on politics.

Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith is one of five Air Force finalist sites for a long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/04/military-judgment-not-politics-likely-to-guide-fms-site-location-decision/

The F-35

Mars Petcare To Expand Fort Smith Operation, Add More Than 120 Jobs

By TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS STAFF

Gov. Asa Hutchinson and officials with Mars Petcare were in Fort Smith on Friday to announce a $145 million expansion of the company’s plant at Chaffee Crossing that will create more than 120 jobs.

Officials with Mars Petcare – based in Brussels, Belgium, with a U.S. headquarters south of Nashville, Tenn. – announced in November 2007 they would build the Fort Smith pet food production and packaging plant, and the $80 million facility opened in September 2009. The average annual salary at the plant was then estimated at $35,300.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/mars-petcare-expand-fort-smith-operation-add-more-120-jobs

The Fort Smith manufacturing plant will undergo a $145 million dollar expansion that will add at least 120 jobs in the Arkansas River Valley area.

CREDIT TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS