Arkansas Money and Politics September 2019

STARTUP CRAWL• HEALTH INSURANCE• CONWAY

SEPTEMBER 2019

ARMONEYANDPOLITICS.COM

ROB APPLE

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There’s no blueprint, but you’ve built a life worth protecting.

USAble Life offers group and voluntary Life, Disability, and Supplemental insurance plans to protect your investments.

Visit USAbleLife.com today!

USAble Life is an independent company providing life, disability, and supplemental products for which it is solely responsible.

A POWERFUL HISTORY OF MAKING GROUND-BREAKING INVESTMENTS. We know that thriving buinesses are the engine that produces thriving communities.

In our mission to deliver reliable and affordable power by our 17 electric distribution cooperatives, we’re continually making investments in the communities we serve.

Now covering more than 60 percent of Arkansas, in many of the fastest growing regions, we’re supplying power to the people and businesses that are powering our State’s growth and success.

We’re proud to partner with local communities to bring jobs, prosperity and opportunity to Arkansas. It’s a big part of our history of powering our future, together.

1 Cooperative Way • Little Rock, AR 72209 (501) 570-2200 • www.aecc.com

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INDUSTRY

THIS MONTH EMPLOYMENT

PREVIOUS MONTH

CONSTRUCTION

54,500

51,700

GOVERNMENT

198,900

210,100

MANUFACTURING

162,700

164,200

HEALTH CARE

176,100

177,000

TRADE & TRANSPORTATION

253,300

250,900

FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

62,100

61,000

LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYED

UNEMPLOYED

RATE

PULASKI COUNTY

193,912

187,360

6,552

3.4

BENTON COUNTY

138,207

134,672

3,535

2.6

WASHINGTON COUNTY

126,259

123,185

3,074

2.4

FAULKNER COUNTY

62,818

60,967

1,851

2.9

SALINE COUNTY

59,001

57,378

1,623

2.8

LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYED

UNEMPLOYED

RATE

CALHOUN COUNTY

2,472

2,362

110

4.4

LAFAYETTE COUNTY

2,504

2,387

117

4.7

WOODRUFF COUNTY

2,798

2,652

146

5.2

MONROE COUNTY

2,829

2,697

132

4.7

LEE COUNTY

2,903

2,781

122

4.2

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TOP 10 JAN-APRIL 2019

TOURISM/HOSPITALITY TAX COLLECTIONS IN ARKANSAS CHANGE FROM 2018

LITTLE ROCK

$4.8 MILLION

UP 4.4%

NORTH LITTLE ROCK

$2.5 MILLION

UP 5%

HOT SPRINGS

$2.3 MILLION

UP 5.5%

FAYETTEVILLE

$2.3 MILLION

UP 5%

CONWAY

$1.4 MILLION

UP 0.5%

BENTONVILLE

$813,000

UP 8.7%

PINE BLUFF

$520,000

DOWN

ROGERS

$433,000

UP 7.7%

TEXARKANA

$412,000

UP 9.5%

EUREKA SPRINGS

$359,000

DOWN 8.5%

8%

SOURCE: ARKANSAS HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION

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Looking for a destination that inspires attendees? Little Rock makes it easy to plan an unforgettable event. Nestled along the banks of the beautiful Arkansas River, the downtown convention area is home to the Clinton Presidential Center, amazing restaurants, eclectic shopping and the new River Market Entertainment District — all within walking distance or a free METRO streetcar ride away. Make your meeting memorable in Little Rock.

Ad paid for with State and Heart of Arkansas funds.

Meet in

LittleRockMeetings.com

W E BU I LT OU R F I R M

ON INTEGR IT Y Mitchell Williams is celebrating 65 years of service. As a full-service corporate law firm, our team provides strategic, comprehensive legal services to help clients achieve their

goals today – and build on success for years to come. Learn more.

Little Rock | Rogers | Jonesboro | Austin | MitchellWilliamsLaw.com

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

425 W. Capitol Ave., Suite 1800 | Little Rock, AR 72201

R.T. Beard, III, Managing Director

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We’re beautiful inside and out.

The American Heritage Conference Center is housed on the stately campus of Harding University.

Whether you need an auditorium for 1,000 or a meeting room for 10 or 500, we have facilities to meet all your requirements. With a 60-room hotel, full-service catering, and complete audiovisual equipment and tech support, we make sure your event is first rate.

.

To book your event, call Penny Davis at 501-279-4009.

harding.edu/conference

2019 DESIGN AWARDS SPECIAL PUBLICATION

NOVEMBER ISSUE

BE A PART OF SOMETHING GREAT. 501.244.9700 // ARMONEYANDPOLITICS.COM Email HBaker@armoneyandpolitics.com for more information.

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STARTUP JUNKIE – 1 E. CENTER STREET #270 ZENWORKS - 1 E. CENTER STREET #250 SHARPHUE - 1 E. CENTER STREET #210 AXIS LOUNGE - 25 E. CENTER STREET NWA FAB LAB - 21 W. MOUNTAIN STREET #123 LIKEWISE – 70 N. COLLEGE AVENUE

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BREWER FAMILY ENTREPRENEURSHIP HUB – 123 W. MOUNTAIN STREET NEWMARK MTP – 112 W. CENTER STREET #2 METOVA – 112 W. CENTER STREET #600 BIG BOX KARAOKE – 115 N. BLOCK AVENUE

STAGES

LINEUS MEDICAL – 179 N. CHURCH AVENUE #202 ASBTDC – 240 N. BLOCK AVENUE 26

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Empowering Entrepreneurs For More Than Six Decades

Working since 1957 to ďŹ nance entrepreneurs and create a pipeline of future entrepreneurs.

ARKANSAS

CAPITAL

CORPORATION

200 River Market Avenue, Suite 400 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | 800-216-7237 | arcapital.com | @arkcapitalcorp Arkansas Capital Corporation and its affiliates are equal opportunity lenders.

the home of the brave

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DURABLE OUTDOOR CLOTHING FOR PEOPLE WHO VALUE EXPERIENCES OVER STUFF

Own less, live more $106k raised on Kickstarter Pre-order your Flex Canvas Pants Ships in Feb. ‘20 Based in the Ozark Mountains

www.livsndesigns.com

The quality of care we provide is immeasurable.

23,061 employees

39,904 patients

47,115

The Arkansas Health Care Association represents more than 90% of the state’s licensed long-term care facilities, which create more than $3.5 Billion of economic activity in Arkansas. Quality care for the fragile lives entrusted to us is the number one objective of every facility and caregiver. The result is quality of life for our patients and residents, and peace of mind for their families and friends.

jobs

1

common goal www.arhealthcare.com | 501.374.4422

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arkansasbluecross.com MPI 8419 5/19

An Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

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USAble Mutual Insurance Co. (DBA Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield)

$2,446,660,390

27.22%

Care Improvement Plus

$489,648,460

5.45%

Celtic Insurance Co.

$380,830,944

4.24%

Humana Health Plan Inc.

$324,321,896

3.61%

HMO Partners Inc.

$308,490,648

3.43%

$241,467,811

2.69%

United Healthcare Insurance Co. QCA Health Plan Inc.

$199,360,309

2.22%

Harmony Health Plan Inc.

$158,755,126

1.77%

Delta Dental Plan of Arkansas Inc.

$127,398,964

1.42%

Qualchoice Health Insurance Co.

$116,377,756

1.29%

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TOGETHER For nearly 100 years, we’ve been committed to finding markets for the small but mighty grain cultivated by our family farmers. Our commitment to growing good rice connects the efforts of our members to the satisfaction of consumers. We look forward to Jennifer’s leadership as we face the future together to make sure our farmers can continue to thrive while being good stewards of our land and our communities across Arkansas.

Visit our website to learn more about our farmers’ practices.

RICELAND.COM

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BUILDING UP ARKANSAS.

Get the latest on Arkansas

Arkansas’ greatest cities become even better with improvement projects. Throughout our 40-year history, we’re proud to have invested in various projects for the city of Conway, including water and sewer, primary/secondary education, higher education, economic development and health care. Contact us today and see what Crews can do for you.

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crewsfs.com

Member FINRA & SIPC

WE GIVE BUSINESS 100%.

Just like you.

Businesses here don’t have to spend time worrying about reliable energy, blazing fast internet or crystal-clear telephone connections. You can take that for granted because Conway Corp provides the business tools and resources you need, all backed by local service and support. Here’s to running the things that make business run smoothly.

| AR M O NE YA ND P O L I T ICS .COM

Powering Conway since 1929.

| 59

(501) 450-6000

|

ConwayCorp.com

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CASINO AND HOTEL EXTERIOR

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IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO’S ACCOUNTABLE, JUST READ THE NAME ON THE DOOR “Since 1933, Stephens has operated under the vision and values set forth by my father and my uncle.

They held themselves directly accountable for the success of their clients, valuing relationships much more than transactions. I saw their integrity in action, sometimes at the expense of the firm—but always what they thought was right. They built their names upon the respect and honesty of these long-term partnerships. To this day, all of us at Stephens work the same way.”

— Warren Stephens, CEO

INVESTMENT BANKING • PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT INSURANCE • RESEARCH • SALES & TRADING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT • PUBLIC FINANCE • PRIVATE EQUIT Y STEPHENS INC. • MEMBER NYSE, SIPC • 800-643-9691

@Stephens_Inc

STEPHENS.COM

WE WORK HARD SO YOU CAN TOO.

The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services is dedicated to providing education and assistance to our state’s job seekers. We also help connect employers with the people they need to get the job done. To learn more about how we’re preparing employees for rewarding careers and making it easier for businesses to hire them, visit DWS.Arkansas.gov.

adws Arkansas Department of Workforce Services

Equal Opportunity Employers/Programs.

855-225-4440 DWS.Arkansas.gov ARJobLink.com Call or Visit a One-Stop Career Center Today! Services are Free.