Man Industries to Locate New Manufacturing Facility/Headquarters in Little Rock,
Invest $100 Million, Create 250 Jobs
On Friday, March 14th, at a 10:00 am news conference, Man Industries, a leading pipe manufacturer based in India, announced plans to locate a new manufacturing plant on a 162-acre site just south of the Little Rock Port. The company will invest approximately $100 million in the facility, which will employ 250 people. The facility will also serve as Man’s headquarters for North and South America.
Man Industries’ Little Rock location will have will have the capability of producing 300,000 tons of HSAW (Helical Submerged Arc Welded) pipes annually. These pipes will be used primarily in the petroleum industry, and a coating facility will also be on site. Production is scheduled to begin by early 2009.
Elizabeth Small (PDC Companies), Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, hosted the event in the Chamber’s AT&T Auditorium and introduced Ramesh Mansukhani, Chairman of Man Industries (India), Ltd.
"The execution of this first facility is significant for Man, as we strengthen our presence in the U.S. market and take an important step towards investing in this region," said Mansukhani. "Based on the U.S.’s growing demand, Man is very confident about its future growth opportunities in the U.S. Man is committed long-term to strengthening infrastructure in this region so as to serve the fast-growing American market, as well as partnering with the local community to be a good citizen and a good neighbor. It's of utmost importance that a strong manufacturing base, supported by the project’s Operations and Management team, seamlessly intertwines to help Man deliver quality products on time and on budget to all its esteemed customers."
“We thank the leaders of Man Industries for bringing these jobs to Arkansas, and we are honored that they have chosen Little Rock as their headquarters for North and South America,” Governor Mike Beebe said. “Arkansas’s reputation as a destination for foreign companies looking to bring investments and jobs to the United States continues to grow.”
Man Industries currently has two manufacturing facilities in Gujarat and Madya Pradesh, India. The addition of the Little Rock manufacturing facility will allow the company to expand and better serve the U.S. market, according to Mansukhani.
The location of Man Industries marks the fourth major company to locate in or near the Little Rock Port during the past nine months.
"Today's announcement represents another great example of how our regional approach to economic development is working,” said Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola. “Locating Man Industries here was a collective partnership between the City, AEDC, Little Rock Regional Chamber, Little Rock Port Authority, Pulaski County and Metro Little Rock Alliance, among others. Little Rock is rapidly becoming a hub for direct foreign investment, and we couldn't be more pleased. We welcome Chairman Mansukhani and Man Industries to our community and are confident they have made the right choice."
Additional information may be found at www.mangroup.com.
About Man Industries (India) Limited
Man Industries (India) Ltd., an ISO 9001 / 14001 / 18001 accredited company, is a leading manufacturer of SAW (Submerged Arc Welded) Pipes (Line Pipes) and Coating Systems for high-pressure Oil & Gas applications with a potential production capacity of approximately one million tons per year.
The Company is a part of the well diversified Man Group, growing under the leadership of Mr Ramesh Mansukhani. Starting as an Aluminium Extruder in 1988, Man Industries has now become a large player in SAW Pipes. It is also a significant sized player in Spirally Welded Pipes and Coating Systems. Man Industries’ operations are spread across globally with offices in the U.K. and U.A.E. besides India.
The shares of the Company are listed with Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange and the GDRs of the Company are listed with Dubai International Financial Exchange (DIFX).
FORTUNE Names Arkansas Children’s Hospital One of “100 Best Companies to Work For”
On January 22nd, FORTUNE announced that Arkansas Children’s Hospital has been ranked 76th on the 11th annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. The full list and related stories appear in the February 4 issue of FORTUNE, available on newsstands January 28th and at www.fortune.com on January 22nd.
“Arkansas Children’s Hospital is honored to be ranked among FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” survey,” said ACH President and CEO Jonathan Bates, M.D. “Our employees take much pride in providing care, love and hope to our kids here at ACH. Their survey response, which comprised the largest portion of the survey, is what matters most and they feel that ACH is a very rewarding place to work.”
A driving factor for the list this year is that these companies excel in creating jobs. The 100 companies on the 2008 list added 67,000 employees to their payrolls in the past year and employ a total of nearly 1.6 million employees; up 16% from the number employed by companies comprising last year’s list.
To pick the “100 Best Companies to Work for,” FORTUNE works with Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz of the Great Place to Work Institute to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America. Of some 1,500 firms that were contacted, 406 companies participated in this year’s survey. Nearly 100,000 employees at those companies responded to a 57-question survey created by the Great Place to Work Institute, a global research and consulting firm with offices in 30 countries. Most of the company’s score (two-thirds) is based on the results of the survey, which is sent to a minimum of 400 randomly selected employees from each company.
The survey asks questions related to their attitudes about the management’s credibility, job satisfaction and camaraderie. The other third of the scoring is based on the company’s responses to the Institute’s Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about pay and benefit programs and a series of open-ended questions about hiring practices, methods of internal communications, training, recognition programs and diversity efforts, etc. After evaluations are completed, if news about a company comes to light that may significantly damage employees’ faith in management, that company may be excluded from the list.
“The FORTUNE ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ ranking achieved by Arkansas Children’s Hospital we hope will help us attract more physicians, nurses and other quality staff to our hospital. We believe one of the positives for Arkansas is that this recognition will help other companies recruit outstanding employees to their business and our state,” added Bates.
Any company that is at least seven years old with more the 1,000 U.S. employees is eligible. The deadline for applying for next year’s list is March 31, 2008. For an online nomination form, go to www.greatplacetowork.com.
rkansas Children's Hospital is the only pediatric medical center in Arkansas and one of the largest in the United States serving children from birth to age 21. The campus spans 28 city blocks and houses 292 beds, a staff of approximately 500 physicians, 80 residents in pediatrics and pediatric specialties and more than 4,000 employees. The private, nonprofit health care facility boasts an internationally renowned reputation for medical breakthroughs and intensive treatments, unique surgical procedures and forward-thinking medical research - all dedicated to fulfilling our mission of enhancing, sustaining and restoring children's health and development. For more information, visit www.archildrens.org.
New AT&T Arkansas Service Center to Bring 175 Jobs to Little Rock
On September 19th in the AT&T Auditorium of the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, AT&T Inc. announced plans for an Internet subscriber support center that will bring 175 new jobs to Little Rock. Governor Mike Beebe and Mayor Mark Stodola joined local leaders and AT&T Arkansas for the announcement.
Employees in the new Little Rock center will initially assist AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet subscribers who self-install their service. As the center expands, employees will also assist customers with broader questions about the service. The employees will work in AT&T’s Arkansas headquarters building at 1111 West Capitol Avenue.
"This announcement bucks the outsourcing trend by bringing jobs back to America and to Arkansas,” said Beebe. “I thank AT&T for showing confidence in Arkansans and locating this center in Little Rock.”
"Our city can take great pride in seeing AT&T expanding its operations and growing jobs, especially here in downtown,” said Stodola. “We compete with cities across the globe for these kinds of growth opportunities, and it is always good to see Little Rock come out on top.”
“Arkansas has a business climate that invites investment, and the Arkansans whom we employ are a great fit for these jobs because they are customer-friendly and understand technology,” said Ed Drilling, president of AT&T Arkansas. “These 175 new jobs literally could have gone anywhere in the country, and it is because of the visionary leadership of Governor Beebe, city leaders, the Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas General Assembly that we are opening this new Internet subscriber support center.”
The 175 new jobs will result in $4 million in additional payroll by 2009 and some $3 million in capital investment. AT&T currently employs 2,660 Arkansans with a 2006 payroll of more than $131 million.
The new jobs are part of an initiative that AT&T announced last September involving the relocation of customer service positions that had previously been outsourced. All of the 175 jobs are Communications Worker of America (CWA)-represented positions. The center will include additional management jobs.
“The employees in this new center will carry on a proud tradition of serving customers well in Arkansas,” said Diane Wiggs, president of CWA Local 6508. “I’m confident that our new workers will provide for a great customer experience.”
Sage V Foods Announces Plans to Locate in Little Rock Port, Create 200 Jobs
On September 17th, Sage V Foods announced that it will be relocating its IQF (individually quick frozen) rice plant from Texas to Little Rock. The plant in Texas has been sold out for several years now without room to expand.
The company will construct a new 100,000 square foot plant in the industrial park within the Port of Little Rock at an estimated cost of $20,000,000. The new plant will more than double the current production capacity and will have ample room for expansion. The Little Rock plant will start with 60 to 100 employees and is expected to grow to about 200 employees within two to three years.
“Food-processing companies are finding Arkansas to be an ideal place to locate,” said Governor Mike Beebe. “The addition of Sage V Foods will continue to expand this growing sector of our State’s economy. We look forward to the quality jobs the company is bringing to Little Rock.”
Sage V Foods is a privately owned company that is based out of Los Angeles. The company specializes in manufacturing rice based ingredients for the food industry. The company built a new rice flour mill in Stuttgart in 2005 which has become very successful. The new plant in Little Rock will produce IQF rice for the industrial and restaurant chain markets, and will produce IQF organic rice under Sage’s retail brand “Rice Expressions.”
Little Rock was selected as the location of the new plant because of incentives offered by local and state agencies, its proximity to the rice growing area, its logistic location in the center of the country on Interstate 40, rail access in the port, and access to waste treatment facilities that can handle cook water. The company feels that in Little Rock it will be able to find skilled employees and that the city will be an attractive location for existing and new management personnel.
“We welcome Sage V Foods to Little Rock and know our dedicated workforce will meet the growing needs of their company,” said Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola. “This announcement helps Little Rock build on the momentum we are currently experiencing after our most recent successes. We look forward to watching Sage Foods succeed in Little Rock.”
The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, AEDC, ADFA and the Port of Little Rock worked together in offering bond guarantees and assisting in infrastructure to make the project possible.
The company plans to break ground in October of 2007 and be up and running before December 2008.
Dassault Falcon Continues Little Rock Expansion with $10 Million Investment, Over 100 New Jobs
On August 14th, Dassault Aircraft Services announced expansion plans for the Little Rock Service Center that will double the service square footage when the project is complete near the end of 2008. Over 100 jobs will be added over the next three years as a result from this expansion with a majority of the jobs being aircraft maintenance technicians and craftsmen. This was Dassault’s second expansion announcement in three months.
On June 12th, Governor Mike Beebe announced that Dassault Falcon will further expand its business jet completion center in Little Rock, already the largest of its kind on the world. The 116,000-square-foot expansion results from growing demand for Dassault Falcon jets worldwide, including the new 7X. Dassault is in the midst of hiring 200 additional Little Rock employees over the next two years to meet the increased production demand. The new jobs will pay an average of $20 an hour.
“Over one year ago, I announced that Dassault is committed to reaching the premier level of customer service in business aviation,” said Charles Edelstenne, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. “This initiative demonstrates that Dassault is continuing to make investments to achieve that goal.”
The nearly $10 million project will break ground in the third quarter of 2007 and will be complete in the fourth quarter of 2008. The new hangar will be able to accommodate up to six additional aircraft and will feature new “back shop” capacity. The back shop will handle light refurbishments of aircraft interiors and structures, a task that was previously handled by the Completion Center. The new hangar will be located next to the existing Service Center on the north-central end of the airport.
“Over the past several years, the historic demand for Falcons has required Dassault to continuously grow and improve our Service Center network,” said John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon. “And with the Falcon 7X now in service, we expect increased demand on our factory owned Service Centers which operators have come to rely on their in-depth knowledge of Falcons.”
According to Pete Christiansen, Dassault Little Rock’s Manager of Environmental Affairs & Airport Liaison, “the Little Rock Regional Chamber, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and Little Rock Airport Commission were instrumental in the acquisition of properties necessary to the continued expansion of Dassault Falcon. They continue to work with Dassault and other aerospace industries to encourage and provide additional future growth opportunities.”
The Dassault Falcon service network consists of 28 worldwide maintenance centers including three company owned facilities in Little Rock, Wilmington, Delaware and Le Bourget (Paris), France.
National Study: Consumers 63% More Likely to Buy from Chamber Members
A new national study reveals that membership in a local chamber of commerce can significantly boost a business’s image among consumers, as well as among other businesses. In a scientific survey of 2000 U.S. adults, The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-based strategic consulting firm, found positive perceptions of chamber members in a number of areas, including overall favorability, consumer awareness and reputation, and likelihood of future patronage.
The study, commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), IBM, Administaff, Small Business Network, Inc., and Market Street Services, showed that when respondents were told that a particular small business was a member of its local chamber, they were 44 percent more likely to rate it favorably than study respondents who were not told of the chamber affiliation. Respondents were also 63 percent more likely to want to purchase goods or services from a small business that is a chamber member.
“We discovered that informing someone about a company’s chamber membership opens the door to substantial increases positive perceptions of that business,” said Alex Trouteaud, Ph.D., senior strategist for The Schapiro Group. “There clearly is a feeling by our respondents that chamber membership is synonymous with quality and desirability.”
To tap into this reservoir of goodwill, a small business should not only join the local chamber of commerce and participate, but also make sure consumers and other businesses are aware of that chamber affiliation.
The positive impact of perceived chamber membership is felt by big businesses, too. For example, when consumers believed that a restaurant chain was a member of the local chamber of commerce, they were 40 percent more likely to eat at the franchise in the future. And if a consumer believed that one of the major automobile manufacturers was a member of its local chamber, that consumer was 9 percent more likely to consider purchasing his or her next car from that automaker.
“This study reinforces research done in 2005 about the perceived capacity of chambers to lead businesses and lead communities,” said Mick Fleming, president of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). “These new national findings point to even more direct benefits for companies willing to be stakeholders in their local chamber.”
The study results had good news for chambers themselves, where 82 percent of respondents indicated that a local chamber of commerce “creates jobs and promotes economic development.”
“The message from this national study is as simple as it is ground-breaking,” said Jim Blasingame, small business expert and president of Small Business Network, Inc. “Join your local chamber, be an active participant in your chamber’s programs and be sure to let your customers and prospects know you’re a proud chamber supporter when they come in your business and when they see your marketing material.”
J. Mac Holladay, CEO of Market Street Services, an economic development consulting firm based in Atlanta that helped create the study, said, “It is refreshing to learn what we have suspected for years -- that chamber membership and community involvement are good investments.”
Click here to view the Chamber Study | Click here for a 1-page summary
Denmark’s LM Glasfiber to Build $150 Million Plant in Little Rock, Employ 1,000 in Manufacture of Wind Blades
At 2:00 p.m. on July 18th, at the Governor’s Conference Room, Governor Mike Beebe announced that Denmark-based LM Glasfiber will construct a new manufacturing facility in Little Rock. The site will feature a blade manufacturing plant and a dedicated training facility. The plant is scheduled to begin operations in first quarter 2008 and will employ over 1,000 people within five years.
“We are very pleased to announce our new facility in Little Rock, which will become our largest facility world wide. The Little Rock plant is key to enabling us to serve our growing portfolio of customers in North America”, said LM Glasfiber CEO Roland M. Sundén. “The facility will help secure our customers’ long term blade supply thereby enabling their ambitious growth strategies while also increasing the robustness and visibility of LM Glasfiber’s North American sales.”
LM Glasfiber will invest $150 million in the facility which will be located on a 135 acre site in the Little Rock Port.
“We couldn’t be happier with the location” said Sundén. “Not only is the site ideally located to serve some of the central US demand for wind development, but Arkansas was able to accommodate our aggressive ramp up schedule and we have every confidence they will exceed our stated goals. The site itself offers excellent logistical options, whether by road, rail, air or marine. And when we considered the kind of amenities that are conducive for LM Glasfiber to attract and retain the people and talent we need, Little Rock was the natural choice for us.”
“Renewable energy is a vital resource for the future of Arkansas and the United States,” said Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe. “Locating LM Glasfiber’s North American headquarters in Little Rock not only creates another flagship company with top-quality jobs for Arkansans, it also puts us on the global map as part of the effort to expand renewable-energy industries.”
The Little Rock plant will be LM Glasfiber’s third North American production facility; effectively doubling the capacity of the existing factories in Grand Forks, North Dakota and Gaspé, Quebec. This latest capacity expansion reflects an overall strong market demand coupled with optimism for continued stability in the U.S. market. The U.S. is currently the highest growth market for new wind projects and the second globally in existing wind project installations.
“We welcome LM Glasfiber and are confident they will find a dedicated and talented workforce here that is eager to get started,” said Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, adding that bringing the company to Arkansas was a cooperative effort among City of Little Rock and Port Authority, Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, Metro Little Rock Alliance and Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
For the past several weeks, representatives of LM Glasfiber have quietly officed at the Chamber, planning the company’s entry into the region.
LM Glasfiber is the world’s leading manufacturer of blades for wind turbines. The Group has approximately 4,200 employees in eight countries. LM Glasfiber is located in or close to the key geographic markets for wind energy, and the highly specialised R & D organization provides the most comprehensive industry know-how on the development and production of rotor blades. Manufacturing facilities are located in Denmark, Spain, the USA, Canada, India and China. For additional information, see the company’s website: www.lmglasfiber.com.
UALR Task Force: Tighten Finances, Fund Jail, Empower Prevention
A UALR Task Force on Public Safety released the results of its nine-month study July 11. The panel concluded that safety and security of Pulaski County citizens require a .25 percent increase in sales taxes, but only if major changes are made in the management of county finances.
“Those who worked on this task force did not anticipate that a recommendation for a .25 cent sales and use tax would be the outcome,” the report said. “However, (members) realized that the jail situation is in a crisis that affects the whole of the criminal justice system. The crisis is rendering harm to the county.”
According to the report, much of the crisis comes from society’s epidemic of drug abuse. The report recommended allocating 10 percent of the county’s public safety money to proven effective prevention, intervention, and treatment programs for drug and alcohol abusers.
“No matter how large a jail is built, it will be filled unless steps are taken to treat the root cause of crime,” the report said.
The panel made 16 recommendations, some of which were likely to be controversial.
“The report may provide enough controversy so as to stimulate much-needed action,” it said, promising that UALR – if asked – stood ready to lend expertise, facilitate discussion, and organize workshops to aid in implementing the recommended changes.
The public safety examination of the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility, the sheriff’s office needs, and scrutiny of county financial practices came after voters last year rejected a quarter-cent tax increase for more security officers and extra jail beds. The voter rejection came despite increases in crime that included a record number of homicides.
In the aftermath of the election, community leaders asked UALR to examine public safety issues. Chancellor Joel E. Anderson assigned Chancellor Emeritus Charles E. Hathaway, a national pioneer of the metropolitan university model, to create a task force of university experts in public finance, law, accounting, criminal justice, communications, and public history.
Given that the 2010 county population will likely show a decline of around 6 percent relative to the population of the municipalities, the task force urges the Quorum Court to develop a plan now for addressing a revenue decline following the 2010 census.
Before concluding that the county’s public safety requires a .25 cent sales tax increase, the committee recommended an additional 15 actions for the county to take, many of them directed at county financial practices. It called for creating a dedicated fund for jail and sheriff’s office operations – a move that would keep other county needs from eroding resources dedicated to public safety.
Other recommendations call for independent audits, including personnel audits; acquiring new fiscal tools that would give county officials up-to-the-minute status of balances in various county funds, and monthly meetings between the county elected leaders to improve communication between them.
The report also encouraged more use of closed-circuit electronics and the establishment of a jail-based courtroom for bail hearings to reduce the cost of transporting detainees to court.
The report called for spending 10 percent of Public Safety Fund moneys on an “integrated set of county-wide, evidenced-based, cost effective programs of prevention, intervention, and treatment (PIT).”
“We recommend that all prevention, intervention, and treatment programs receiving funding in part from Pulaski County or a municipality in the county should undergo a rigorous evaluation by a nationally recognized external entity within the next two years and thereafter by some evaluating body at least every three our four years,” the report said.
To aid in the process, UALR would host a workshop or conference in the fall to bring national experts in the field of prevention, intervention, and treatment to the county for discussion with local leaders. If an additional tax is raised for public safety, the report recommended that municipal contributions to the regional facility be reallocated to proven PIT programs that work.
“With the realization that no one wants to pay more taxes, this report presents a permanent one-quarter cent sales and use tax as the most responsible and needed action,” the report concluded. “We hope citizens understand the seriousness of this situation and ultimately choose to tax themselves in order to assure the public safety of Pulaski County.”
To view the report in its entirety, visit the Public Safety Study website.
India’s Welspun to Build $100 Million Manufacturing Facility in Little Rock, Employ 300
On Saturday morning, June 30th, Welspun Gujarat Stahl Rohren Ltd. (W.G.S.R.L) announced plans to build a manufacturing facility in Little Rock on a 740-acre site adjacent to the Little Rock Port Authority. Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce Chairman Russ Harrington (Baptist Health) hosted the event before a standing room only audience in the Chamber’s Deltic Timber Atrium.
The $100 million facility, once completed, will be capable of producing 300,000 net tons of tubular steel pipes annually for use in the oil and gas industry. The company will hire about 300 workers and hopes to begin production by spring 2008.
“This is a great day for Arkansas,” said Governor Mike Beebe. “Welspun could have chosen many other locations for their investment, and they chose Arkansas. Our workforce, infrastructure, and the natural benefits of the Arkansas River convinced Welspun to become our partners in progress. We welcome these great manufacturing jobs.”
W.G.S.R.L. is part of the $1 billion Welspun Group, the fastest growing company in India. Welspun has more than18,000 employees and a presence in over 50 countries.
Mr. B.K. Goenka, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Welspun said, “We are happy to be here at Little Rock today – which has the advantage of a talented workforce, the right transportation opportunities, and above all, the right geographical location. We look forward to a long and prosperous future as partners in Little Rock.”
W.G.S.R.L. also has manufacturing facilities in Dahej and Anjar in Gujarat, India.
Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola emphasized that the project is the culmination of efforts among state, local and private organizations. “Little Rock continues to prove that we are a world-class site for companies expanding their business opportunities. I appreciate the power of partnerships that enabled this deal to become a reality, and I welcome Welspun to the city of Little Rock with open arms”.
With majority of its production exported to the United States, Welspun has a very strong presence in the country and takes pride in supplying pipes for the world’s deepest pipeline for the “Independence Trail’ project in the Gulf of Mexico.
“Since our inception, we have ventured into unexplored territories and have emerged as global leaders,” said Mr. Bajra Mishra, CEO and Executive Director, W.G.S.R.L. “Today, after setting our foot in Arkansas, we hope to continue to prove our engineering excellence and be a comprehensive provider for state-of-the-art pipes and related niche products for the transportation of oil and gas.”
Prior to the formal announcement at the Chamber, a private ground-breaking ceremony was held at the Little Rock Port site.
Additional information can be found at
www.welspun.com.
For additional information contact
Rajesh Chokhani, General Manager, Welspun, (501) 551-8995, or At AEDC Scott Hardin, (501) 682-7306 or (501) 944-2859
Dassault Falcon Announces $20 Million Expansion, 200 New Jobs
Governor Mike Beebe announced today that Dassault Falcon will further expand its business jet completion center in Little Rock, already the largest of its kind on the world. The 116,000-square-foot expansion results from growing demand for Dassault Falcon jets worldwide, including the new 7X. Dassault is in the midst of hiring 200 additional Little Rock employees over the next two years to meet the increased production demand. The new jobs will pay an average of $20 an hour.
“Good relationships with existing businesses create good jobs in Arkansas,” Beebe said. “Little Rock’s history of working cooperatively with Dassault Falcon has led to a world-class facility here that continues to grow and provide opportunities for Arkansans.”
The $20-million expansion will include a new paint facility, warehouse expansion, new engineering facilities and additions to Dassault’s flight-test line. After completion of the work, the Little Rock Dassault facility will cover approximately 820,000 square feet.
The Dassault Falcon expansion project was coordinated by the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce's economic development team. Dassault is not only the largest and highest paying manufacturer in Central Arkansas, but the aerospace and aviation industry is the state's largest financial export.
“Since coming to Little Rock, Dassault Falcon has been an outstanding corporate citizen,” said Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola. “On behalf of our citizens, I want to thank Dassault for their continued commitment to, and investment in, the City of Little Rock.”
AFTER 50 YEARS, LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT RELEASED FROM FEDERAL COURT SUPERVISION
"...IV. Conclusion
"Nine years after executing the March 15, 1998 Revised Plan, LRSD finally has achieved unitary status by substantially complying with all of the obligations contained in that document. This means that LRSD is no longer under any supervision and monitoring obligations from me, ODM, or Joshua. LRSD's Board can now operate the district as it sees fit; answerable to no one except LRSD's students and patrons and the voters who elected them to office. While the road has been long and at times frustrating -- for LRSD and for me -- I want to express my heartfelt best wishes as LRSD begins to operate, as our Founders intended, under control of the citizens of the City of Little Rock.
"IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that LRSD be and hereby is declared completely unitary in all aspects of its operations.
"IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that LRSD is released from all further supervision and monitoring from the Court, ODM, and Joshua based upon its having substantially complied with all of its obligations under the Revised Plan, the September 2002 Compliance Remedy, and the June 2004 Compliance Remedy.
"DATED this 23d day of February, 2007
"/s/ Wm. R. Wilson, Jr.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE"
Click here for 49-Page Decision.
Developer Announces Fresenius Medical Care North America as Tenant for Maumelle Distribution CenterEd Harmon, one of the principal developers of a new building in Maumelle, is pleased to announce its previously undisclosed tenant for the distribution center under construction in the Burkhalter Business Park in Maumelle.
This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a regional distribution center for Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the world's largest, integrated provider of products and services for individuals with chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1,400,000 individuals worldwide.
Through its network of approximately 2,085 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to approximately 161,433 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world's largest provider of dialysis products, such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. The company’s North American headquarters is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.
The new Maumelle location reflects a key strategic addition to the company’s integrated distribution network within the United States. According to Kevin King, FMCNA’s Senior Director of Distribution Operations, the decision to relocate was driven primarily by location. He added, “The Little Rock area is closer to the geographic center of our customer base in this region and represents the most effective way to insure they are best served.”
Ed Harmon represents both the builder and developer of the building, which is the first building in the Maumelle business park, located at just off I-40 near Rt. 385. “This is a growing area, and we may develop additional buildings in the region,” says Harmon. “The work force has been tremendous and the local agencies have been straightforward to work with.”
“We are pleased that Fresenius selected Maumelle and Arkansas for its new distribution center,” said Maumelle Mayor Mike Watson. “We believe they will be an asset to our community and will fit in well with our existing industries.”
When complete the Burkhalter Business Park will feature up to 20 buildings on 100 acres, primarily distribution centers and light manufacturing. Mr. Burkhalter’s vision for the park has always been in quality, especially in roads, utilities and landscaping and is enthusiastic about FMCNA as the park’s first tenant, “Ed Harmon’s group is erecting a building with great appearance and landscaping. This company has set the bar for others to match.”
The Fresenius lead came to the region through the Metro Little Rock Alliance, the 11-county regional economic development coalition in Central Arkansas. Ed Harmon had developed a long and beneficial business relationship with Fresenius and knew their preferences. At his request, MLRA representatives showed Mr. Harmon available sites in the central Arkansas area, including Little Rock, North Little Rock and Maumelle. Mr. Harmon and the representatives were so impressed with Maumelle and the Burkhalter Business Park that they negotiated this deal within a few days.
“The relationships that MLRA and the City of Maumelle developed with Mr. Harmon and Spartan Logistics will pay dividends for years to come,” said Joey Dean, Executive Director of the Metro Little Rock Alliance.
MLRA Chairman Bill Hegeman indicated that this announcement is proof positive that regionalism is working in the area.
“Our regional economic development efforts, in partnership with the state, the City of Maumelle, the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and others, were vital in locating Fresenius Medical Care North America in Maumelle,” Hegeman said. “Our regional economic development strategic plan identifies the healthcare industry as one to target for expansion and recruitment. Today’s announcement – along with the October 2005 announcement that Cardinal Health was locating in Sherwood – is evidence that we’re following the plan and that plan is working. Economic Development is a team sport, and today our team won one for the region.”
Construction began in November 2006 and is expected to be completed in May 2007. When complete, FMCNA expects to employ approximately 30 people at the facility. Qualified individuals interested in pursuing employment opportunities should submit resumes by e-mail to distop@fmc-na.com
UALR Enlisted to Address County’s Public Safety
At an October 17th news conference at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jay Chesshir, Chamber president and CEO, announced that the University of Arkansas at Little Rock had agreed to lead a study regarding the issue of public safety in Pulaski County.
Statement by Joel Anderson, Chancellor, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
All of us have a stake in safety and security—of person and property. We want safe neighborhoods and streets and places of work. On that proposition there is broad agreement. The recent special election showed that there is not broad agreement in our community on the nature and scope of the public safety problems the community faces. Specifically, there were sharply different opinions regarding jail size, jail funding, and related prevention and treatment programs.
I.
I know I speak for my colleagues at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in saying that we appreciate the confidence in the university manifested by this request.
At the outset of my remarks, let me say with some emphasis that the university study committee will be addressing a community problem, and community problems require community solutions. We have a keen understanding that our role as a university is not to solve the problem for the community but to assist the community in solving the problem.
We do not undertake such studies lightly. We undertake them, in part, based on their significance to the people of our community and on whether there is a reasonable prospect that through the requested study the university can make a difference.
We agree to do such studies on the basis that we are free to do them however we think best. In accepting such assignments we accept no deadlines.
We do not guarantee results. Indeed, going in we do not know where one of our studies is going to come out.
We do not always say “yes”. Our no’s make a yes more meaningful.
We have said yes to this request because public safety is a very significant community issue.
We have said yes because we believe the university can make a difference. We believe the university can play a fair and neutral role as citizens endeavor to develop a common understanding and a broadly-supported strategy for increasing safety and security throughout our community.
II.
As frustrating as it is to concerned leaders throughout the county who were endeavoring to address the issue of public safety, in light of another unsuccessful special election we need, in a sense, to back up and start over.
The comments I am about to make are preliminary and subject to modification by my colleagues who end up constituting the study committee. Having made that disclaimer, I would anticipate two distinct phases in the work that lies ahead.
Phase One is the air-clearing phase. I see the study committee developing an inventory of issues that were in dispute in the weeks leading up to the special election, then finding and clarifying the facts. In this connection the audit mentioned earlier, which will not be conducted by the university, will be useful to the university study committee in clearing the air on financial questions. As is often the case, first there must be agreement on the facts before all parties involved can move forward together in developing a solution that fits the problem.
I believe the university can be helpful in Phase One.
Phase Two is the problem-solving phase. This phase will first, and perhaps most important, require the development of a process for developing a solution. Questions of who should be at the table and how they are going to proceed with the work of formulating solutions will have to be answered first. Then those involved will have to work through to a solution.
In order to succeed, we must have the involvement of all segments of our community on both sides of the River and from all municipalities in the county as well as the business community and other groups.
We need for everyone to work not for “my” solution but for “our” solution.
Participants will have to be committed to working for a solution that is viewed as win-win and that all are confident will be effective. They will need to offer a map of the necessary approval steps.
I believe the university can be helpful in Phase Two.
III.
We do not guarantee success when we undertake such a study, but I think in this case there is a basis for cautious optimism. Granted, if we recall the recent election, we have to acknowledge that we are moving into contentious territory. Yet the issue is critical, and deep down we all want a safe and peaceful community, with well-chosen strategies to achieve it. Still, we must not kid ourselves. Getting from here to there will not be easy, and it will take time—time for gathering information and for talking and thinking and sorting information and developing trust.
IV.
Today I cannot speak with any precision to the time-frame within which the study will be concluded. The work of the study committee will in part be dependent upon the information coming from the audit. It will also be dependent in part on the availability of appropriate faculty—whose assignments are already set for the year. It will likely take us two or three weeks to put the campus study group together. Since no university personnel will be working full-time on this project, it will certainly be a project of months, not weeks. So I ask both your cooperation and your patience as we work together for a better metropolitan community for all of us.
V. I am now pleased to announce the individual who has agreed to chair the university study. In my opinion he is the ideal choice. He is, in the best sense of the term, an old pro. On some occasions he himself commissioned similar studies. On other occasions he himself chaired such studies. Very recently, for example, he chaired the development of the implementation plan for the merger of Helena and West Helena—greatly increasing the likelihood of success in that improbable but promising merger. He has been a foremost apostle of the metropolitan university. I speak of my friend and predecessor as chancellor, Dr. Charles E. Hathaway, now Donaghey Distinguished Professor Emeritus at UALR. |
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