LITTLE ROCK — Funds available to foster conservation
Farmers and landowners in 25 Arkansas counties may submit applications to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program to receive funding for conservation practices in 2013.
The environmental program will work in conjunction with the “StrikeForce Initiative,” a program created to help fight poverty in designated counties by increasing assistance from the Department of Agriculture, according to a news release this week.
The program funds conservation practices based on natural resource concerns in the state, such as forestry or water conservation.
Applications are due Jan. 18. People may apply at a Natural Resources Conservation Service field office, according to the release.
The StrikeForce Initiative counties are Arkansas, Bradley, Chicot, Clark, Colombia, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Hempstead, Howard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Phillips, Randolph, Searcy, Sevier, St.
Francis and Woodruff.
More about the Strike-Force Initiative can be obtained by calling (870) 814-3052.
- Jessica Seaman
Development firm takes regional tack
The Garland County Economic Development Corp. has changed its name to the Hot Springs Metro Partnership and plans to launch a new website.
The name and website are meant to be more regionally focused, with the aim to draw more attention from outside the state.
The Hot Springs Metro Partnership will announce the changes Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at a meeting of the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce at 659 Ouachita Ave.
- David Smith Arkansas Index rises 0.82 on day of gains
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, gained 0.82 to 246.35 on Tuesday.
“The financial markets rose for the fifth consecutive day as investors tested the waters amid signs of progress in the budget talks,” said Bob Williams, senior vice president and managing director of Delta Trust Investments Inc.
in Little Rock. “Arkansas stocks fared well with advancing issues leading declining issues by better than 4 to 1.”
Acxiom Corp. rose by 1.8 percent, followed by the publicly traded banks, Bank of the Ozarks, First Federal Bancshares in Harrison, Simmons First National and Home BancShares.
Wal-Mart shares fell 1.8 percent in heavy trading, while USA Truck continued its roller coaster ride with a drop of 5.9 percent.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business, Pages 25 on 12/12/2012