AGP Executive Report

Infrastructure Watch: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to tour River Valley and Northwest Arkansas projects Monday, including the Interstate 49 bridge construction in Barling—part of a 3.1-mile, four-lane segment with a contract listed at about $274.8M as of September. Healthcare & Housing: Arkansas real estate activity stays active in the Little Rock metro, with a $900,000 building permit for a new home at 52 Miramont Circle and a $2.5M sale recorded for 44 Miramont Circle. Food Safety: The FDA expanded a frozen-berry recall tied to possible E. coli contamination, including Great Value organic blueberries and triple berry blends plus Trader Joe’s frozen organic mixed berry blend—sold in multiple states including Arkansas. Policy & Politics: President Trump escalated pressure on Sen. Tom Cotton over the Sunshine Protection Act, even posting what he claimed was Cotton’s cellphone number, as Cotton pushes back on permanent daylight saving time. Local Business Finance: Arkansas banks and credit unions report a surge in auto loan refinancing as higher vehicle prices and rates drive borrowers to seek better terms.

Auto Finance: Arkansas banks and credit unions say auto loan refinancing is surging as used and new car prices stay high and dealers often finance at steeper rates before customers refinance. Fuel & Agriculture Costs: The national gas average fell nearly 7 cents to about $4.41, but diesel remains a pressure point for farmers; the G7 agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel over four months, with early diesel releases aimed at easing tight supplies. Daylight Saving Fight: President Trump escalated pressure on Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton to back permanent daylight saving time, even posting what he claimed was Cotton’s cellphone number; Cotton says permanent DST would put kids in “pitch dark” school mornings. Food Safety: Walmart and Trader Joe’s frozen organic berry recalls expanded after an E. coli outbreak tied to Great Value products shipped to stores in Arkansas and 30 other states. Local Business & Health: Fort Smith-area updates include Coca-Cola naming rights for high school football fields and Arvest Foundation support for a UAFS mother-and-infant healthcare center. Healthcare Policy: ACA marketplace plan selections fell 4.9% nationwide as premiums rose 19.7%, with Arkansas showing the biggest premium jump.

Air Medical Expansion: Air Methods and Pafford Medical Services are launching a rotor-wing air medical program across Southern Arkansas, with bases in Texarkana and Arkadelphia using Bell 407 helicopters and aiming to be operational in October 2026. Diesel Shock for Arkansas Agriculture & Trucking: Diesel prices remain a major strain for farmers and independent truckers, with AAA putting Arkansas diesel around $6.01 and national averages near $6.39; the G7 also plans a large diesel release to cool prices. Environmental Accountability: Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced a settlement with Monsanto (and affiliates) over PCB contamination, with Arkansas set to receive at least $32 million and possibly up to $80 million for water-quality work. Food & Consumer Safety: Walmart recalled about 4.5 million Expert Grill wire-bristle brushes due to loose bristles that can detach and cause serious internal injury risk. Local Industry & Workforce: SANY Nutrition completed a $30 million Jonesboro plant upgrade, targeting 150+ jobs and expanding production of protein snack brands. Forestry Research: The University of Arkansas at Monticello opened a new Arkansas Forest Health Research Center, built with locally sourced timber and focused on forest health, education, and rural industry challenges. Community & Public Safety: Craighead County lifted its burn ban after soaking rains, though wildfire risk remains high statewide. Education & Skills: Arkansas State University Theatre staged a Shakespeare comedy run in October, while a Springdale teacher, Lisa Taylor, earned national recognition for economic education. Business/Policy Watch: Arkansas’s diesel and farm-fuel pressure continues as states consider allowing farm diesel on public roads, and Arkansas leaders keep pushing for practical relief.

Gem Industry & Tourism: A Navy reservist and friend at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park unearthed a 6.03-carat diamond while livestreaming on TikTok, with collectors valuing it at more than $1 million—another reminder of how the state’s mining-for-fun attraction keeps drawing attention. Retail & Local Business: PGA TOUR Superstore VP of Merchandising Katie McNeil was spotlighted for her merchandising strategy leadership, a nod to how sports retail talent and supply decisions ripple into local jobs and vendor relationships. Women in Arkansas Business: Little Rock Soirée and the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas announced the 2026 Top 100 Women of Arkansas list, highlighting leaders across industries from banking to energy. Agriculture & Compliance: With harvest moving fast and drought drying fields, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture urged row-crop producers to follow smoke management guidelines and county burn bans when burning residue. Energy & Costs: A report says Trump is mulling curbing U.S. diesel exports, a move that could push diesel prices higher and hit freight, farm operations, and consumer costs. Workforce & Training: Arkansas State University will dedicate the Dash Goff Equine Center at its College of Veterinary Medicine, expanding hands-on training for future vets. Manufacturing Innovation: Modern Mill in Pike County is turning rice husks into building materials, aiming to cut waste while creating new manufacturing opportunities tied to Arkansas’s rice supply chain.

Fuel-cost pressure on the road: Arkansas is allowing farmers and loggers to use tax-free dyed diesel as other states move to pause or ease gas taxes amid record prices, keeping affordability front and center for rural haulers. Workforce and training: Goodwill Arkansas is set to receive an $850,000 BlackRock Foundation grant to expand tuition-free welding and construction training for 220 participants, while a Bentonville summit highlighted early technical career awareness to close the pipeline gap. Manufacturing growth: SANY Nutrition Group opened a new Jonesboro food manufacturing facility, investing more than $30M and targeting 150+ jobs, with protein snack production ramping for Walmart distribution. Logistics and infrastructure: The Port of Little Rock received a $4.5M grant for infrastructure improvements, and ARDOT awarded a $27M contract for a U.S. 82 overpass replacement near Buckner to address flooding and crash risks. Legal and policy: Arkansas joined a multistate U.S. Supreme Court challenge to abortion “shield laws,” while a federal judge denied a motion to dismiss in a Missouri cannabis competition lawsuit involving Little Rock-based Good Day Farm. Health and community: Kentucky and Arkansas will split $20M to boost maternal survival rates, and rural volunteer fire departments can apply for 70 wildland fire suppression kits through Oct. 2.

Energy & Grid: The U.S. Department of Energy awarded Entergy $13.7 million to upgrade transmission reliability across Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, including dynamic line rating on more than 1,000 miles. Agriculture & Food Safety: A University of Arkansas study found that cleaning food-contact surfaces before sanitizing can boost pathogen removal to nearly 100%, with bacteria and viruses surviving for days on common produce-packing materials if cleaning is skipped. Workforce & Education: Arkansas State University System trustees named Dr. Calvin White Jr. chancellor of A-State and Ike Wheeler chancellor of ASU-Newport, aiming to build on enrollment, academics and workforce development. Public Health & Consumer Impact: The Trump administration began mailing $500 ACA refund checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Arkansas, for alleged “user fee” overcharges tied to the federal marketplace. Local Business & Compliance: SGS expanded its Bentonville bicycle testing lab and earned U.S. Consumer Safety Commission accreditation, adding more compliance capacity for manufacturers. Community Services: The Reach Center will hold a ribbon cutting Oct. 15 to reopen Baxter County’s only shelter serving children and full families after renovation delays.

Fuel & Agriculture: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ order allowing red-dyed diesel on Arkansas highways for farming and logging is giving short-term relief, with estimates of 60–70 cents per gallon savings, but some producers say the timing came after they’d already bought fuel. Energy & Utilities: Entergy won $13.7 million in federal funding to upgrade grid reliability across Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, including advanced transmission technology to reduce congestion and boost capacity. Workforce & Safety: Bentonville-based Kwema won a national security product award for its Smart Badge Reel, designed to trigger a silent duress alert for healthcare workers. Food Security: The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is leading a statewide push to reduce food insecurity, appointing an executive fellow to coordinate partners and expand access. Industrial Development: A Pulaski County-adjacent data center site near Wrightsville is drawing scrutiny after a state senator’s land holdings were reported alongside the AVAIO project. Health Policy & Legal Fight: Arkansas AG Tim Griffin joined Louisiana and Alabama in suing 29 defendants over alleged interstate shipment of abortion pills, while the states also urged the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down abortion “shield laws.” Healthcare Access: Air Methods and Pafford Medical Services announced a Southern Arkansas rotor-wing air medical program launching in October 2026 from bases in Texarkana and Arkadelphia. Transportation/Logistics: The Southwest Arkansas Mega Site was added to Union Pacific’s Focus Sites network after completing the railroad’s evaluation process, improving prospects for future industry.

Energy & Data Centers: Entergy says Google will cover the full cost of a solar-and-battery facility powering a new West Memphis data center, even as Arkansas consumers still pay for part of the overall power build. Rural Power & Tech Growth: Atlantic HPC Group completed its acquisition of Valley Oasis Development LLC, adding 29 MW of contracted power capacity across Arkansas and other states. Workforce & Research: The University of Arkansas is launching ARIES, a new electronics research institute focused on power electronics, cybersecurity/AI, photonics, and RF/microwave tech. Agriculture & Food Supply: Arkansas State University won a $2.2M NSF grant to improve drought tolerance in rice and wheat using mycorrhizal inoculants, while school leaders and farmers met for an Arkansas Rice in Schools conference to strengthen farm-to-cafeteria supply chains. Transportation & Logistics: Union Pacific added the Southwest Arkansas Mega Site to its focus-site network, with plans for a rail extension designed by Benesch. Public Safety & Compliance: Air Methods and Pafford Medical Services will launch a southern Arkansas air-med rotor wing program with bases in Texarkana and Arkadelphia. Consumer/Industry Oversight: SGS expanded its CPSC-accredited bicycle testing lab network, adding Bentonville, Arkansas, plus labs in Vietnam and Germany.

Fuel & Farm Costs: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an order letting farmers and loggers use untaxed red-dyed off-road diesel on Arkansas highways, aiming to blunt rising input costs during harvest. Agriculture in Schools: Arkansas Rice in Schools Conference brought rice growers and school nutrition leaders together to strengthen farm-to-cafeteria supply chains and help cafeterias source more Arkansas rice. Diesel Pressure on the Supply Chain: Reporting from the Mid-South links record diesel prices to tighter margins for farmers and higher costs across food and logistics. Housing Development: Calara (Rausch Companies) is under contract on a Bentonville plan for about 900 lots, part of a Benton County pipeline estimated at roughly $565 million. Public Safety & Compliance: Arkansas districts are preparing for Eli’s Law (Act 908), requiring audio recording in locker/changing rooms by the 2027-28 school year. Local Infrastructure: Pine Bluff’s draft transportation plan outlines major road improvements starting in 2027, including I-530 access work and safety upgrades. Consumer Tech Watch: Walmart says its digital shelf labels won’t use personal data like income or shopping history to set prices. Community Transit: Jonesboro’s GOJO added new bus stops to improve access and reduce wait times for riders.

Data Centers in Arkansas: Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde vetoed new county rules for data centers, citing legal and administration risk; supporters are expected to push for an override. Energy & Environment: A harmful algal bloom advisory for Lake Sophia in Hot Springs Village was lifted after toxin levels fell to safe recreational levels, though other nearby lakes still have advisories. Defense & Infrastructure: The Little Rock District Corps of Engineers awarded a $24M design-build contract to replace the Pine Bluff Arsenal access gate, with completion targeted for July 2029. Public Safety & Consumer Protection: Attorney General Tim Griffin’s Fraud and Consumer Protection Summit kicked off with 800+ registrants, focusing on scams, benefit fraud, crypto fraud, price gouging, and robocalls. Agriculture & Food Supply: Arkansas’ harvest is moving at a record pace, with NASS projecting record corn yields and top soybean yields, despite earlier drought stress. Biotech: Secretome Therapeutics launched THRIVE-2, a Phase 2 study of STM-01 for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Space Food: NASA awarded $650,000 to five teams for Mars food system designs for future astronaut crews. Local Business/Real Estate: Nest, a new apartment management and leasing platform backed by Moses Tucker Partners, began operations in Arkansas.

Fraud & Consumer Protection: Arkansas AG Tim Griffin kicked off his two-day Fraud and Consumer Protection Summit with 800+ registrants, focusing on scams from robocalls and cryptocurrency fraud to Medicaid fraud and AI deepfakes. Wireless Taxes: A federal Universal Service Fund surcharge increase pushed 2026 wireless taxes and fees higher, with a typical Arkansas household paying about $345 a year—up from $330 in 2025. Energy & Fuel Costs: GasBuddy price checks showed tight spreads across the state, including St. Francis County premium at $4.49 and Grant County diesel at $5.39 for the week ending Sept. 19. Lithium Development: Smackover Lithium amended its Trafigura offtake deal, adding up to 4,000 metric tonnes per year for a 10-year take-or-pay structure tied to the Lewisville-area project. Agriculture & Harvest: Arkansas harvest activity is moving at a record pace, with NASS projecting record corn (188 bushels/acre) and strong soybean expectations after a drought-affected start. Livestock Health: Lawrence County confirmed Theileria orientalis in infected ticks/livestock, prompting tick searches and warnings about silent spread that can hit cattle, sheep, and goats. Port of Little Rock: The port won a $4.5M EDA grant to improve road access to its industrial park and connect more directly to I-530. Data Centers Policy: Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde vetoed new county data-center rules, setting up a likely override fight. Honey Bee Monitoring: Arkansas is joining a national honey bee health survey, inspecting for pests and diseases that could threaten colonies.

Arkansas Energy & Grid: Arkansas’ economic momentum is tied to reliable power, with state leaders pointing to ongoing utility and cooperative investments as capacity and reliability become site-selection dealbreakers. Wildfire Response: Arkansas is battling its worst wildfire season in more than a decade, with the state reporting 1,478 wildfires and tens of thousands of acres burned so far in 2026, pushing crews to rely on satellites, contract aircraft, and more air support. Retail Tech & Pricing: Walmart says its new digital shelf labels won’t use personal data (like income or shopping history) to set prices, aiming to calm shopper concerns as the technology rolls out. Mining & Battery Supply Chain: Smackover Lithium says it has amended its South West Arkansas Project offtake deal, adding up to 4,000 metric tonnes per year of battery-quality lithium carbonate to support debt financing and production planning. Food & Agriculture: The Food Bank of North Central Arkansas is moving ahead with a greenhouse next to its Mountain Home warehouse after a zoning change, expanding hunger gardens production. Local Government & Development: Mountain Home is fixing long-running planning fees it collected without an ordinance, and the city is raising many of those charges as part of the update. Gaming Oversight: Saracen Casino’s operating authority voted to remove two top executives amid misconduct allegations, with next steps tied to Quapaw Nation approvals.

Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports show Randolph County’s lowest regular gas at $3.83/gal (week ending Sept. 19), while Arkansas’s statewide regular average rose to $4.02/gal. Retail Tech: Walmart says its digital price labels won’t use personal data like income or shopping history to set prices as it expands the system. Public Service & Workforce: Clinton School of Public Service first-year Master of Public Service students launched 2026-27 practicum projects with nine Arkansas partners, targeting healthcare, education, energy, and economic development. Food Security: New USDA data says more than 330,000 Americans lost SNAP access between May and June, with advocates warning Congress’s SNAP cuts could worsen hunger. Immigration Labor: USCIS reports 3,010 H-2B worker approvals tied to Arkansas worksites for fiscal 2026 through June 30, 2026. Local Business: Bienvenue Restaurant opened in Rogers’ Pinnacle Hills area, bringing a European-inspired menu and wine program to the region.

Data Centers & Local Policy: Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde vetoed an ordinance that would have set permitting rules for “high-intensity digital infrastructure,” a move tied to AVAIO’s proposed $6 billion data center in south Pulaski County; Quorum Court members say they’ll seek an override. Real Estate & Construction: In the Little Rock metro, deeds and permits show steady momentum, including Arnett Construction’s $7.08M land transfer to ADP Little Rock Data Hub, LLC for an AVAIO data center project, plus a $800,000 Reprise Design permit at 17401 Chenal Pkwy. Agriculture Under Pressure: Drought is worsening across the Mid-South as harvest ramps up, with farmers reporting lower yields and rising uncertainty. Food & Farming Economy: Arkansas rice mills donated 201,500 pounds of rice to the Arkansas Foodbank, aiming to support families during Hunger Action Month. Hospitality & Tourism: The Arkansas Hospitality Association will honor industry leaders at the Oct. 15 Stars of the Industry Awards Gala at Saracen Event Center. Workforce & Training: SAU’s Fish and Wildlife Club welcomed new biology faculty with a black-light bug survey, highlighting hands-on learning tied to Arkansas’s farm and ecology interests.

Saracen Casino Shake-Up: The Quapaw Nation’s downstream development authority voted 5-0 to terminate Saracen Casino Resort’s top executives, citing alleged conflicts of interest and financial mismanagement; the resolution now heads to the Quapaw Nation business committee. Construction Cost Overruns: A VA inspector general report says five Fayetteville medical center projects nearly tripled in cost after delays tied to missing blueprints, vague instructions, and poor oversight—costs rose from $34.5M to $100M. Food & Agriculture Trust: Arkansas farms are seeing sales climb as meat recalls and foreign beef imports drive shoppers toward local products. Kratom Spotlight: After two Ole Miss student deaths, kratom is back in focus as officials expedite toxicology and urge caution while investigators sort out what role, if any, it played. Energy Watch: Gas prices in Arkansas remain volatile, with the national average for regular hitting $4.48 and local reports showing premium, midgrade, and diesel swings across counties. Rice Helps Feed Arkansas: Arkansas rice mills donated 201,500 pounds to the Arkansas Foodbank, aiming to boost meals during hunger action season. Workforce & Training: SAU’s Fish and Wildlife Club welcomed new biology faculty for a black-light insect survey, highlighting hands-on learning tied to the state’s farm and poultry interests.

Food Security Funding: Arkansas Community Foundation launched the Arkansas Full Table Fund, a five-year, $10 million statewide effort backed by the Walmart Foundation (with Tyson Foods and Cargill support) to help nonprofits improve access to federal nutrition programs and build local food-system capacity. Agriculture Finance: Arkansas is also stepping in with a $5 million bridge loan to Jonesboro’s Delta Peanut after the USDA pulled the company’s federal warehouse bond, aiming to keep this year’s harvest from spoiling while a possible sale is negotiated. Education & Workforce: UAM’s School of Education announced a partnership with Drew Central Elementary to create a Literary and Math Learning Lab Classroom, giving teacher candidates hands-on teaching experience. Energy & Industry: Holtec International paused its initial public offering plan, citing uncertainty around data center development tied to its small modular reactor plans. Local Governance: Pulaski County’s data center rules were vetoed by the county judge, with an override expected. Business & Jobs: Bentonville’s McAuley Place opened as affordable housing for teachers and staff, including a path toward homeownership. Public Safety Tech: Schools in multiple states are testing drone-based deterrence under a pilot program, drawing both interest and criticism.