AGP Executive Report

Gaming & Hospitality Expansion: Choctaw Casino & Resort in Pocola, near Fort Smith, unveiled a $140 million plan to expand and renovate, including a new seven-story, 130-room hotel, with work slated to start later this year. Banking & Community Finance: Southern Bancorp announced it will change its name to Uplift Bank, pending regulatory approval, keeping its CDFI mission focused on economic opportunity. Defense & Manufacturing: The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $3 billion contract for GMLRS rocket production, with scaling and automation planned at facilities including Camden, Arkansas. Animal Agriculture Leadership: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named Dr. Andrew Fidler to lead Arkansas’ Animal Health Division and serve as state veterinarian, aiming to streamline and strengthen protections for livestock and poultry. Energy & Fuel Watch: Arkansas fuel reports show diesel and E15 prices easing in multiple counties, while E85 remains low in Yell and Pope counties. Environmental Compliance: ADEQ and Mount Ida entered a consent order over alleged Clean Water Act permit issues tied to wastewater discharge and renewal timing. Trucking & Safety: The Arkansas Trucking Association crowned 11 state champions (drivers and technicians) to represent Arkansas at national competitions. SNAP Rules for Food: Arkansas’ SNAP pilot restrictions on candy and soda are set to begin July 1, continuing the state’s push to limit sugary purchases.

SNAP Overhaul: Arkansas’ SNAP waiver takes effect July 1, cutting off benefits for soda, candy, and certain sugary drinks, with retailers updating systems to deny those purchases. Feral Hog Control: The state adopted new rules for warfarin-based toxicants, creating a new pesticide class and tightening where/when products can be used—though sales and use still require registration and licensed applicators. Energy & Grid Reliability: A transformer explosion at a Jonesboro City Water and Light substation briefly knocked out about 1,200 customers; crews rerouted power and restored service the same evening. Road Work & Logistics: U.S. 69 resurfacing in southeast Kansas starts the week of July 6, with lane closures and a reduced 65 mph work-zone speed; APAC-Central (Fayetteville) is the primary contractor. Banking & Growth: Southern Bancorp plans to change its name to Uplift Bank, pending approval, as it expands its mission for under-resourced communities. Manufacturing & Automation: Mazak highlighted a multi-tasking machining center built for “done in one” production, while MC Machinery Systems and Cimarron Industrial Sales expanded fabrication support across Texas and nearby states. Community & Business Development: Arkansas opened nominations for new Opportunity Zones to spur private investment in distressed census tracts. Local Industry Calendar: Independence Day events and fireworks plans roll across Little Rock and beyond, with safety reminders for fireworks use.

SNAP Restrictions Take Effect: Arkansas begins enforcing a new SNAP waiver that bans soft drinks, candy, and certain low-juice beverages starting July 1, with retailers retooling systems and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders pointing to Medicaid costs tied to chronic disease. Rural Health Watch: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley toured Sioux Center Health in Iowa, highlighting rural hospital funding and doctor shortages. Construction Update: Hope’s Aquatic and Recreation Center is in phase two, with crews clearing, mass undercut/fill, and preparing for gymnasium structure and pool work. Energy & Heat Relief: SWEPCO is pushing summer rebates and assistance options, including LIHEAP support, as temperatures drive higher cooling demand. Outdoor Tourism: Arkansas River Outfitters say rafting and fishing are continuing despite Colorado wildfires, with lower water changing the adventure. Retail Growth: Buc-ee’s sets its first Arkansas grand opening for Aug. 17 in Benton, promising 200+ jobs and a 74,000-square-foot travel center. Local Industry Marketing: Howard County launches an industry marketing and workforce attraction initiative aimed at manufacturers and skilled trades. Agriculture Outlook: A new survey finds many crop economists expect profitability to stay tight for 3–5 more years. Transportation & Fuel: AAA reports gas prices easing nationally, while Arkansas-related road and permitting updates continue to roll out.

Transportation & Energy: ARDOT rolled out a new online fuel transport permit system July 1, replacing paper processing for more than 106,000 import/export permits in 2025 and cutting manual data entry. Public Safety & Forensics: Arkansas State Crime Laboratory updates highlight a new state-of-the-art facility planned for 2027, expanding DNA, toxicology, firearms, digital evidence, and medical examiner services as caseloads near 30,000 cases a year. Agriculture & Wildlife Management: Arkansas approved new rules for warfarin-based feral hog poison bait, creating a Class J category with strict limits on timing, locations, and who can buy/use it—though products can’t be sold yet until state registration. Mining & Exploration: Pantera Minerals released additional assay results from its Gillham Project near De Queen, reinforcing antimony, silver, and base-metal targets for future drilling. Local Industry & Growth Planning: Union County approved a one-year pause on new data center development to study impacts on power, water, utilities, and emergency services; Little Rock is also weighing a hyperscale data center moratorium. Utilities Assistance: Entergy Arkansas announced free in-person customer care events in July to help residents access LIHEAP and payment options. Education & Workforce: UAPB aquaculture/fisheries researcher Yathish Ramena was inducted into the Arkansas Research Alliance Academy as an Arkansas Research Fellow. Business Climate: Creighton’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose in June, with Arkansas at 56.2, even as manufacturing job losses continued.

Utility Relief: Entergy Arkansas is rolling out free, walk-in customer care events statewide starting July 7 to help residents manage higher summer bills and apply for LIHEAP, with sessions in Camden, El Dorado, Magnolia, Little Rock and Star City. Local Infrastructure: Fayetteville is asking the School District to help cover a projected $12 million-plus aquatic center cost overrun, with possible 20% district share and scheduling priority for district swim programs. Road Work: ARDOT plans overnight lane closures on Fayetteville’s Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard for the I-49 overpass removal, with detours nightly from July 7 through July 10. Agriculture & Food: USDA reports broiler placements running ahead of 2025 pace, including Arkansas sets and placements both up week-to-week. Manufacturing & IP: AON Invent says the USPTO issued a utility patent for P-CORE, a manufacturing process turning mixed, unsorted plastic waste into durable products with licensing potential across construction, shipping, logistics and more. Animal Health: A pork-industry preparedness piece urges producers to strengthen FAD readiness, including maintaining premises ID numbers for faster outbreak response. SNAP Policy: A federal judge struck down SNAP “unhealthy food” purchase limits in five states, while Arkansas continues moving toward its own candy and soda restrictions. Aquaculture Research: UAPB graduate students earned top honors at the AR-BIC conference for AI-driven aquaculture and fish disease management work.

Transportation & Fuel Regulation: ARDOT is moving its fuel transport permit system online, cutting paper handling after processing 106,000 import/export permits in 2025 and letting carriers submit electronically (paper stays only for emergencies). Public Health & Food Retail: Arkansas launched an AR SNAP Companion app to help shoppers navigate the new SNAP junk-food ban on soda and candy starting this week, with DHS saying more than 220,000 Arkansans use SNAP. Critical Minerals & Defense Manufacturing: The U.S. Army conditionally selected Titan Mining for graphite processing at Pine Bluff Arsenal and Anniston Army Depot, aiming to reduce reliance on China for defense supply chains. Workforce & Tech Training: RAISE US is rolling out a $500M-plus retraining push for the AI economy, backed by major tech and logistics employers. Agriculture & Supply Chains: USDA data shows U.S. rice planted area at a multi-decade low, and Arkansas Extension warns of ripple effects for dryers and co-ops. Energy & Reliability: SWEPCO launched a Texas Energy Fund grid enhancement project to upgrade hundreds of miles of lines and improve storm resilience. Local Industry & Community: Cabot broke ground on a new multi-use trail phase, while Northwest Arkansas students head to Korea for an international robotics competition.

SNAP Policy Shift: Arkansas is moving ahead with a ban on using food stamp benefits to buy soft drinks and candy starting July 1, despite a recent federal judge ruling that similar restrictions in other states exceeded USDA authority; the state is also rolling out a mobile app to help shoppers check eligible items. Forestry Funding: Arkansas Department of Agriculture opened a $2 million cost-share push for forest landowners, targeting southern pine beetle prevention and hardwood reforestation, with applications due Aug. 14. Agriculture Markets: USDA data show U.S. rice acres falling to a multi-decade low while upland cotton rises; Arkansas figures include lower cotton and sharply reduced rice acreage versus last year. Critical Minerals for Defense: The U.S. Army awarded contracts to build and operate critical mineral processing on military sites, including Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas, as part of a push to reduce foreign supply dependence. Local Industry Finance: Westrock Coffee extended the maturity of about $361 million of credit facilities to Nov. 29, 2028, citing improved cash flow as it moves past peak investment at its Conway facility. Data Center Planning: Clarksville set July 13 hearings on two proposed data center bond issuances tied to industrial development revenue bonds. Community & Workforce: T-Mobile wrapped up its Hometown Grants program with final awards, including a pocket park project in Paragould, Arkansas.

SNAP Overhaul in Arkansas: Arkansas DHS rolled out the AR SNAP Companion app to help shoppers scan items and see if they’re blocked under the new SNAP “junk food” rules. Starting Wednesday, July 1, SNAP won’t cover soda (including diet/low-calorie), candy, and fruit/vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, after a federal waiver. The state says the move targets obesity and diabetes, while critics argue it limits everyday purchases like birthday cake ingredients. Retail Readiness: More than 2,500 Arkansas retailers and SNAP households are preparing for the change, with DHS and a consultant updating restricted-product lists for stores. Workforce & Training: Black River Technical College launched an Industrial Emergency Management Preparedness program in Jonesboro, training industrial employers to test real emergency plans in a simulation setting. Local Industry & Energy: North Little Rock’s Onterris landed a $4.13M contract in Queensland, Australia, supporting permitting and environmental impact work for a coal operation. Education & Engineering: The University of Arkansas recognized spring graduates, including an engineering graduate certificate recipient, as the state’s talent pipeline continues to feed manufacturing and technical sectors.

SNAP Overhaul for Arkansas: Starting July 1, Arkansas will ban SNAP purchases of soft drinks and candy, with DHS rolling out a “SNAP Companion” app so shoppers can scan items and see if they’re eligible. Industrial Training: Black River Technical College launched an Industrial Emergency Management Preparedness certification in Jonesboro, using Proventus’ ARROW Center to help manufacturers and other industrial employers test real emergency plans and simulations. Food & Agriculture Watch: USDA’s latest crop report shows corn ratings slipping slightly, while the Pro Farmer Crop Condition Index ticks up overall; Arkansas also faces new livestock risk as invasive Asian longhorned ticks spread and can carry Theileriosis. Arkansas Business Expansion: Little Rock’s Lexicon celebrated a renovated headquarters tied to a $37.6M modernization, while G.C. Evans opened a new $2.5M “clean room” assembly facility in Little Rock and Hybar announced major funding to expand its Osceola rebar mini-mill. Legal & Policy Pressure: Arkansas’ SNAP changes and a separate SNAP payment error-rate concern are drawing scrutiny, while an Eighth Circuit decision rejected an Arkansas worker’s attempt to revive a CVS Caremark pharmacy-network adequacy class action. Workforce & Tech: A new coalition called RAISE US says it has raised $500M to help states, including Arkansas, prepare workers for AI-driven job shifts.

Critical Minerals: Pantera Minerals says Phase 2 at its 100%-owned Gillham Project in southwest Arkansas returned high-grade antimony, silver, zinc and lead, including up to 19.2% antimony, strengthening its case for a district-scale polymetallic system and setting up a maiden drilling push. Local Journalism vs AI: A coalition of nearly 400 local newspaper owners sued OpenAI and Microsoft in Manhattan federal court, arguing AI training on their reporting threatens local journalism’s survival. Agriculture & Outreach: The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture communications team won six national ACE awards for work spanning graphic design, media relations and publishing. Energy Costs in Arkansas: A new report warns another brutal heat season could push average U.S. summer electric bills near $792, with the West South Central region (including Arkansas) facing the biggest increases. Housing & Growth: Fayetteville saw a $16.9M multifamily purchase tied to student housing, while Arkansas’ housing market is described as shifting toward a buyer’s market as inventory rises. Restaurant Industry Pressures: Little Rock operators point to thin margins and rising costs as Arkansas restaurants face more closures and tougher conditions. Workforce/Training: Lyon College’s dental school is preparing to open its patient clinic to the public after July 4, aiming to improve cash flow.

Agriculture Strain: Riceland Foods says it will temporarily close nine rice drying facilities as rice acreage hits levels not seen since the 1970s, underscoring a widening farm crisis in eastern Arkansas. Local Food Security: Arvest Bank’s 16th annual Million Meals campaign raised a record $633,513 for hunger relief, including $13,927 for the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas. Forestry Cost-Share: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Arkansas Department of Agriculture opened applications for $2 million in hardwood reforestation help and $150,000 for southern pine beetle prevention, with deadlines set for Aug. 14. Data Center Debate: A new Pulaski County push is forming to educate lawmakers and residents as data center plans move forward, while another report says property tax breaks could erase more than half of expected local revenue. SNAP Restrictions: Arkansas will start banning SNAP purchases of soda and certain other “unhealthy” items on July 1, joining a growing list of states with similar waivers. Workforce & AI: RAISE US, a bipartisan employer-backed effort, is piloting an AI-powered career navigation platform in Arkansas as leaders try to manage job disruption from AI. Education & Teaching: Arkansas State University faculty earned ACUE Effective Teaching certification, with 33 more completing the program and bringing the total to 136. Health Care Quality: Howard Memorial Hospital in southwest Arkansas earned a top patient recommendation rating, including a five-star distinction among a small set of Arkansas hospitals.

Data Center Fight in Pulaski County: A new Arkansas Connected Communities Association is forming to counter critics as Pulaski County weighs data center impacts, after an attempted moratorium push failed and the issue moved to a planning commission hearing. Tax Breaks for Big Tech: A separate report says planned Arkansas data centers could get property tax abatements that erase more than half of projected local revenue, including estimates tied to a proposed Google site at the Port of Little Rock. SNAP Restrictions on Soda, Candy: Arkansas retailers begin preparing for a July 1 ban on using SNAP benefits for soda and certain other “unhealthy” items under a federal waiver. Forestry Cost-Share Funding: The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for two programs—$2M for hardwood reforestation and $150K for southern pine beetle prevention—both with deadlines set for Aug. 14. Local Industry & Jobs: Clayton Manufacturing celebrated a $42M Conway home-building facility expansion, targeting 3,000 homes a year and 250+ jobs. Water Infrastructure Focus: Fort Smith board strategy talks highlighted water system needs and funding priorities alongside manufacturing growth and the Interstate 49 push. Workforce for the AI Era: A new $500M nonprofit, RAISE US, is launching to retrain workers for AI-driven change, with Arkansas listed among initial partner states.

Defense Manufacturing: L3Harris broke ground on two new Arkansas Advanced Propulsion Facilities in Camden to boost PAC-3 propulsion output for the U.S. Army, with new cast/assembly and case-prep buildings targeting next-year operations. Housing & Construction: Clayton opened its 41st home building facility in Conway, investing $42 million to produce about 3,000 homes a year and adding 250+ jobs. Energy Efficiency: SWEPCO delivered a $49,505.62 incentive check to Kilgore ISD for energy-efficient lighting and HVAC upgrades at a new high school, expected to save nearly 400,000 kWh annually. AI Workforce: A new $500 million nonprofit, RAISE US, backed by major AI firms, is launching retraining pilots in Arkansas and other states to help workers pivot as automation grows. Telecom Safety: Uniti Group said a subcontractor struck a gas line in Twinsburg Township, blaming inaccurate underground utility markings by a third-party locator. Local Conservation: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is taking registrations for urban archery deer hunts this fall to manage nuisance deer in city areas. Tech Infrastructure: Z Squared acquired a Union County Arkansas site for AI/HPC data center development, seeking up to 50MW later.

Defense Manufacturing: L3Harris broke ground on two new PAC-3 propulsion facilities at its Arkansas Advanced Propulsion Facilities campus in Camden, adding a 75,000-square-foot cast/cure/final assembly building and a 70,000-square-foot case prep facility, with AI-assisted automated X-ray inspection and plans to be operational next year. Critical Minerals & Energy Infrastructure: Z Squared acquired a majority stake in Paradox Data’s Union County campus near El Dorado to build an AI/HPC data center using immersion cooling, with an 8MW start and a path to much larger power requests. Mining for Batteries: Titan Mining’s subsidiary Empire State Mines received conditional U.S. Army enhanced-use lease selections tied to graphite purification at Pine Bluff Arsenal (Arkansas) and Anniston Army Depot (Alabama), aiming to expand domestic processing capacity. Local Transportation: ARDOT is advancing Jonesboro projects including a $61M eastern bypass (targeting 2028) plus widening and drainage work on Highway 49 corridors to handle growth and congestion. Agriculture Policy: GOP governors, including Arkansas’ Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, urged Congress to reauthorize the farm bill instead of extending the 2018 version again, calling it outdated. Workforce & Education: Southern Arkansas University reported progress on its workforce development push, including a new Workforce Development Center under its Next Step initiative.

Defense & Manufacturing: Lockheed Martin won a multiyear $35.3B U.S. Department of Defense contract to quadruple THAAD interceptor production, with work tied to Camden, Arkansas among other sites—another big signal for the state’s defense industrial base. Steel & Recycling Expansion: Hybar LLC broke ground in Osceola on a second $1.1B scrap-metal rebar mill, aiming to lift capacity to about 1.3 million tons annually over roughly 24 months. Workforce Development: Southern Arkansas University’s Next Step updates include a new 4,800-square-foot Workforce Development Center under the HIRED Grant, built to support STEM training and short-term credentials. AI Workforce Push: RAISE US, a bipartisan nonprofit backed by more than $500M, plans AI-era retraining pilots that include Arkansas partnerships with major employers. Local Construction Prep: North Little Rock will hold an Ole Main furniture sale Saturday to clear the historic building ahead of $30M in improvements. Agriculture Policy: Sen. John Boozman released “Farm Bill 2.0” draft as conservation groups press for momentum after the House passed its version. Community Funding: United Way of Northeast Arkansas announced $426,360 in 2027 grants for 15 nonprofit agencies plus its Community Connect program. Food Assistance Rule Change: Arkansas SNAP restrictions on junk-food purchases take effect next week, joining a growing list of states tightening eligibility waivers.

AI Workforce Shift: A new bipartisan nonprofit, Raise Us, backed by more than $500 million, is launching AI-focused retraining pilots starting in Arkansas, aiming to help workers pivot as automation accelerates. Defense Minerals & Manufacturing: The U.S. Army is moving ahead with critical-minerals processing on military bases, with Arkansas tied to graphite purification plans and other rare-earth and battery-material projects. Missile Supply Chain Expansion: L3Harris is expanding PAC-3 propulsion manufacturing in Camden, adding new facilities to boost output for U.S. missile defense. Local Policy for Tech Growth: Arkansas lawmakers are forming a trade group to guide AI and data center policy, balancing economic opportunity with privacy and workforce concerns. Energy Rules Hit Solar Economics: New Arkansas solar rules are leaving some projects stuck elsewhere after net metering changes cut compensation rates. Food & Retail Growth: The Big Biscuit is opening a second Arkansas location in Rogers, signaling continued fast-casual expansion. Agriculture Tech Under Scrutiny: Arkansas farmers are suing over alleged safety and performance problems with EAVision J100 spray drones. Public Services & Compliance: Little Rock School District will require Title IX compliance reviews before approving large construction projects after Central High softball field disparities. Hunger Funding Pressure: SNAP payment error-rate changes could shift costs to Arkansas and raise the stakes for state investments to keep error rates down.