overheard at Panera Bread today:
Arkansas State Representative Jim Medley commented on the potential upswing in growth in the Chaffee area and the Fort Smith general area when the Mitsubishi plant opens.
Medley pointed out that an additional 400 people living in this area could well result in more than just jobs, but in the growth of an entire new community, including retail and commercial stores, restaurants, and possibly even schools as a residential development grows to meet the new demand.
He also said that neighboring industries, such as USA Truck and Carco(?) should see increased employment as they supply the new plant which will manufacture wind turbines to help build a new future of alternative energy. As Medley pointed out, Fort Smith and Fort Chaffee were chosen over many other competitors for the plant site because of many factors, but chief among those was our workforce, transportation availability - such as the in coming I49 corridor which will pass right by the plant site.
Medley went on to discuss the new energy source, wind power. "Walmart is already using wind power for some of their electricity needs, as well as other commercial and private users."
Federal tax incentives could be as high as 30 percent for utilizing the alternative power source. The state will also offer several incentive options, making for a considerable motivation for homeowners and businesses to consider the move to wind power.
Just what all will this mean for the River Valley? No one knows for sure at this point just how much of a boost this will represent, but it stands to be significant.
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Monday, November 9, 2009
Monday, July 7, 2008
Starbucks VB Closing
Well RATS! I just learned last night that Van Buren's only Starbucks is closing at the end of July due to low sales volume. What a loss!
I was told by a barrista (to be unnamed) last night that the only local Starbucks will close at the end of this month due to poor sales volume. This is regrettable and could have been avoided by simply advertising more (expecially on the immediatly nearby I-40 corridor!!) and original store placement. The current location requires dealing with a traffic light and the busiest street in town in order to get a coffee - big mistake for hurried commuters, Starbucks.
I was told this store lost $200,000 last year - a drop in the bucket to mega-bucks Starbucks, but small towns count last, I guess.
So, we'll just stay home more, I guess. Thanks Starbucks!
I was told by a barrista (to be unnamed) last night that the only local Starbucks will close at the end of this month due to poor sales volume. This is regrettable and could have been avoided by simply advertising more (expecially on the immediatly nearby I-40 corridor!!) and original store placement. The current location requires dealing with a traffic light and the busiest street in town in order to get a coffee - big mistake for hurried commuters, Starbucks.
I was told this store lost $200,000 last year - a drop in the bucket to mega-bucks Starbucks, but small towns count last, I guess.
So, we'll just stay home more, I guess. Thanks Starbucks!
Gas price variations
If you're interested in saving a few bucks on gasoline (I know I am, but you may be far too rich to care), don't bother pumping anything south of I-40. It's remarkable (hence my remarking on it) how much difference there is in gas prices in one small town!
Yesterday (7/6) I went hunting best gas prices in VB. Nearly everyone on Broadway was mirroring Fort Smith's price hike to $3.99 per gallon (regular unleaded). But as soon as I crossed under I-40 on Log Town Hill, the sun mercifully went behind a cheerful cloud, birds began singing louder, fellow motorists began smiling and waving ... all because, in one block, gas prices dropped 13 cents! Gas at both stations north of the interstate was $3.86 per gallon.
(NOTE: I don't count Walmart's discount - their gas is so dirty the clogging far outweighs any benefit of price - avoid them at all cost!)
Which begs the question - why aren't "south Vanburenite" gas stations in line with consumers' needs for better gas prices? Is it honestly just greed? I don't think they are being charged 13 cents more per gallon by their suppliers than their counterparts in the same state/county/town/area code/zip code! Must be price gouging!
Be warned - drive up Log Town Hill a little way and save nearly five percent per gallon - that's $3.00 on 20 gallons of gas! That's enough for a coffee!
Yesterday (7/6) I went hunting best gas prices in VB. Nearly everyone on Broadway was mirroring Fort Smith's price hike to $3.99 per gallon (regular unleaded). But as soon as I crossed under I-40 on Log Town Hill, the sun mercifully went behind a cheerful cloud, birds began singing louder, fellow motorists began smiling and waving ... all because, in one block, gas prices dropped 13 cents! Gas at both stations north of the interstate was $3.86 per gallon.
(NOTE: I don't count Walmart's discount - their gas is so dirty the clogging far outweighs any benefit of price - avoid them at all cost!)
Which begs the question - why aren't "south Vanburenite" gas stations in line with consumers' needs for better gas prices? Is it honestly just greed? I don't think they are being charged 13 cents more per gallon by their suppliers than their counterparts in the same state/county/town/area code/zip code! Must be price gouging!
Be warned - drive up Log Town Hill a little way and save nearly five percent per gallon - that's $3.00 on 20 gallons of gas! That's enough for a coffee!
Good, bad, and so-so
The purpose of this blog will be to reveal, discuss, and expose issues going on in my hometown, Van Buren, Arkansas.
We're located in western Arkansas; we are an older, mid-size to small town; we are topographically located on the north side of the Arkansas river, just across from Fort Smith, and adjacent to the Arkansas/Oklahoma border. We are, literally, the spot "where the Ozarks begin." (That's my own copyrighted phrase - please don't steal it or use it without paying me for the right.)
Because of our location next to Indian Territory and Judge Parker's stomping grounds, we have a rather wild and woolly history - gun fights, out laws, etc.
Today we have a decent government (streets get fixed when they get 'way too bad or if they annoy someone important, lights and public services are spotty, but pretty good) and a very good school system. We are growing like crazy - new housing, new areas, new stores. All of which mean more opportunities and more challenges. Our local economy is steady - growth pretty much balances out any losses.
We are NOT just a bedroom community for Ft. Smith. We have our own personality, our own services, our own strengths (and our own weaknesses).
If you feel differently, feel free to state your case - I may post your comments if I feel they are appropriate. This is free press in the true sense of the word - but it's also MY free press.
We're located in western Arkansas; we are an older, mid-size to small town; we are topographically located on the north side of the Arkansas river, just across from Fort Smith, and adjacent to the Arkansas/Oklahoma border. We are, literally, the spot "where the Ozarks begin." (That's my own copyrighted phrase - please don't steal it or use it without paying me for the right.)
Because of our location next to Indian Territory and Judge Parker's stomping grounds, we have a rather wild and woolly history - gun fights, out laws, etc.
Today we have a decent government (streets get fixed when they get 'way too bad or if they annoy someone important, lights and public services are spotty, but pretty good) and a very good school system. We are growing like crazy - new housing, new areas, new stores. All of which mean more opportunities and more challenges. Our local economy is steady - growth pretty much balances out any losses.
We are NOT just a bedroom community for Ft. Smith. We have our own personality, our own services, our own strengths (and our own weaknesses).
If you feel differently, feel free to state your case - I may post your comments if I feel they are appropriate. This is free press in the true sense of the word - but it's also MY free press.
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