Lee Watson and I were finishing our catfish at one of the businesses located in what has become restaurant row along Main Street in downtown Little Rock. Watson, with whom I've worked on projects in the past, is the founding CEO of the Venture Center, which is located just down the street in the Little Rock Technology Park. His title is now chief innovator. He wanted to introduce me to a group of people at a table on the other side of the crowded restaurant on this hot July day. Those at the table were in Little Rock for what's known as the Fintech Accelerator, a program that attracts applicants from around the world who hope to participate in the Venture Center's 12-week business boot camp. The word "fintech" is used to describe the computer software programs and other technology that support the financial services industry. It's among the fastest-growing areas for venture capitalists to fund, and Little Rock is positioned to be a hub for the industry. The capital city's history with … [Read more...] about The fintech hub
Alltel
Firm pays nearly $12M for west Little Rock hotel; bank buys shuttered Dixie Cafe site
Hampton Inn & Suites in west Little Rock sold for almost $12 million to a Lonoke limited liability company last month. HISLR 5 LLC paid almost $12 million for the 126-unit hotel at 1301 S. Shackleford Road in Little Rock. The hotel, near Arkansas Heart Hospital and built in 2002, appraised at $8.5 million this year. Bhavin Sharolia was the organizer of HISLR 5. Sharolia did not respond to a call or an email seeking comment. HISLR 5 took out two mortgages with Farmers and Merchants Bank in Stuttgart to help finance the purchase of the Hampton Inn. One was for $10 million. It matures in 2021. The other loan, for $1.3 million, matures in June. The seller was New Project LLC, which was incorporated in 2000. Wallis Blair Allen Jr. and Robert Matthew Allen are managers of New Project. DIXIE CAFE LOT Conway-based Centennial Bank paid $1.3 million last month for a former Dixie Cafe restaurant at 1215 Rebsamen Park Road in Little Rock. The bank is considering its options with the property, … [Read more...] about Firm pays nearly $12M for west Little Rock hotel; bank buys shuttered Dixie Cafe site
Lonoke company buys west LR Hampton Inn & Suites for nearly $12M
Hampton Inn & Suites in west Little Rock sold for almost $12 million to a Lonoke limited liability company last month. HISLR 5 LLC paid almost $12 million for the 126-unit hotel at 1301 S. Shackleford Road in Little Rock. The hotel, near Arkansas Heart Hospital and built in 2002, appraised at $8.5 million this year. Bhavin Sharolia was the organizer of HISLR 5. Sharolia did not respond to a call or an email seeking comment. HISLR 5 took out two mortgages with Farmers and Merchants Bank in Stuttgart to help finance the purchase of the Hampton Inn. One was for $10 million. It matures in 2021. The other loan, for $1.3 million, matures in June. The seller was New Project LLC, which was incorporated in 2000. Wallis Blair Allen Jr. and Robert Matthew Allen are managers of New Project. DIXIE CAFE LOT Conway-based Centennial Bank paid $1.3 million last month for a former Dixie Cafe restaurant at 1215 Rebsamen Park Road in Little Rock. The bank is considering its options with the property, … [Read more...] about Lonoke company buys west LR Hampton Inn & Suites for nearly $12M
Terrell Owens says he’s ready to take ‘#VetMin’ to return to 49ers, connect with Jimmy Garoppolo
By Eric Ting, SFGATE Updated 5:00 pm, Sunday, June 3, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-14', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 14', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); Photo: JULIE JACOBSON, Associated Press Image 1of/14 CaptionClose Image 1 of 14 San Francisco 49ers' Terrell Owens … [Read more...] about Terrell Owens says he’s ready to take ‘#VetMin’ to return to 49ers, connect with Jimmy Garoppolo
State execs talk about Rwanda efforts
BENTONVILLE -- Arkansas executives with ties to Rwanda's agriculture sectors said they established coffee and chicken businesses there years ago for religious reasons. Some acted out of love. Scott Ford, co-founder and chief executive officer of Little Rock-based Westrock Coffee, acted out of enmity. "It's the anger that comes about when you see injustice done and you're moved to actually do something about it," Ford said during a panel discussion at the Trade with Africa Business Summit in Bentonville. This week's inaugural event united business leaders, including former Tyson CEO Donnie Smith, to discuss what led them to Africa, why they continue to work there, and why other businesses should consider it a potential market. The event was made possible by Toyin Umesiri, chief executive officer of Nazaru, a U.S.-based trading group with ties to Africa. Ford, a former president and chief executive of Alltel, took a trip to Rwanda years ago with his wife that led to an interaction with … [Read more...] about State execs talk about Rwanda efforts