4 | FAULKNER COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Conway Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its third membership event April 17-18.

Similar to years past, Your Chamber Connection Р a Texas-based company specializing in improv-ing membership and membership participation for chambers of commerce Р will help facilitate the event.

The most recent membership event took place in 2010 and added 223 new members in less than three days. The first membership event for the Conway Chamber was in 2007 and added 388 new members.

The record growth during the membership events helped position the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce as the fifth largest chamber in Arkansas based on membership number, according to infor-mation in a ranking by Arkansas Business.

Perhaps what is even more important than new member recruitment is member retention. The Chamber offers a suite of business-to-business and targeted consumer opportunities for its members.

“While this membership event will help the Cham-ber achieve future growth, we aim to make sure that the relationship we have with our members is a mutually beneficial one,” said Lindsay Wygal, vice president of member services. “Chamber members have access to a variety of products and services that can positively impact their business, and we’re constantly looking for ways to enhance our offer-ings.”

The Chamber is seeking volunteers to assist with the membership event. Those interested can email Wygal at Lindsay@ConwayArkansas.org or call 501-327-7788.

Chamber Plans membershiP event aPril 17-18 Eleven Arkansas economic

development organizations in six counties came together this month to unveil matching reso-lutions opposing the proposed increase of the severance tax on natural gas.

“Together these organiza-tions represent more than 5,000 Arkansas businesses,” said Jamie Gates, senior vice president of the Conway Area Chamber of Com-merce.

“These communities can testify firsthand to the broad and positive economic impact of the natural gas industry. But they also know it’s a competitive industry and one Arkansas cannot afford to take for granted.”

A proposal to raise the sever-ance tax by 400 percent is cur-rently in the signature-gathering phase to be placed on the Novem-ber ballot.

The Arkansas legislature sig-nificantly raised the severance tax in 2008, which currently collects more than $50 million from Arkan-sas companies and royalty own-ers. The organizations formally opposing the increase say that an additional increase will cost Arkan-sas jobs, revenue and its position within the industry.

“Arkansas has weathered the recession as well as it has almost solely due to the natural gas activ-ity,” said Faulkner County Judge Preston Scroggin. “To try to pull an additional $200 million in taxes from Arkansas companies, land owners and small businesses in this economy is foolish by any standard.

“If passed, it will cost Arkansans jobs and money,” Scroggin said.

The resolutions state that the proposed changes to the current severance tax law would result in a rate “among the highest in the country.”

Many are afraid that the propos-al will run off companies and their employees at the worst possible time.

“Natural gas exploration has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise difficult economy,” said Rich Moellers, chairman of the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors. “The Natural Gas Severance Tax Act proposed by Mr. Nelson would erase the industry’s margins and result in good companies mov-ing operations to other parts of the country where they can make money and provide jobs. This bill is a jobs-killer.”

Earlier this month, the Con-way Chamber led an awareness tour that included six stops from Searcy to Fort Smith educating voters, public officials and the me-dia about the negative economic impact of the potential increase.

arkansas eConomiC orgs Unite to Fight ProPosed tax inCrease

Conway officials meet with the Searcy Chamber during a 500 mile tour opposing the proposed increase to the Arkansas severance tax on natural gas.

Conway voters overwhelm-ingly passed the quarter-cent sales tax rededication in a special election held Tues-day, Feb. 14.

Each of the four city bond questions passed by a 2-1 margin, and 2,117 ballots were cast — more than twice that of the unsuccessful May 2011 special election.

The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Direc-tors endorsed the measure at their January board meeting.

The Chamber played an active role in organizing the “4 the Love of Conway” commit-tee. President/CEO Brad Lacy said that the Chamber’s sup-port of the sales tax rededica-tion was part of its mission to establish and execute the community’s vision.

“The passage of the sales

tax rededication was a good first step in moving the city toward some of the goals outlined in Conway2025, par-ticularly those under the “Keep Conway Safe” sector group,” Lacy said.

Conway2025 is the Cham-ber’s long-range strategic plan for the city. In April 2011, the City Council adopted the plan as the “official strategic vision for the city of Conway.”

The City Council has com-

mitted to modernize the fire truck fleet, invest in new digital radios for the fire de-partment, and create regular annual funding for police cars upon approval of the rededi-cation.

In Conway2025, establish-ing a capital budget for public safety and equipping the fire and police departments with a well-maintained fleet of vehicles are two goals that will be addressed because of

the passage of the sales tax rededication.

“We are blessed to live and work in a place like Conway, and we have a responsibility to see this plan through,” Lacy said.

“The rededication of these bonds will help the city run more efficiently.

“It was a necessary and critical first step towards achieving bigger and better things for Conway.”

ConWaY’s sales tax redediCation: WhY it mattered to the Chamber

FAULKNER COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL | 3

Unemployment RateDecember 2011

US ....................................8.5%Arkansas ...........................7.7%Faulkner County ............. 7.1%Conway .............................6.1%

Labor ForceDecember 2011

ConwayEmployed .......................26,493Unemployed .....................2324Total ...............................28,817

Faulkner County*Employed .......................52,800Unemployed .....................4025Total ...............................56,825*Includes Conway

Sales Tax CollectionsConway- YTD November

2011......................$20,045,3962010......................$19,728,889Percent Change 1.6%

Conway -Annual*2010......................$21,868,1022009......................$20,825,010 Percent Change 5.0%*Tax Rate 1.75Faulkner County - YTD Nov.

2011........................$7,445,2492010........................$7,068,618 Percent Change -6.1%

Faulkner -Annual* 2010........................$7,834,2262009........................$7,731,691 Percent Change 1.3%*Tax Rate 0.5%

Restaurant Sales*Annual Sales

2011....................$151,462,7972010....................$139,864,2032009 ...................$130,911,970 Percent Change 2010-11 8.3%

Annual Sales *Includes mixed drink sales

Hotel SalesAnnual Sales

2011......................$18,662,1362010 .................... $17,590,2422009......................$16,404,114Percent Change 2010-11 6.1%

Building Permits ConwaySingle Family Residents

January2012........................... 7 permits2011........................... 6 permitsTotal for the Year2011.......................153 Permits2010 ..................... 223 Permits2009 ..................... 259 PermitsPercent Change 2010-11 31.4%Average Construction Cost*

January2012...........................$215,0002011...........................$328,353Percent Change -34.5%*Not including land or lot improvements

Average Square Footage*January

2012..................................30022011..................................3409Percent Change -34.5%

Total for the Year2011.................................2,8142010.................................2,7222009.................................2,615Percent Change 2010-11 3.4%*Total under Roof

Lottery SalesFaulkner County

January2012........................$1,337,4992011........................$1,404,0022010........................$1,520,210

Annual2011......................$16,768,687

Total StateJanuary

2012......................$35,720,4032011......................$39.663.3722010......................$40,187,052

Annual2011 ...................$484,879,7012010....................$459,916,256Annual Per Capita .......$166.31

Natural GasSeverance Tax Distribution

February 2012Faulkner County ..........$12,517Conway ........................$15,223

AnnualFaulkner County

2011...........................$204,0522010...........................$171,543

Conway2011...........................$254,8222010...........................$221,225

Wellhead Price per MCF*November

2011 ................................$3.352010 ................................$3.342009.................................$3.642008.................................$5.972007.................................$6.37

Yearly Average2010 ......................... $4.16 2009 ......................... $3.712008.......................... $8.072007.......................... $6.372006 ......................... $6.402005 ......................... $7.332004 ......................... $5.462003 ......................... $4.882002 ......................... $2.95*1000 cubic feet

Number of Wells*Faulkner County .................308Total in Field ...................3,984*As of January 12, 2011

Estimated Life TimeValue of Production*

Total Field ......$11,103,690,119*As of October 31, 2011

Information provided by pulseofconway.com

Conway Economyat a Glance BY ROGER LEWIS

The cost of living for Conway, Arkansas is 12% below the U.S. national average. The national average is arbitrarily set at 100 and Conway’s index is 87.8.

A Cost of Living Index is prepared quarterly by the Council of Com-munity and Economic Research to establish comparative living costs among communities. Data are col-lected for specific commodities in six areas: groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care and miscellaneous expenditures. The data are weighted so that housing is 28.6% and groceries is 13.6%. Miscellaneous with the most weight, 32.4%, consists of state and local sales tax, clothing, personal care items, recreation and fast food. These weights are the same as those used by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to compute the con-sumer price index CPI. State income taxes and real estate taxes are not included in these calculations. Com-paring the tax burden of Arkansans is a topic for a future article.

The table compares Conway to selected cities in Arkansas and the U.S. nationally. The comparable salary column shows the salary one

would need to live in a community at the same level as living in Con-way with a $50,000 annual salary. Average rent is for a 2 bedroom, 1-1/2 bath 950 sq. ft. unfurnished apartment, recently constructed and excluding utilities except for water and sewer. Average home is for a 2400 sq. ft. four-bedroom new home of good or very good construction.

Except for Little Rock–NLR and Hot Springs the cost of living in the listed Arkansas cities are about the same. There is no surprise about California cities being expensive. As an aside, while walking down a street in San Francisco several years ago, my wife and I stopped to talk to a young couple moving out of a very modest, older street-level apartment. After striking up a friendly conversation with them, I asked if they would mind telling me what an apartment like that rented for. When they said $2400 a month, I responded “ouch!” The young lady said yes, that was why they were moving out of the city and planed to commute.

The Council of Community and Economic Research conducts the quarterly survey for the ACCRA (American Chamber of Commerce Research Association) Cost of Living index publication. To gather data, the Council has participating organizations (usually Chambers

of Commerce or local government agencies) collect data following strict guidelines. The council lists 60 spe-cific items and participants obtain prices from specified vendor types. Approximately 300 cities across the nation participate. Cities that partici-pate must be within a metropolitan statistical area or have a population greater than 35,000 in a county with more than 50,000 people.

Whereas the ACCRA cost of living index is designed to compare cost of living among urban areas, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Con-sumer Price Index (CPI) measures the change in cost of living quarterly for the entire U.S. The ACCRA cost of living index is recognized by the US Census Bureau, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and The President’s Council of Economic Advisors. It is often referenced in their publica-tions.

You can obtain comparisons among cities by going to the Pulse of Conway website (www.pulseof-conway.com). Select cost of living under the Business Data tab.

I thank my friend Chris Spatz for editing and helping me with this article.

More information on building permits and real estate sales can be found at Pulse of Conway website. pulseofconway.com.

the Cost oF living in ConWaY

Cost of Living, Comparable Rent and Home Prices for Selected Cities Composite Index* Comparable Salary Avg. Rent Avg. HomeConway 87.8 $50,000 $542 $236,343Fayetteville 86.5 49,260 580 223,306Fort Smith 85.2 48,519 460 232,940Jonesboro 87.5 49,829 564 240,814Hot Springs 96.5 54,954 626 253,967Little Rock-NLR 95.8 54,556 719 253,330Memphis TN 86.0 48,975 721 195,115San Jose, CA 150.5 85,706 1,729 713,145San Francisco 162.9 92,768 2,518 796,762St. Louis 91.2 51,936 778 202,396Dallas, TX 96.3 54,841 738 207,192Houston TX 89.9 51,196 892 224,736National Average1 100.0 56,948 839 285,990*National average set at 100

4 | FAULKNER COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL

According to the County Health Rankings project, nearly one out of every four Faulkner County adults is uninsured. While a lack of health insurance coverage can be a significant barrier to accessing necessary medical treatments, a new health care provider in town promises “Health for All” – regardless of ability to pay.

ARcare operates more than 30 locations across the state and has provided health ser-vices to insured and uninsured Arkansans for more than 20 years. In January of this year, the health care provider opened its first location in Faulkner County. Its 6,300-square-foot facility is located at 1500 Museum Road in Conway.

ARcare’s Conway loca-tion offers primary care and preventive services to people of all ages – from infants to senior adults. Other programs and services include case management, health educa-tion and outreach, and referral services. Dr. Steven Collier, family practitioner and CEO of ARcare, said that patients range from those with insur-ance, those with not enough insurance, and those with no insurance at all.

“ARcare is a broad-based, comprehensive operation that accepts everyone,” Dr. Collier said. “Although we are not a free or charitable clinic, we are able to offer discounted rates so that all Arkansans can receive the care they need.

“We are open to everyone – from the richest individuals in town to the less fortunate. We have top quality care at ARcare, including a full-time physician, nurse practitioners and laboratory services,” he said.

For those who cannot pay for health services, ARcare offers discounted fees on a sliding-scale based on income. ARcare also accepts private insurance, Medicare and Med-icaid. In addition to affordable medical services, ARcare of-fers a prescription medication assistance program to help patients get the medicines they need at a price they can afford.

“We have a model that works well as far as the way we provide services,” Dr. Collier said. “Through special programs that the state has and the federal government has, we have the opportunity to see patients no matter their financial situation. We also work with local hospitals and pharmacists as part of our prescription medication assis-tance program and our referral services.”

ARcare also receives fund-ing through the Arkansas Fam-ily Health Foundation. This fundraising arm of ARcare was

established in August 2010 “to foster and fund education, wellness, economic develop-ment and transportation-relat-ed initiatives across Arkansas.”

Alex Collier executive direc-tor of the Foundation and director of corporate properties at ARcare, said that although ARcare’s main focus is family practice and primary care, the health organization aims to deal with the entire person.

“Through gifts to the Foun-dation, ARcare is empowered to address social concerns such as hunger, literacy, early childhood learning, mental health, dental health, and AIDS and HIV,” Collier said. “We plan to have a special focus on education in Faulkner County and have signed a practice agreement with CAPCA [Community Action Program for Central Arkansas] so we can work with their Head Start Centers.”

The Foundation has re-ceived a $250,000 contribution

from the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program to assist with the purchase of a new mobile clinic. ARcare’s mobile health unit will provide medical care to children enrolled in the CAPCA Head Start Centers in Faulkner, Cleburne and White counties.

Alex Collier said that ARcare is still working to identify addi-tional partnerships in Conway. “We want to partner with other organizations in Conway who are also focused on having a healthier community and who can help us identify the city’s greatest need and meet it.”

Although there is no short-age of first-rate medical facili-ties in Conway, ARcare hopes it can help make the commu-nity even better. Robbie Wills, attorney-at-law and principal of the Wills Law Firm, provides legal representation to ARcare and assists with community relations. The former speaker of the Arkansas House of Rep-resentatives said that ARcare’s

presence in Conway is mutu-ally beneficial to the health organization and to Faulkner County.

“Although Conway is blessed with good quality, affordable health care, we all know that there are always gaps. And there are always those who fall into those gaps,” Wills said. “So when Dr. Collier shared with me ARcare’s plans to come to Conway, it made a lot of sense. I believe that this is a great opportunity for health care to be just that much bet-ter in Conway and in Faulkner County.

“This is the kind of organi-zation we want in our county and in our community because they do the right things the right way.”

ARcare in Conway is ac-cepting appointments and also accepts walk-in patients. For more information about ARcare or to schedule an ap-pointment, visit www.ARcare.net or call 501-625-0097.

neW mediCal CliniC oFFering ‘health For all’ oPens in ConWaY

ARcare Mobile Unit: ARcare’s mobile health unit will provide medical care to children enrolled in the CAPCA Head Start Centers in Faulkner, Cleburne and White counties.

6 | FAULKNER COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL

The Faulkner County business community’s big-gest night is just around the corner. Over 900 business owners, employees and area leaders will gather at UCA on Thursday March 8th to celebrate the growth of their local economy.

Madison Murphy will be the featured speaker in a conver-sation with KTHV’s Melissa Dunbar-Gates. Murphy will talk about his experience at the highest levels of business

and public service. Murphy currently serves on the board of two publicly traded com-panies and has more than 30 years experience in the energy, timber and real estate industries.

Murphy is also the current chairman of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department and sits on the Hendrix College Board of Trustees.

Chamber President Brad Lacy says the event is an opportunity to recognize “all of the good things going on in Faulkner County.”

“Annual meeting is obvi-

ously an important night for our organization. But I hope people leave the event feeling energized and ready to take on Conway’s future chal-lenges.”

Attendees also leave with an annual report of 2011’s economic and community development efforts.

Another focus of the night is recognizing outstanding businesses, organization and individuals that contribute to Faulkner County’s economic success. Award winners in a number of business and civic categories will be announced. Annual meeting attendees

are also the first to hear about some of the exciting things planned for 2012.

Individual tickets, tables and sponsorships are still avail-able. However, Lacy says that if you want to attend you bet-ter act fast. There is already a waiting list for individual tick-ets. “The event sells out every year. It shows the energy of our membership and our com-munity’s desire to congregate and recognize how blessed we’ve been.”

Individual tickets start at $75. Tables of eight are $600. For more information call the Chamber at 501.327.7788.

highWaY Commission Chair to sPeak at annUal meeting

The Conway Area Chamber Annual meeting will be held Thursday, March 8th at UCA. The event brings together more than 900 members of the Faulkner County business community.

On May 4th, Faulkner County residents will have a chance to hear from some of the most well known figures in sports, enter-tainment, journalism and business. The event is the Chick-Fil-A LEADERCAST and the Conway Chamber is hosting a broadcast of the one-day leadership develop-ment program.

Conway Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Membership Services Lindsay Wygal says that the event is a unique opportu-nity to get insight into the leadership habits of some of the country’s highest achiev-ing personalities. “I think any aspiring leader who attends will leave with new skills or ideas. The diversity of speakers, the setting and the materials all add up to a fun and beneficial day of personal development.”

Speakers during the one-day event include: Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, leadership and management expert John Maxwell, Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts and many more. Chick-Fil-A LEAD-ERCAST is in its 12th year. More than 125,000 partici-pants are expected to attend or watch a broadcast of this year’s event. Wygal hopes to have 300 attendees at the Conway event. “Al-most 100 participants have already signed up for our event. Everything from large corporations to schools and small business.”

The Conway LEADER-CAST will be held May 4 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Fellowship Bible Church. The early bird registra-tion deadline is March 1st. Registration is $65 and includes materials and lunch. After March 1st registration is $75. Seating is limited. To register, email Lindsay@conwayarkansas.org or call the Chamber at 501.327.7788.

ConWaY site oF ChiCk-Fil-a leaderCast

FAULKNER COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL | 7

A group of area business lead-ers and elected officials delivered a local agenda to the nation’s capital this month during the Conway Area Chamber’s annual visit to Washing-ton DC.

Conway Chamber of Commerce and Conway Development Corpora-tion board members as well as Mayor Tab Townsell, County Judge Preston Scroggin and Quorum Court mem-ber Steve Goode met with Faulkner County’s federal delegation and staff.

Senior Vice President of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Jamie Gates said this year’s trip was focused less on pursuing federal dollars and more on managing long standing proj-ects. “Thankfully we are in the execu-tion phase of some major projects that we’ve worked on for years. Funding is secure for the airport and the southern interchange, but that is still a process that has to be managed.”

The trip included office visits with senators and representative, a recep-tion with staff and a “Chief’s Dinner” with congressional chiefs of staff and DC representatives of Conway com-panies. Other policy related stops in-cluded the US Chamber of Commerce and America’s Natural Gas Alliance.

The group’s message was a four point agenda that focused on: opening the new airport by 2014, maintain-ing current levels of federal highway funding, advocating for the expanded use and exploration of natural gas and creating a globally competitive busi-ness climate. “The dynamics are dif-ferent every year, but our pro-business message is consistent,” said Gates. “We’re going to continue to make sure our delegation know how they can help grow Faulkner County’s economy.”

Gates said the trip has evolved over years and is now a “model” for local advocacy. “I think it’s very powerful when a community can assemble leaders from the city, county, educa-tion and the private sector to all speak in concert on behalf of their interests. That team effort is why our relation-ships at the federal level have never been stronger.”

TOP 5 RESIDENTIAL hOmE SALES

PRICE ADDRESS CITY BED/BATH SUBDIVISION SQ. FT. $/SQ. FT. YEAR BUILT

$661,300 5205 Lost Canyon Conway 4/4.5 Reserve Centennial 4,800 $137.77 2011

$340,000 5230 Bay Town Conway 4/3 Centennial Valley 3,035 $112.03 2006

$305,900 845 Scherman Oaks Conway 4/3.5 Scherman Oaks 3,748 $81.62 1995

$262,500 3165 Windsong Conway 4/3 Windcrest 2,976 $88.21 1999

$234,000 5 Pine Mountain Court Conway 4/3.5 The Summit 2,469 $94.78 1992

Tupelo Bayou Site One Reservoir

Days Lake

Carter Lake

Gentry Lake Robins Lake

Bayou Site Two Reservoir

Davis Lake

Carol-danLake

Stevens Lake

Laurel Park

Mountain View Park

Airport Park

Gatlin Park

Fifth Avenue Park

CollegeHendrix

Central ArkansasUniversity Of

Baptist CollegeCentral

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ClubValley GolfCentennial

Cadron Valley Country Club

ClubCountryConway

Oak Grove Cemetery

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Ar-365 S

Highway 60 W

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365

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Preston

Brumley

Gleason

Conway

5 Pine Mountain

845 Scherman Oaks

5205 Lost Canyon

5230 Bay Town

3165 Windsong

Tupelo Bayou Site One Reservoir

Days Lake

Carter Lake

Gentry Lake Robins Lake

Bayou Site Two Reservoir

Davis Lake

Carol-danLake

Stevens Lake

Laurel Park

Mountain View Park

Airport Park

Gatlin Park

Fifth Avenue Park

CollegeHendrix

Central ArkansasUniversity Of

Baptist CollegeCentral

Cantrell FieldDennis F

ClubValley GolfCentennial

Cadron Valley Country Club

ClubCountryConway

Oak Grove Cemetery

Tyle

r St

Oak St

Skyline Dr

E Oak St

S Sa

lem

Rd

Caldwell St

S Harkrider St

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Ar-365 S

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365

60

266

319

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365

286

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Chamber organizes dC FlY-in