2015-07 faulkner county business journal

July 2015

PAGE 4D

New name, same commitmentFrom routine eye exams to complex surgeries, magie smith charton has

provided comprehensive eye care to conway For 45 years

Faulkner County Business Journal To subscribe call (501) 329-2927 • Log Cabin Democrat2D — Sunday, July 12, 2015

LOG CABIN DEMOCRAT

More than 450,000 Arkansans have earned college credit hours but do not have a bachelor’s degree. Faulkner County residents make up 17,000 of these adult learners who did not persist to graduation for var-ious reasons.

While it’s no secret that obtaining a college degree leads to increased job opportunities and higher earn-ing potential, few working adults are able to enroll in traditional college programs because of job and family obligations.

For the past 15 years, Central Baptist College’s Professional Adult College Education – or PACE – pro-gram has given more than 1,200 stu-

dents the opportunity to earn a col-lege degree while working full-time.

The PACE program offers eve-ning, weekend and online cours-es to accommodate the hectic sched-ules of working adults, and most of the classes can be completed in five weeks. Students may begin the pro-gram with or without college hours.

The Conway Development Cor-poration, recognizing the value of PACE and the importance of an ed-ucated workforce, pledged $25,000 to the program in October 2014 at the Conway Area Chamber of Com-merce’s Business Expo.

President and CEO Brad Lacy an-nounced the five-year commitment during a presentation about Con-way2025, the city’s long-range stra-

tegic plan. One of the plan’s seven sectors is

“Keep Conway Learning,” which fo-cuses on education initiatives in the city.

Lacy highlighted the “power of ed-ucation,” providing statistics relative to the success of those who earn a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

“We have an avenue right here in Conway, through the PACE Program at CBC, to meet this critical need,” Lacy said. He touted the growth and success of CBC and PACE and the benefits of adding more prepared workers to the workforce.

PACE offers an Associate of Arts in general education and an Associ-ate of Science in military technolo-gies.

Students can earn Bachelor of Science degrees in human resource management, leadership, leadership and ministry, liberal studies, man-agement information systems, or-ganizational management, and psy-chology.

CBC also offers a Bachelor of Busi-ness Administration degree through the PACE program.

Online degrees offered are an As-sociate of Arts in general education, a Bachelor of Science in leadership and ministry, and a Bachelor of Busi-ness Administration.

For more information about the PACE program at Central Baptist College, contact the admissions of-fice at 501-329-6873 or visit cbc.edu/itsyourtime.

Chamber, Conway Development Corporation endorse adult education program

Faulkner County Business Journal Sunday, July 12, 2015 — 3D Log Cabin Democrat • Find our online edition at www.thecabin.net

LOG CABIN DEMOCRAT

The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce is ac-cepting nominations for the 2015 Minority Enter-prise Development awards. These awards recog-nize the achievements of minority entrepreneurs and business leaders in the Conway area.

The Chamber of Commerce established the MED committee to foster growth and sustainabil-ity of minority businesses and as a way to recog-nize minority businesses and their supporters.

Minority Enterprise Development serves mi-nority business enterprises that are owned or con-trolled by African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Pacif-ic Islanders.

The awards will be presented at the MED awards gala, which will take place Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom at the University of Central Arkansas.

Eligible nominees for the MED awards include, but are not limited to, business owners; busi-ness executives; nonprofit organizations; for-prof-it firms and institutions; universities and colleges; and representatives of local, state and federal gov-ernments who are members of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce. The four categories of MED awards are as follows:

The Advocate for Opportunity Award recogniz-es an individual, organization or business that has demonstrated significant accomplishments in ed-ucating and advocating for minority business en-terprises.

The Outstanding Minority Business of the Year award recognizes a business that has had a signif-icant impact on the community.

The Outstanding Young Minority Professional award recognizes an individual between the ages of 21-39 who has committed himself or herself to business and community service.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has played an integral role in the creative, technical or professional progress of mi-nority business development over the course of his or her life.

It celebrates high standards of excellence, ded-ication and accomplishment over a sustained pe-riod.

The Chamber is accepting nominations for the awards now through Friday, Aug. 7. To submit nominations, visit ConwayChamber.org.

For questions about the event or the call for nominations, contact Therese Pollard, director of events, at 501-932-5411 or at [email protected].

Chamber of Commerce accepting nominations for MED awards

SuBMITTED phOTO

Conway-native Dr. Lloyd Hervey, interim president of Philander Smith College and assistant professor of education, was the recipient of the 2014 Minority Enterprise Development Lifetime Achievement Award. The Chamber is accepting nominations for the 2015 MED awards through Aug. 7.


Magie Smith Charton Eye Clinic, P.A. is the larg-est, most comprehensive eye-care clinic in Conway and Faulkner County and the only eye-care clinic in Faulkner County that has the expertise to diagnose and manage retinal problems. The team of doctors and staff at Magie Smith Charton Eye Clinic, P.A. provides patients a superior health care experience in a com-fortable environment.

“Our clinic has served Conway and Faulkner Coun-ty for 45 years, making it the longest-practicing eye care clinic in the city,” said Dr. Stephen K. Magie. “Al-though our name has changed recently because of a transition in ownership, our goals and services have not. We aim to offer every patient who walks through our doors an excellent experience – from the front desk check-in to when they see our physicians and provid-ers.”

PhysiciansThe team of physicians at Magie Smith Charton

Eye Clinic, P.A., which includes both ophthalmologists and optometrists, can provide a complete spectrum of eye-care services.

These services range from routine eye examinations – such as contact lens exams – to procedures that are more complex: eyelid or cataract surgery; treatment of

eye injuries and infections; and glaucoma laser treat-ments.

Ophthalmology. Ophthalmologists specialize in medical and surgi-

cal eye problems. These doctors deal with the anato-my, physiology and diseases of the eye and can per-form operations on eyes, including cataract surgery and retinal surgery.

Ophthalmologic physicians at Magie Smith Char-ton Eye Clinic, P.A. include Stephen K. Magie, M.D.; Melanie F. Smith, M.D.; and Justin W. Charton, M.D. Retinal specialist William T. Mabrey, M.D. will still be available for appointments at Magie Smith Charton Eye Clinic, P.A.

Optometry.Optometrists are licensed medical profession-

als who are trained to prescribe and fit lenses to im-prove vision. They can also diagnose and treat various eye diseases. Jeffrey J. Strossner, O.D., and B. Scott Koontz, O.D., are the optometric physicians on staff in Conway.

They complete Magie Smith Charton Eye Clinic, P.A.’s eye-care team by providing comprehensive pri-mary eye care, including routine exams, contact lens-es, glasses and medical eye care.

Full-Service Optical ShopIndividuals in need of prescription eyewear can find

a large selection of popular, name-brand frames, sun-glasses and safety wear at Magie Smith Charton Eye Clinic, P.A.’s full-service optical shop.

A licensed optician on staff can help customers choose a frame that best suits their needs.

The optical shop can also repair or adjust frames. For contact lens wearers, Magie Smith Charton Eye Clinic, P.A. carries a large inventory of contacts to fit most visual needs and lifestyles.

About Magie Smith Charton Eye Clinic, P.A.J.J. Magie, M.D., founded Magie Eye Clinic in Sep-

tember 1970. At the time, he was the only ophthalmol-ogist on staff, and the clinic had only a couple of em-ployees. His son, Dr. Stephen Magie, eventually joined his staff as an ophthalmologist, and in 1986, the clinic moved from Caldwell Street to its current location at 924 Main Street.

The clinic now has 45 employees, and the owners plan to expand the practice into surrounding commu-nities in the coming years. Magie Smith Charton Eye Clinic, P.A. is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

All doctors are accepting new patients and welcome entire families. To schedule an appointment at Magie Smith Charton Eye Clinic, P.A., call 501-327-4444.

New name, same commitmentFrom routine eye exams to complex surgeries, magie smith charton has provided

comprehensive eye care to conway For 45 years


Address.........................Beds/Baths................SQFT.....................$/SqFt.................Built..................Subdivision

68 Lakeview Dr.........................4/3/0............................3808...........................117.91....................1976.....................Lakeview Acres1435 Centennial Club...............3/3/1............................3136 .........................125.64....................2003......................Sunderlin Park30 Lexington Dr.........................4/4/1............................4551..........................83.48......................1978.......................Jefferson Place5120 Round Rock Dr.................4/3/0............................2728..........................120.56.................... 2011..............................Fieldstone4410 Bay Hill Dr.......................4/3/1.............................3320..........................102.11....................2001..................Centennial Valley

TOP RESIDENTIAL SALES, JULYThe sad state of politics and gover-

nance at the federal level makes you feel foolish for even getting frustrated when things go wrong. But here we are, feeling frustrated – and foolish.

Congress has not passed a long-term (traditionally six years) highway bill since 2005. They’ve passed a series of one-year extensions since 2011. The most re-cent “extension” was for a whopping two months. It is set to expire at the end of the month.

The key issue, of course, is how to pay for it. Historically, the federal gas tax has supported the highway trust fund. Im-proved fuel efficiency has made that rev-enue inadequate. This is not a recent cri-sis.

The highway trust fund has been sub-sidized with more than $60 billion in gen-eral revenue since 2008.

It’s either been a decade of denial and procrastination or a decade of gridlock and debate. Either way, the end result is a lack of results.

Congressional antics aside, how does this affect Conway? When it became clear that funds would likely not be available after July 31, the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) had no choice but to cancel the scheduled pav-ing bid for our new southern interchange.

That’s right – the one at mile marker 132 that is more than halfway complete. The one the city has already put $2.8 mil-lion of local street funds into.

The City of Conway held up its end of the bargain. It set aside funds to build an interchange in partnership with AHTD (who is reimbursed by the feds).

It allocated those funds and did every-thing it was supposed to do. It did this with city-sized resources and resolve.

Congress has federal-sized resourc-es but is short on resolve. The end result is that we will likely miss our peak con-struction season and may see a delay of a year or longer.

Those local funds could have been put to work in countless ways within our local street system. Instead, that money is tied up in our own bridge to nowhere.

It’s hard to tell who cares about the nuts and bolts of governance anymore. But it is getting easier to tell who doesn’t.

Editorial:Who cares?


Conway EconomyAt a Glance

Unemployment RateApril 2015Seasonally AdjustedUS ..............................................5.5%Arkansas ...................................5.7%

Not Seasonally AdjustedUS ..............................................5.3%Arkansas ....................................5.6%Faulkner County .......................5.3%Conway ......................................5.1%

Sales Tax CollectionsConway*

April2015 ..................................$2,053,6072014 .................................$1,769,596Percent Change ......................... 16%

Year to Date (April)2015 ..................................$7,582,5082014..................................$7,223,203Percent Change 4.97%

Annual2014................................$23,416,6282013..................................23,235,8912012..................................22,944,163Percent Change..........2013-14 0.8%*Tax Rate 1.75%

Faulkner County*April2015................................$737,9712014................................671,563Percent Change..........................9.9%

Year to Date (April)2015..................................$2,766,6542014..................................$2,705,476Percent Change..........................2.2%

Annual2014..................................$8,774,1092013....................................8,588,8352012....................................8,465,686Percent Change 2013-14..........2.3%*Tax Rate 0.5%1 Paid to City and County in June

Restaurant Sales*May2015................................$16,001,4052014..................................15,585,355Percent Change..........................2.7%

Year to Date (May)2015................................$60,850,878 2014..................................57,066,606Percent Change..........................6.6%1 Reported in July

Annual Sales 2014..............................$176,205,9652013................................164,519,3692012................................161,318,563Percent Change 2013-14............7.1%*Including mixed drink sales

Hotel Sales

May2015..................................$1,704,0382014....................................2,239,424Percent Change.......................-23.9%

Year to Date (May)2015..................................$7,516,4142014....................................8,191,705Percent Change.........................-8.2%

Annual Sales2014................................$19,336,1692013..................................18,559,3082012..................................18,683,677Percent Change 2013 – 2014....4.2%1 Reported in July

Conway Building PermitsSingle Family Homes

Year to Date (May)2015..................................73 Permits2014..................................50 PermitsPercent Change........................46.0%

Annual2014................................119 permits2013................................147 Permits2012................................186 Permits 2011................................153 PermitsPercent Change 2013 – 2014....-19.0%

Average Construction Cost*

Year to Date (May)2015.....................................$258,7102014........................................221,196Percent Change........................17.0%

Annual2014.....................................$220,3112013.......................................228,2752012.......................................207,5372011.......................................204,387Percent Change 2013 – 2014...-3.5%*Not including lat or lot improve-

ments

Average Square Footage*Year to date (May)2015...........................................2,8992014...........................................2,832Percent Change..........................2.4%

Annual2014...........................................2,9292013...........................................3,0022012............................................2,9102011............................................2,814Percent Change 2013-2014.....-2.4%* Total under roof

Average Construction Cost Per Square Foot*

Year to Date (April)2015..........................................$89.412014..........................................$78.11Percent Change........................14.5% Annual2014.........................................$75.222013............................................76.042012............................................71.332011............................................72.64Percent Change 2013 – 2014....-1.1%* Total under roof

Lottery SalesFaulkner County

Year to Date (June)2015..................................$7,510,9502014....................................7,592,996Percent Change.........................-1.1%

Annual2014................................$14,193,2042013..................................17,038,277

2012..................................16,943,909Percent Change 2013 - 2014...-16.7%

Total StateYear to Date (June)2015..............................$217,984,4622014................................211,943,060Percent Change..........................2.9%

Annual 2014..............................$401,251,3652013................................432,932,7982012................................452,245,217Percent Change 2013 - 2014....-7.3%

Natural GasSeverance TaxDistribution

Conway Year to Date (July)2015.....................................$182,1762014.......................................208,594Percent Change.......................-12.7%

Annual2014.....................................$363,8372013........................................276,5232012........................................162,523Percent Change 2013 - 2014....31.6%

Faulkner CountyYear to Date-(July)2015.....................................$148,3592014.......................................169,829Percent Change.......................-12.6%

Annual2014.....................................$296,4112013.......................................224,4552012.......................................131,418Percent Change 2013 – 2014...32.1%

*Information provided by Pulse of Conway

EconomyGlance

2015-07 faulkner county business journal

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