Building and Property Database | Financing, Incentives, and Taxation
Financial Assistance | Area Industrial Parks | NCARED Members Listings

The North Central Arkansas Region enjoys a balanced economy comprising several components:

• Diverse manufacturing base
• Strong retail market attracting customers from 10 surrounding counties
• Nationally-known tourism market
• Stable, relatively affluent retiree/senior population
• Regional health care provider
• Progressive network of telecommunications services geared for business on a national and international level
• Business, industry, and workforce development program at Arkansas State University Mountain Home

Baxter County, the center of trade and employment in the seven-county area, ranked 8th in per capita income among the state's 75 counties in 2000. The county's population growth from 1990 to 2000 placed it 13th among Arkansas counties, with an increase of 7,200 residents. The 2000 census found the population to be 38,386. As the central retail trade area, Mountain Home supports 917 licensed businesses and professionals, and outside Mountain Home, in Baxter County there are approximately 1,500 small commercial establishments.

Financing, Incentives, and Taxation

The Arkansas Department of Economic Development's website outlines procedures and programs available in Arkansas for establishing or expanding a business venture in Arkansas.

Industrial Training
The Business, Industry, and Workforce Development Center at Arkansas State University Mountain Home develops programs and offers workshops, seminars, and courses that meet the employers' needs. The BIWD developed a Technical Certificate in Industrial Technology - Basic Electronics (32 hours) and a Certificate in Basic Electronics (16 hours) for a local manufacturer's needs. General courses through the Center include basic computer skills, computer software, algebra, statistics, manufacturing techniques, and nursing, to name a few. Customized programs are held both on the ASUMH campus and at area business sites. The Center provides high quality programs at an affordable cost to local businesses for their employees. Its main service area is Baxter and Marion Counties.

Existing Workforce Training
The Existing Workforce Training Program provides financial assistance to Arkansas manufacturing businesses and eligible consortia of businesses for upgrading the knowledge and skills of the existing workforce. South Shore Foundation has become a consortium partner to assist in bringing this industrial education to more in the local workforce to improve or update job skills. The Center for Business, Industry and Workforce Development will assist area businesses to identify training opportunities and to apply for EWTP grants. Call (870) 508-6106 or e-mail pgarner@asumh.edu.

Customized Training Incentives
Pre-employment training for Arkansas workers is provided by the state through Customized Training Incentives to meet the skills needed in the state's new and expanding businesses. A Customized Training Coordinator is assigned to companies which have made a commitment to locate in Arkansas. The coordinator develops the training plan with the business. Services such as diagnostic testing and employee assessments are provided, as are training plans scheduled to the company's needs.

Area 2 Customized Training Coordinator, working out of Mountain Home for northcentral counties is Don Ott, (870) 424-2751 or at cell phone, (870) 404-2889.

Transportation
Counties in the North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development area are centrally located in the USA, making travel to all points in the country practical and convenient, whether by corporate jet or over-the-road freight carrier.

Counties of the North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development area offer convenient cargo transportation because of their proximate access to major north-south U.S. Highways 65 and 67; east-west U.S. Highway 62/412. Nearby Interstate highways are: I-40 in Arkansas (130 miles) and I-44 in Missouri (150 miles). Also heavily traveled by local residents and retirees is Interstate I-55 to Chicago, approximately 225 miles east of Baxter County.

• US 412. Marion, Baxter and Fulton Counties are directly linked to a busy east-west highway from western Oklahoma to mid-Tennessee where the highway joins I-40.
• US 65. A busy central US north-south route from Louisiana to northern Iowa is the main highway of Searcy County and Van Buren County and brings visitors to the Buffalo National River Park and those goes on to Branson, Missouri, north and Greers Ferry Lake, south.

Airports
There are eleven airports open to the public in the North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development seven-county area.

Baxter County Regional Airport, four miles northwest of Mountain Home has enjoyed scheduled airline service to St. Louis and Dallas for many years and supports it with an outstanding boarding record. At the present time, however, scheduled service is not available due to federal funding programs. Baxter County Regional Airport has a 5001 x 75 foot asphalt surfaced runway and a 6800 square-foot terminal which houses a restaurant. Airport services include: Charter service through Mountain Air and Pro Aviation, fuel, parking, hangars, aircraft maintenance, catering, pilot supplies, public telephone, pilot lounge/snooze room, restrooms; through Pro Aviation, additional services are flight school/flight training, aircraft rentals, sightseeing tours/rides, charters, pilot supplies, and other business.

Additional airports serving the residents and businesses of the area are:

• Calico Rock-Izard County Airport, three miles northwest of Calico Rock, Arkansas, with a runway of 3000 feet.
  (870) 297-4311, (870) 297-3773
• Clinton Municipal Airport, one mile northeast of Clinton, AR. Asphalt surface runway 4012x50 ft. Pilot-controlled lights, fuel, (24/7), airport management, parking-hangars and tiedowns - attended 8-6. (501) 745-6550 or (501) 745-5300
• Gaston's Airport one mile south of Lakeview, Arkansas, has a 3200 foot turf runway offering airport management, fuel, parking, courtesy transportation, public telephone, restrooms, restaurant, lodging, and resort.
  (870) 431-5202
• Holly Mountain Airpark, five miles northeast of Clinton, AR. Asphalt surface runway 4795x50 ft. Pilot-controlled lighting dusk - 2000, helipad 40x40 ft., concrete surface. Instrument procedures. (501) 745-8700 Cell (501) 745-1598
• Horseshoe Bend Airport, within city limits one mile northeast of Horseshoe Bend, AR, has a 4350 foot paved runway and offers airport management, and fuel. It is operated by the City of Horseshoe Bend.
  (870) 670-5141, (870) 670-5113
• Marion County Regional Airport, one mile north of Flippin, with a 5000 foot asphalt runway. Services include airport management, fuel, parking, passenger terminal and lounge, aircraft maintenance, avionics services, aircraft parts, car rentals, courtesy transportation, public telephone, pilot lounger/snooze room, flight instruction, aircraft rental and sales.
  (870) 453-2241, (870) 427-5343
• Melbourne Municipal - John E. Miller Field is located three miles east of Melbourne, Arkansas. It has a 4000 foot asphalt runway and offers fuel and public telephone services.
  (870) 368-7329
  
• Mountain View Wilcox Memorial Field is located inside the city limits of Mountain View, Arkansas. Its runway is 4502 feet. The airport offers fuel sales 24 hours a day with credit card pump, hangars and tie down, air ambulance, charter flights, flight instruction, aircraft rental, aircraft sales, aircraft maintenance, modifications and parts.
  (870) 269-3142
  
• Salem Airport, one mile south of Salem, Arkansas, has a 3500 foot asphalt runway. Services offered include airport management, fuel, and flight instruction.
  (870) 895-4144, (870) 895-5140
  
• Searcy County Airport, one mile southwest of Marshall, has a 4000 foot paved runway with a lighted approach. Unattended airport. Fuel service available on call.
  (870) 448-5809

Commercial Airports
Major commercial airports nearby are: Springfield/Branson, Missouri., and Little Rock, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee. Harrison has scheduled flights via Big Sky to Dallas/Fort Worth and Hot Springs, Arkansas daily.

Airline Information Telephone Numbers:
AirTran Air: 800-247-8726
American: 800-433-7300
Continental: 800-525-0280
Delta: 800-354-9822
Northwest: 800-225-2525
Southwest: 800-435-9792
US Airways: 800-438-4322
United: 800-241-6522

Private Airport
A private airport serving property owners and their guests is Valley Airport at Cotter. Valley Airport is located 2.5 miles north of US Hwy. 62 on Denton Ferry Road. The airport has a 2,800 foot hard surface and grass runway. Write: Valley Airport, 385 Valley Airport Drive, Cotter, AR 72626.

Rail
Rail shipping can be arranged on the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Railroad with depots in Cotter and Batesville, Arkansas. For more information, call the M&NA at 800-228-3580.

Days Transit Time to:
Chicago	2 days	Dallas	1 day
Kansas City	1 day	Los Angeles	4 days
Houston	2 days	Memphis	1 day
New York	4 days

Freight Carriers
A few of the freight carriers that serve the area are: United Parcel Service (1-800-PICK-UPS); Federal Express (1-800-Go-FEDEX); Fed-Ex Freight of Harrison (870-741-9000)); US Xpress (423-510-3000) and others.

Overnight Parcel
United Parcel Service (1-800-PICK-UPS) has a distribution center in the Baxter County Industrial Park and serves the area with overnight parcel service and hundred-weight service for businesses and manufacturers. Airborne, Federal Express (1-800-Go-FEDEX) and UPS make worldwide parcel transportation available with daily pick-up and delivery service in Baxter County.

Waterways
Nearest shallow draft port facilities: Port of Little Rock
Distance to port: 71-150 miles (501) 522-2551

Nearest deep water facilities: Port of New Orleans
Distance to port: About 600 miles (504) 522-2551

White River is navigable at Newport and points south.

Bus
Regularly scheduled bus service is available in select areas of the seven-county region through Greyhound (1-800-229-9424) and local carriers.

Weekly scheduled bus service to St. Louis and Chicago is offered by Mountain Home Bus Agency. For reservations, call Scott Lumbert at (870) 492-5331.

Parts of Marion and Baxter Counties are served by North Arkansas Transportation Service. For current schedule information, call (870) 425-6989.

Telecommunications
Local phone service in the seven counties of the North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development area is provided by one of seven companies, depending on location:

• Arkansas Telephone Co. has served North Central Arkansas since 1908. Offers state of the art telecom services to Van Buren County and parts of 5 neighboring counties. Dial up and DSL Internet and can be reached at (501) 745-5551.
• CenturyTel provides local service to much of Baxter County, including Mountain Home, Izard County, including Calico Rock and Melbourne, and Fulton County, including Salem. Century Tel also sells Internet services and can be reached at 800-225-2594.
• NATCO serves a northern Arkansas territory including portions of Marion County, including Flippin and Bull Shoals, and Boone Counties, and can be reached at 800-775-6682. NATCO Technologies also sells Internet services and can also be reached at 800-775-6682.
• Yelcot serves towns in both Baxter and Marion Counties: Gassville, Cotter, Yellville and Summit, and can be reached at 870-449-4211.
• Mountain View Telephone Company serves Stone County, plus the southern tip of Baxter County and a northwest portion of Cleburne County and can be reached at 870-269-3232.
• Tri-County provides local, long distance and Internet services through Ritter Internet to the north and western parts of Searcy County and can be reached at 870-429-5211.
• Alltel provides local phone service and Internet to Marshall, Leslie, and surrounding areas of Searcy County and can be reached at 888-255-8351.

Long distance service is offered in the area by many companies. Some of them are:

• AT&T 800-222-0400
• CenturyTel 800-225-2594
• MCI 800-444-3333
• Northern Arkansas Telephone Company 800-775-6682
• Qwest 800-860-2255
• Sprint 800-877-2000
• Yelcot 870-449-4211
  

Cellular Phone Service and Equipment

• American Cellular 870-425-0866
• Alltel Communications 866-255-8356
• Cellular Mobility 870-425-6726, 501-250-2255
• Russell Cellular 870-425-0866
• Southwestern Bell 870-425-7800
  

Internet Service
Much of the North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development area has several choices in high-speed Internet access.

• Arkansas Telephone Co. offers DSL
• CenturyTel offers DSL
• Cox Communications offers cable access
• NATCO Technologies offers DSL and ISDN in parts of Boone, Marion, and Baxter counties.
• Cebridge Connections offers cable access in parts of Searcy County.
  

Dialup Internet service is provided by several Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

• Arkansas Telephone Co., serving primarily Van Buren County
• CenturyTel 800-667-8451, serving primarily Baxter, Fulton, Izard Counties
• InfoDash 870-425-4474, serving primarily Baxter County
• Mountain View Internet Service 870-269-3232, serving primarily Stone County
• NATCO Technologies - a division of Northern Arkansas Telephone Company - 870-453-8811, serving primarily Marion, Baxter, Boone Counties. Service is also available through a partner in Mountain Home (Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, 870-425-8064).
• Alltel serving east and south Searcy County 888-255-8351.
• Ritter Internet serving north and west Searcy County 870-429-5211.
• OzComm serves Searcy and Stone Counties with Internet dialup and wireless services 870-447-3123.

Media
Three daily area newspapers

• The Baxter Bulletin, 870-508-8000
  Mountain Home, circulation 11,200
  (Area: Baxter, Marion, Fulton, Izard counties)
• Harrison Daily Times, 870-741-2325
  Harrison, circulation 9,500 Monday - Friday; 10,500 Sunday
  (Area: Boone, Marion, Searcy counties)
• Batesville Daily Guard, 870-793-2383
  Batesville, circulation 9,800
  (Area: Stone, Izard, Fulton counties)

Eleven area weekly newspapers

• The Mountaineer Echo, 870-453-3731
  Flippin, circulation 2,300
  (Area: Marion County)
• The White River Current, 870-297-8300
  Calico Rock, circulation 2,200
  (Area: Izard County)
• Fairfield Bay News, 501-884-6012
  Fairfield Bay, circulation 2,800
  (Area: Cleburne, Van Buren Counties)
• The Melbourne Times, 870-368-4421
  Melbourne, circulation 2,620
  (Area: Izard County)
• The News, 870-895-2366
  Salem, circulation 3,000
  (Area: Fulton County)
• Izard/Fulton County Record
  Salem, circulation 5,800
  (Area: Izard, Fulton Counties)
• Marshall Mountain Wave, 870-448-3321
  Marshall, circulation 4,500
  (Area: Searcy County)
• Pacesetting Times
  Horseshoe Bend, circulation 1,400
  (Area: Izard, Fulton, Sharp Counties)
• Stone County Leader, 870-269-3841
  Mountain View, circulation 4,900
  (Area: Stone County)
• Stone County Citizen, 870-269-8626
  Mountain View, circulation 3,000
  (Area: Stone County)
• Van Buren County Democrat, 501-745-5175
  Clinton, circulation 4,100
  (Area: Van Buren, Cleburne, Stone, Searcy)

Area radio stations

• KBCN, Country FM - 104.3
  100,000 watts
  Harrison/Marshall, 870-743-1157
• KCGS, Southern Gospel AM - 960
  5,000 watts
  Marshall, 870-448-5567
• KCTT Oldies, FM 101.7
  6,000 watts
  Mountain Home, 870-425-3101, sales@ktlo.com
• KCMH, Christian Radio FM - 91.5
  26,000 watts
  Mountain Home, 870-425-2525, kcmh@cox-internet.com
• KFFB, 106.1 FM
  50,000 watts
  Fairfield Bay, 501-884-6812
• KGFL/KHPQ 92.1 FM & 1110 AM
  5,000 watts
  Clinton, 501-745-4474
• KKTZ, Hits FM - 93.5
  25,000 watts
  Mountain Home, 870-492-6022, radio@mtnhome.com
• KOMT, Music of Your Life FM - 107.5
  100,000 watts
  Mountain Home, 870-492-6022, radio@mtnhome.com
• KPFM, Country FM - 105.5
  50,000 watts
  Mountain Home, 870-425-6022, radio@mtnhome.com
• KTLO, Country AM - 1240
  1,000 watts
  Mountain Home, 870-425-3101, sales@ktlo.com
• KTLO, Easy Listening FM - 97.9
  50,000 watts
  Mountain Home, 870-425-3101, sales@ktlo.com

Cable TV

• Clinton Cable, 501-745-4040
  (Area: Van Buren County)
• Cox Communications, 870-425-3161
  (Area: Baxter, Marion Counties)
• Mountain View Cable, TV 870-269-4350
  (Area: Stone, Izard Counties)
• Melbourne Cable TV, 870-297-4880
  (Area: Izard, Stone Counties)
• Cebridge Connections, 877-423-2743
  (Area: Leslie)
• Buford Communications DBA Alliance Communications 800-842-8160
  (Area: Marshall)

Utilities
Utilities are provided by:

• Arkansas Western Gas (natural gas)
  Contact - Lynn Anderson, Mountain Home local office
  870-425-5445
  (Area: Baxter, Izard, Marion, and Stone Counties)
• Center Point Energy Arkla
  800-992-7552
  (Area: Clinton)
• Liquified Petroleum (bottled gas)
  (Available throughout the region from commercial suppliers)
• Entergy
  Arkansas towns and cities,
  800-368-3749
  (Area: Baxter, Fulton, Izard, Marion, Stone, Searcy, Van Buren counties)
• North Arkansas Electric Cooperative
  Salem in Fulton County is the corporate headquarters,
  870-895-3221 (Mountain Home office 425-2141)
  (Area: Baxter, Fulton, Izard, Marion, Stone counties)
• Petit Jean Electric Cooperative Corporation
  870-448-3477, 501-745-2493 or 800-786-7618
  (Area: Nine counties including Van Buren, Searcy, Stone, and Marion)

Water resources include:

• Greers Ferry Lake - source for Clinton and Van Buren County Water Assoc.
• Lake Norfork - source for Mountain Home, Baxter County; Northeast Lakeside Water Association, Lakeview/Midway Water Association
• Bull Shoals Lake - source for Marion County Regional Water (for Bull Shoals, Flippin, Summit, Yellville, part of Marion County)
• White River - source for Mountain View, Stone County
• Hughes Spring Lake - source for Marshall and Leslie in Searcy County
• Wells - source for Izard, Fulton and Van Buren County communities

Industrial Parks
Baxter County

• Baxter County Industrial Park (Midway)
  65 acres available
  - four industries
  - Missouri & North Arkansas rail transport is 6 miles from site
  - Baxter County Regional Airport adjacent to park
  Contact: Bob Wedgeworth
  Chairman of Baxter County Industrial Park
  (870) 425-3168 (Marchant Building Center)

Fulton County

• Salem Industrial Development Corporation
  89 acres available
  -one industry
  -one spec building
  Contact: Hans Oliver (870) 895-6250

Izard County

• Hale Garner Industrial Park
  43 acres available
  - one industry
  - no rail
  - airport - 5 miles
  Contact: LaNell Hamby (870) 297-8868

Marion County

• Flippin East Industrial Park
  20 acres available
• Flippin West Industrial Park
  40 acres available
  - two industries
  - served by Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad adjacent
  - Marion County Airport adjacent to East Industrial Park
  Contact: Mayor Mary Jane Irwin (870) 453-8300
• Yellville Industrial Development Corporation Industrial Park
  25 acres
  - three industries
  - one county office building
  - three lots available
  - railroad spur of Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad serves industries in the park
  Contact: Dan Duren (870) 449-6621

Searcy County

• Searcy County Industrial Park
  160 acres available
  - 25,000 sq. ft. building available
  - rail 37 miles north
  - Searcy County Airport adjacent (commercial air services at Harrison, 36 miles)
  Contact: Roy Ragland
  Searcy County Economic Development Commission
  PO Box 132
  Marshall, Arkansas
  (870) 448-4449

Stone County

• Stone County Industrial Park
  40 acres available
  - 5 industries
  Contact: Stone County Judge, Stacey Avey (870) 269-3351

Van Buren County

• Clinton Industrial Park
  14 acres available plus large tract adjoining Industrial Park.
  - 5 industries
  Contact: Patton Estate, Fayetteville (479) 636-5609

Search Available Industrial Sites or Buildings

The information on property and buildings contained here should be verified prior to purchase, lease or option. Although sources of information are deemed reliable, the North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development is not responsible for the information submitted for this database.

Building Permits
If new construction is planned, permit information can be obtained from the county judge or county assessor of the county where the site is located, or the mayor, city clerk, or building inspector of the city where the site is located. Some cities have a building permit and permit fee system in place; some counties require notification but no permits or fees. Baxter County requires an assessment regulation form be filed with the county assessor, and Marion County requires application for a tracking number through the county assessor's office.

For permits required at the state level, check with Arkansas Secretary of State Sharon Priest, 265 State Capitol Building, Little Rock, AR 72201, or call 501-682-1010, or visit: www.sosweb.state.ar.us.