February 3, 202110:23 am
Rep. Frances Cavenaugh (R-Walnut Ridge) couldn’t get a do-pass motion today for her HB 1189 that would have effectively ended the
regular bonuses Commerce Secretary Mike Preston gets from the Arkansas Economic Development Foundation.
Her bill would prohibit cabinet secretaries from taking money from outside sources for doing their state jobs. They could still work in their professions in unrelated side jobs.
Advertisement
Preston is paid $182,000. But he’s been bonused by the private foundation every year for five years, $54,800 most recently, on approval by the governor. Cavenaugh said there’s no public accountability for that money and the Foundation wouldn’t tell her the source of the money, which also pays to upgrade Preston’s air travel to business class and for other expenses. She said people deserve to know if a cabinet secretary is working only for the state in their jobs or for someone else.
Send Esperanza Massana-Crane is named as the new director of the state s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Division.
Want the Full Article? Readers must pay to access articles older than 15 days. Articles newer than 15 days are not included in this offer. Purchase Now
Almost 11,500 companies across the state received CARES Act funds through the Arkansas Ready for Business Grant Program. The deadline is rapidly approaching for grant recipients to expend funds.Arkansas companies must use the grant funds received by Dec. 30. According to the program’s terms and conditions, companies are required to return any unused funds to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.The list of eligible expenditures has grown since the Arkansas Ready for Business Grant Program was announced in May. Click here to view examples of qualified expenditures. These include purchases for sanitation, reconfiguration, marketing and other purposes.
Businesses are required to verify funds were used for eligible expenditures. The deadline to report expenditures to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission is Jan. 31, 2021.
Send Amazon confirmed plans Wednesday to open a new fulfillment center in North Little Rock next year and create more than 500 full-time jobs with a minimum $15 per hour wage there.
Want the Full Article? Readers must pay to access articles older than 15 days. Articles newer than 15 days are not included in this offer. Purchase Now