COVER STORY
Nabholz University Trains Arkansas’s Next Generation of Builders
Arkansas is growing, and so are the demands on the places and infrastructure that serve it. From 2020 to 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau reported the state’s population grew 3.4% — higher than the national average.
To support that significant growth, communities across the state have invested in building and infrastructure projects, from new education facilities to upgraded hospitals to improvements along high-traffic roadways.
The challenge? The construction industry’s workforce shortage.
The shortage is nothing new. For years, the industry has had to fulfill additional hiring needs to meet rising construction demands. An aging workforce, low retention rate, and a lack of entry-level knowledge about skilled trades have contributed to recruitment difficulties across the industry.
To address this challenge head-on, Nabholz — a Conway-based multiservice contractor — has focused on individual employee growth through a catalog of training programs called Nabholz University.
FOCUS
ASI Blue Ribbon Workforce Awards, Presented by FAB&T
Conway’s progress isn’t built only by high-profile leaders and headline-making announcements.
It’s built every day by people who show up, do the work well, and take pride in what they do. This year’s honorees represent construction, skilled trades, healthcare support, manufacturing, and more. Some arrived in Conway recently, some have spent decades here, and a few have never called anywhere else home.
GUEST COLUMN
Celebrating the People Who Keep Conway Running
Every day across Conway, thousands of people do the work that keeps our community moving forward — usually without much fanfare or applause. They pour foundations and frame houses, wire buildings and keep the lights on, run the machines on the factory floor, and grow the crops that feed us. Their work is everywhere we look, even when the people behind it manage to avoid the spotlight.
The American Safeguard Insurance Blue Ribbon Workforce Awards, presented by First Arkansas Bank & Trust, exist to change that. Created by the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, the program shines a well-deserved light on the men and women in some of our most essential — and most overlooked — professions. Each year, honorees are recognized across categories including Agriculture, Construction, Skilled Trades, Industrial Supply, Manufacturing, and Utilities, along with a Company of the Year award celebrating the employers who set the standard for their industries.
WHAT’S THAT GONNA BE, PRESENTED BY FIRST COMMUNITY BANK
Sporty Runner Reopening This Fall Under New Owners
Sporty Runner is reopening this fall at its longtime downtown Conway location under new ownership.
Nick and Jessica May, who also own Plato’s Closet in Conway, first noticed the store on regular trips to downtown.
“I always thought it was a cool store with the logo and everything, and then I saw the space was for sale last year,” Nick May recalled. “I reached out to the realtor and asked if the owners would be interested in selling the name and assets along with it.”
Not long after, the Mays purchased the building and the business from previous owners Linda and Don Starr, and work began on the reopening.
TOP HOMES, PRESENTED BY FIRST SECURITY BANK
Local Housing Market Brief with First Security Bank
“Home sales data has remained attractive for year-to-date numbers. However, the current interest rate market is creating some déjà vu moments for some with the recent rate increases. Fixed-rate mortgages have migrated up to levels not really seen since the mortgage crisis dating back to 2007/2008. That, coupled with high housing costs, is leading to market pressures worth monitoring. How long this rate trend will continue is the biggest question. However, Conway and Faulkner County have historically been resilient in times such as this, creating plenty of optimism for the future.”
–J.B. Mobley, Senior Vice President and Senior Lending Officer at First Security Bank
Conway Home Fetches $925K in August
The top home sold in Faulkner County in August was a 4-bed, 3-bath Pippinpost home that fetched $925,000 and $237.18 per square foot.
The home, built in 1994, features 3,900 square feet and a 0.39-acre lot.
ECONOMY AT A GLANCE, PRESENTED BY ARVEST BANK
Local Economy Brief with Arvest Bank
As we review our regional economic indicators heading into the fall, the fundamental narrative across Conway remains exceptionally clear: our local economy continues to display steady resilience, broad-based momentum, and foundational strength. Grounded by stable regional employment figures and persistent retail growth, Conway serves as an unwavering economic engine for Faulkner County and the surrounding region. The latest data underscores a business community that is navigating broader national shifts with confidence while maintaining a strong trajectory for sustainable expansion.
What remains most encouraging is the vitality seen across our local commercial landscape and workforce. Strong performance across key consumer sectors reflects a high level of local consumer confidence, offering area business owners the stability needed to make long-term capital investments and expansion plans. As we move forward, our commitment at the local level remains focused on supporting the entrepreneurs, employers, and families who continue to drive Conway’s prosperity.
-Patrick Lewis, Community Bank President at Arvest Bank
THE LADDER
Employee News Around Conway
Check out the latest new hires, promotions, and awards around Conway.