2020 Conway+ Community Profile & Resource Guide

CONWAY

2020 COMMUNITY PROFILE & RESOURCE GUIDE

How Can I Help? +

Conway Adds New Jobs + Transformative Construction Projects

2020 Community Profile & Resource Guide

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CONTENTS CONWAY AND THE NORTH METRO 8

About Conway: Who We Are, What Sets Us Apart, Where We’re Located, and Why Conway is the Smart Choice

11 Road Trips from Conway 42 Under Construction: University

of Central Arkansas

62 Moving for a Mission 66 Under Construction: Residential

Real Estate

68 Under Construction:

Donaghey Avenue

72 73 76 78

Residential Tips for Newcomers Defining the North Metro Explore the Great Outdoors Arts and Culture Calendar

FEATURES

12 DXC Technology Adds 1,200

Tech Jobs

18 Structurlam Selects Conway for

its First U.S. Plant

20 SFI Arkansas Adds 75 New

Positions in Conway

24 Growing Together: Conway

Regional Breaks Ground on Medical Office Building

40 Central Baptist College Celebrates

20 Years of Adult Education Program

56 How to Help: Animals 58 How to Help: People 60 Haven House Gets a New Home

ASK THE EXPERT

14 Cybersecurity Awareness: Conway

Business Owner Shares Lessons Learned from Cyberattack

15 Michael Bynum, Eagle Bank & Trust 16 Michelle Anthony, Conway

Municipal Airport

26 Dr. Caleb Dickson and

Dr. Thad Hardin, Banister-Lieblong Clinic

28 Keeping Your Kids Safe at Home,

on the Road, and Online

Connect with us!

ConwayARChamber @ConwayArkansas @Conway_Chamber Search “Conway Chamber” /company/ConwayChamber

64 Zach Saxion, The Saxion Team 67 Melvin Gonzalez, Melvin’s Painting

+ THE GUIDE

94 Health Care 96 Education 98 Outreach & Nonprofits 100 Houses of Worship 101 Utilities & Public Services 102 Arts & Culture 104 City of Conway Parks

900 Oak Street Conway, AR 72032 501-327-7788

GetSmart@ConwayArkansas.org

While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in this publication, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce cannot guarantee the correctness of all information or the complete absence of error or omissions. For changes or to submit your comments, please contact the Chamber.

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+ about

conway

WHO WE ARE GROWING Community

EDUCATED Community

Conway, Arkansas Population Growth

38%

65,782

25 or older possess a bachelor’s degree or higher

58,908

43,167 28,767

(National Average: 33%)

1985

1990

1995

Conway: 65,782

2000

2005

Faulkner County: 123,654

2010

93.6%

2020

high school graduation rate

Little Rock-North Little RockConway Metro Area: 734,381

DIVERSE Community 4.8%

2015

(National Average: 84%)

YOUNG Community

2.8%

2.1%

Median Age

0.2%

40 35

38.1

38 35.9

16.6%

30

28.6

25

73.3%

20 15 10 5

White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native

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Asian Hispanic or Latino Two or more races

0 National

Arkansas

Little Rock

Conway

WHAT SETS US APART AFFORDABILITY 30% CHEAPER electricity and water rates compared to other cities in Arkansas

$773 average cost of rent

$163,500 value of housing units

$1,249 $46,741 median mortgage

median household income

Dallas, TX

Nashville, TN

Conway, AR

Groceries

97.6

90.3

92.4

Housing

80

134

73

Utilities

120

99

91

Transportation

99

116

102

Health Care

117

107

83

100% Composite Index

95

109.26

88.3

26.8 min.

24.6 min.

20.2 min.

Commute Time

Cost of Living Index Published since 1968 by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), the Cost of Living Index has been the most consistent source of city-to-city cost comparisons available. COLI data is recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and CNN Money. (via coli.org/about)

PILLARS OF SUCCESS

DYNAMIC & DIVERSE ECONOMY LARGEST EMPLOYERS Number of Employees

Employer

Industry

University of Central Arkansas

Education

1,500

Acxiom

Information Technology

1,500

Conway Regional Health System

Health Care

1,479

Conway Public School District

Education

1,180

Nabholz Corporation

Construction

1,190

Conway Human Development Center

Institutional Care

951

Walmart

Department and Grocery Store

815 572

City of Conway

Government

Virco Manufacturing

School, Office and Institutional Furniture

540

DXC Technology

Information Technology

450

EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Industry Category

Number of Employees

Educational Services | Health Care and Social Assistance

8,716

Retail Trade

4,456

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation | Accommodation and Food Services

3,357

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Administrative and Support | Waste Management

3,181

Manufacturing

2,543

Finance | Insurance | Real Estate | Rental and Leasing

1,903

Construction

1,557

Other Services (except Public Administration)

1,454

Transportation and Warehousing | Utilities

1,364

Public Administration

1,017

Information

943

Wholesale Trade

817

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | Mining

628

The central Arkansas economy is one of the most diverse in the United States. In Conway, three “tentpoles” – health care, technology, and education – both stabilize and stimulate economic growth. 2019 was a busy and productive time within each of these sectors.

Health Care: Health care has grown into the single largest employment sector in Conway and Faulkner County. In the fall of 2019, that continued growth was cemented as Conway Regional Health System broke ground on a $13 million medical office building. The project is part of a more than $40 million systemwide expansion. Baptist HealthConway continued to add physicians and practices to their 111-bed facility. Providers in orthopedics, women’s health, and surgery were all added in 2019.

Technology: Two of Conway’s four largest private sector employers are technology companies.

Acxiom and DXC combine to employ more than 2,000 central Arkansas residents. In October 2019, DXC announced plans to add another 1,200 jobs at their Conway location. Knowledge-based companies Insight, Molex, and Ensono have also all recently expanded in or relocated to Conway.

Education: Known as the “City of Colleges,” Conway is home to three institutions of higher education, all of which have been in the city since the late 1800s. The University of Central Arkansas announced its largest ever private gift in 2019. The $20 million donation from the Windgate Foundation will fund a new center for Fine and Performing Arts. Hendrix College opened the first phase of the Miller Creative Quad, which gives students of the liberal arts institution the opportunity to “dwell with the arts.” The creative quad’s gallery space will open in 2020.

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+ about

conway

WHERE WE’RE LOCATED DISTANCE FROM CONWAY, ARKANSAS TO REGIONAL METROPOLITAN AREAS Metro Area

Hours

Memphis

2.5

Fayetteville-Rogers-Springdale

2.5

Tulsa

3.5

Oklahoma City

4.5

Dallas-Fort Worth

5

Greater St. Louis

5.5

Nashville

6

Kansas City

6

Greater Birmingham

6

New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner

7

Greater Houston

7

Atlanta

8

Greater Austin

WHY CONWAY IS THE SMART CHOICE National Rankings

Of course, we think Conway is great, but don’t take our word for it. National media outlets have recognized Conway and the surrounding area at nearly every metric: from the generosity of our residents to our affordable cost of living.

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Metro Areas for Millennial #17 Best Job Seekers (2019)

8.5

#7 South’s Best College Towns (2016)

Cheapest Places to Live in #8 10 the U.S. (2018)

#2 Most Giving Cities in the U.S. (2016)

#1 in Arkansas

Best Small College Towns #45 50 in America (2015)

The Best Cities to Start Your Career in Each State (2018)

#51 out of 961 Best Small Towns to Visit, #4 The According to Travelers 45+ (2018)

#1

Easiest City to Sell a Home in Arkansas (2018)

Places in the U.S. So Cheap You Can #3 7Afford to be an Entrepreneur (2017)

Best Small Cities for Working Parents (2015)

#1 in Arkansas

The Fastest-Growing City in Every State (2014)

Most Affordable College #3 The Towns (2014)

Out on the Open Road

With its central location in The Natural State, Conway is just a short drive from some of the region’s most popular tourist towns, giving you the perfect excuse for a day trip or weekend getaway.

Hot Springs

Memphis

Drive Time: 1 hour 22 min.

Don’t Miss: Oaklawn

Drive Time: 2 hours 26 min.

Don’t Miss: Beale Street

Fayetteville/NW Arkansas

Oklahoma City

Drive Time: 2 hours 28 min.

Don’t Miss: Dickson Street Crystal Bridges Museum

Drive Time: 4 hours 37 min.

Don’t Miss: Bricktown

Dallas Nashville Drive Time: 5 hours 38 min.

Don’t Miss: Live Music

Drive Time: 5 hours 3 min.

Don’t Miss: Professional Sports Theme Parks

New Orleans Drive Time: 7 hours 26 min.

Don’t Miss: French Quarter

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+ economy

DXC TECHNOLOGY ADDS 1,200 TECH JOBS IN CONWAY New hires to join 450 current employees over next four years The crisp, sunny weather and fall foliage provided the perfect backdrop for a transformative economic development announcement in Conway on Oct. 22, 2019.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson was joined by executives from DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) and a crowd of community members in announcing 1,200 new jobs at the company’s Conway location.

The new positions will be in health care and life sciences, automotive, and security IT services as DXC builds upon the success of Conway to establish a global Center of Excellence (CoE) that serves the Medicaid business for 30 states and other clients.

Gov. Hutchinson said a large part of the mission of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and his administration has been to recruit high-paying, high-tech jobs to the state.

“When an existing business chooses to reinvest and expand, you know there’s something special happening,” he said. “DXC Technology is a global IT company that chose Conway, Arkansas, as a center of excellence. This, I hope, is an example to the world that Arkansas is a place you do not overlook with technology jobs.

Arkansas is a destination when it comes to technology companies – whether they’re startups or long-term existing companies like DXC Technology.”

In addition to its work with the State of Arkansas, DXC currently provides health and human services to clients across 42 U.S. states and territories, offering fiscal agent services, Medicaid Management Information Systems, program integrity, care management, immunization registry, and eligibility services. DXC’s current Conway facility, located at 355 Ledgelawn Drive, brings together a team of nearly 450 employees and comprises one of two DXC integrated Medicaid services delivery centers in the U.S. The company also works closely with 16 colleges and universities in Arkansas to develop and recruit talent.

“This community, the facility, and the associates who work here have seen a decade of change in the technology industry,” said Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry. “It’s a credit to central Arkansas’s talent pipeline that a company like DXC recognizes not only the proven record of performance but also the opportunities for growth.”

Gov. Hutchison credited DXC’s current employees as one of the reasons the company decided to expand its presence in Conway. He recalled a dinner conversation he had the night before with Andrea Fiumicelli, vice president and general manager of Healthcare and Life Sciences at DXC. “[DXC] has more than 6,000 different partners; they have 138,000 employees located in 70 countries. So, in today’s world, whenever you 12

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make a decision as to where you’re going to expand, you’ve got all kinds of options. And they chose Conway.

“So, I asked him, ‘Why did you choose Conway?’ And of course, I loved his answer. His answer was the workforce. It was the technology-driven and capable workforce here that set the example.”

In addition to the workforce, Andrea Fiumicelli cited a number of factors for DXC’s choice to grow in the metro Little Rock area.

“We’re proud of our public-private partnership with the State of Arkansas and Chamber and helping manage the dramatic transformation underway in public health services,” Fiumicelli said. “We have a great team in Conway, and our expansion here will create new job and career opportunities, strengthen our educational partnerships, and contribute to the area’s growth economically and as a center of innovation. I want to thank Governor Hutchinson, Brad Lacy, and their teams for their confidence and trust in DXC.” Fiumicelli said that the new jobs would represent a range of opportunities from entry-level up to highly skilled mid-career technical talent. Those interested in applying should visit jobs.DXC.technology.

Brad Lacy, president and CEO of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and Conway Development Corporation, said that day was all about transformation.

“We’re welcoming and expanding a company that is a leader in digital transformation, in a state where the governor has done government transformation, and in a city that we would say has always been about economic transformation,” Lacy said.

“If you go back to the roots of Conway, we were a farm town where the citizens and the business community decided they would transform that economy through higher education. And they did that in 1891. In 1959, with the creation of the Conway Development Corporation, the business community decided to participate in modern-day economic development and bring industrial jobs into the city. And I would tell that you we’re transforming again today.”

About DXC Technology DXC Technology, the world’s leading independent, end-to-end IT services company, manages and modernizes mission-critical systems, integrating them with new digital solutions to produce better business outcomes. The company’s global reach and talent, innovation platforms, technology independence, and extensive partner network enable more than 6,000 private- and public-sector clients in 70 countries to thrive on change. For more information, visit www.dxc.technology. n

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ASK THE EXPERT

HEADERS

Cybersecurity Awareness Sub headers go here for further details.

Conway business owner shares lessons learned from cyberattack A communication failure from a credit card machine was the first sign of a cyberattack that affected a small business in Conway.

“We were looking specifically at the hardware, and by the time a technician would arrive, it would either begin working again or we would have found a solution by tinkering with it,” said the IT professional who is contracted by the small business.

Ironically, it was discovered upon calling the manufacturer of the equipment that there was something wrong with it. They thought the issue had been resolved.

“We were being led down a road that appeared to be the correct road.”

But the problem persisted after the business owner replaced the faulty equipment with new equipment at the end of the workweek.

The following Saturday night, the hackers infiltrated the system and locked the business owner out by encrypting the server. It took the hackers approximately three weeks to break into the router, and the business lost three weeks’ worth of inventory and sales data as a result.

After several weeks of speaking with a detective, rebuilding the inventory, and establishing tighter controls, the business was able to open its doors to customers again.

A year after the cyberattack, the business owner and the IT professional spoke to Conway+ on condition of anonymity in hopes that their experience would help other small businesses avoid a costly situation.

“I would hate to see anyone go through what we went through,” said the owner of the business. “But I can tell you that my team of employees and my friends came through to help however they could. It was a challenge, and I wouldn’t want to go through it again, but my faith is stronger, my belief in the good of people is stronger, and my business practices are stronger.”

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How to Keep Your Business Safe from a Cyberattack 1. Pay attention to frequent communication failures between your hardware and server. Repeated communication failures from a credit card machine or other hardware could be the result of an equipment malfunction, but it could also indicate that someone is attempting to hack the router.

2. Hire a knowledgeable IT professional to conduct regular checkups on your system. If you do not have an IT professional on staff or under contract, consider hiring one for periodic system maintenance.

3. Lock it down. Ask your IT professional to encrypt your router so that one incorrect login attempt locks out the system. Only the IT professional will be able to unlock it.

4. Reexamine the need for remote access. Remote access is convenient, but business owners should ask themselves if it’s worth it. Businesses without satellite offices may want to reconsider enabling remote logins to a company server. If you need remote access, explore different ways to protect remote logins, such as installing VPN tunneling on internal routers and limiting all external communication to those routers.Invest in a remote login system from a trusted IT provider.

5. Maintain multiple, historical backups and log out of the server regularly to ensure system backups are successful. Establish protocols for backing up data, which can include physical printed copies and digital copies stored to external hard drives.

6. Don’t charge your phone by plugging it into your laptop or desktop.

For example, an Apple iPhone could carry a Windows-based virus that doesn’t affect the phone but could transmit to your Windows-based computer.

7. Check to see if your insurance company has a cyber protection policy.

8. Do not click on suspicious links in emails. Email spammers are becoming more sophisticated, creating messages that can look as if the email is coming from a trusted person. Hover over links to see the path rather than clicking on the link, and double-check the email address in the “from” line.

Also consider removing employee email addresses from the company website so they cannot be as easily found and manipulated.

ASK THE EXPERT

Eagle Bank and trust Looking for financing for your business or commercial property? It all comes down to a personal touch and trust.

Whether you want to expand your existing company, renovate commercial property, or turn your idea into a viable business, you’re going to need funding to make it happen. Michael Bynum, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer for Eagle Bank and Trust, spoke with Conway+ about securing capital for your business and three questions you should ask before choosing a lending officer.

Do you trust this person? Bynum says customers should be able to trust their lending officers with highly confidential, personal information. “You want to make sure that you like, you trust, and you know that person’s going to take care of your banking needs long term,” he says. “If you’ve got those three things, you’re going to be a happy customer.”

Do you like this person? No matter the size of the bank, the lending officer you choose to work with should treat you as a valued person and not just a number. Bynum, who has worked for large banks and smaller community banks, says it has been his experience that community banks prioritize one-on-one relationships and are more likely to have better customer service than larger institutions. “It’s all about strong relationships and business networking. The better a loan officer can help you meet all your financial needs, the more likely you are to recommend that loan officer to your family, friends, or business associates,” Bynum says.

Do you have a plan? Before you visit a bank for financing, it’s important to have a general idea of your business’s revenue, expenses, and plans for growth and scalability. “Having projections, financials, and a business plan along with what you plan to use for collateral will help your loan officer understand your financial situation and make an informed decision,” Bynum advises.

Michael Bynum has 25 years’ experience in banking. A Conway resident for 23 years, Bynum is Faulkner County Market President for Eagle Bank and Trust. He has built his career on taking exceptional care of customers with a personal touch and building long-term trusting relationships.

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ASK THE EXPERT

Michelle Anthony was named director of the Conway Municipal Airport at Cantrell Field in the summer of 2019, making her the first female director of Conway’s airport. We spoke with Michelle about being a new Conway resident and what she hopes to accomplish in her new role.

the Conway Municipal Airport at Cantrell Field 16

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After living in Conway for a few months, what are your first impressions of the city and the Conway Airport?

I was nervous at first simply because I didn’t know anyone or where anything was. That feeling quickly went away. I honestly believe Conway is the friendliest place I have ever lived.

I had only been to the airport one time before.

After I started working at the airport, I was amazed at the amount of traffic, both based and transit. I wasn’t expecting to see all the traffic (from the jet traffic to the Cessna 150s) come and go.

Have there been any surprises so far?

The amount of traffic and fuel sales surprised me, along with the fact that there are 30 individuals on the hangar waiting list. That’s a problem every airport wants. And finally, I have been pleasantly surprised with how amazing our team is – not only the employees at the airport but also the employees at the City. Everyone I’ve met has made an outsider feel like they have always been a part of that group.

What are your goals for the airport?

Short term, we want to make our team more efficient. That means working ahead of schedule and working safely. We recently received a grant from the FAA to build a taxiway and hangar ramp. I would like to start the project on time and come in under budget.

Long term, we have plans to build additional hangars. We want to grow the airport in every way: fuel sales, traffic, and based aircraft.

And as we grow, we want to continue to improve services for all of our base pilots and aircraft owners.

What do you think most people would be surprised to discover about the airport?

I think most people would be surprised at the level of service we provide. We greet you at your aircraft and chock your wheels. If you have a rental car, we try to always have it on the ramp

FACTS & FIGURES and running so it will not be too hot or too cold inside. We help with your items and will get you one of our three courtesy cars if you need it. We have free popcorn, coffee, water, and homemade cookies. Since I have been at the Conway airport, I have heard pilots say, “This is my first time here, and this is not what I expected.” Some people think since we’re a little isolated on the map we won’t have fuel or that the FBO [fixed-based operator] will be a small construction trailer with no way to town. Once they land, they see all of the hangars and the traffic, and we make them feel at home.

People might be surprised to learn that not everyone who visits Conway drives here.

There are a large number of families who fly in for sporting or family events. That results in them spending time in the local area shopping, eating, or staying in a hotel.

What role does the local airport play in business? In tourism?

There are a number of local businesses that use the airport. While conducting that business, they may use our conference room and have food delivered. Some people choose to go into town, but a lot of business is done here at the airport.

There are many times when the airport serves as the front door to the city. For those people, the airport is their first impression. They frequently talk about how beautiful the area is and how friendly the people are. Corporate pilots have even said, “This is my first time flying here. It is really a nice place. I am going to have to bring my spouse next time.”

Situated on 431 acres in southwest Conway, the Conway Municipal Airport at Cantrell Field opened in its current location in September 2014. To learn more about the airport, visit conwayarkansas.gov/airport.

CONWAY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

Conway Airport Most Popular Destinations (2018/19 FlightAware) 1.

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Conway, AR Fayetteville, AR Little Rock, AR Springdale, AR Fort Smith, AR Dallas, TX North Little Rock, AR Nashville, TN Morrilton, AR Hot Springs, AR Houston, TX Searcy, AR Rogers, AR Jonesboro, AR Oklahoma City, OK Atlanta, GA Benton, AR Camden, AR Pine Bluff, AR Green Bay, WI

• Each year, aircraft from more than 400 cities around the state and country fly into Conway.

• The Conway airport sees more than 5,000 arrivals and departures annually.

• There are approximately 70 aircraft based at the Conway Airport. Ten of those are jets.

• In 2020, a ramp and taxiway project will precede construction of an additional 12-bay hangar.

"A mile of highway will take you one mile. A mile of runway can take you all over the world."

– Michelle Anthony, Conway Municipal Airport Director 2020 Community Profile & Resource Guide

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Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson addresses the crowd assembled at the future Structurlam plant, a mass timber production facility.

STRUCTURLAM SELECTS CONWAY FOR ITS FIRST U.S. PLANT

World-class mass timber production facility to create 130 jobs

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Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry said the Structurlam announcement is “one of the most exciting in Conway’s long manufacturing history.”

Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation, the leading mass timber manufacturer in North America, will expand its operations into the United States with a plant in Conway set to open in mid-2021. The Canada-based company will invest $90 million to purchase, retrofit and equip a former steel plant and create 130 new jobs. It will source softwood lumber from Arkansasgrown Southern Pine trees.

Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam, said the rise of mass timber building solutions is revolutionizing the commercial and residential building industry.

“At Structurlam, we’re transforming wood, one of nature’s most renewable resources, into a greener, more cost-effective, and aesthetically-pleasing alternative to concrete and steel,” Wentzel said. “We’re proud to establish roots in the great state of Arkansas and the city of Conway and support Walmart as the exclusive supplier of mass timber products for its new home office campus.”

Mass timber is a category of building construction featuring structural laminated wood components for walls, roofs, floors, beams and columns. A key economic benefit of mass timber is the ability to design, model and prefabricate the structural elements of a project off-site, accelerating on-site production schedules by up to 25% compared to traditional on-site building with steel and concrete.

Structurlam is the first manufacturer to bring mass timber to the North American

market and the first to introduce crosslaminated timber, or CLT, in the production of industrial ground protection matting products used in the energy and power transmission sectors.

“Our new U.S. location will answer the demand for mass timber building products and industrial matting products in the southern, central and eastern United States and will complement our British Columbia operation serving the Canadian, Pacific Northwest, California and Intermountain markets,” added Wentzel.

Agriculture is the leading industry in Arkansas with timber making up a third of the overall income. The state has a strong stewardship program in place to protect timber as a renewable resource, planting 1.6 trees for every tree that is harvested.

“With 19 million acres of available forestland and a skilled workforce that is second to none, Arkansas is the natural choice for Structurlam’s first expansion

into the United States,” said Gov. Asa Hutchinson. “We are excited about the technology and the additional opportunities for growth Structurlam brings with it to Arkansas. The company’s partnership with Walmart is an example of how this expansion will benefit our state’s timber industry.”

Walmart will be the first customer of Structurlam’s Conway facility. The world’s largest retailer plans to use more than 1.1 million cubic feet of Arkansas-grown and Arkansas-produced mass timber in its new Home Office campus in Bentonville, making it the largest campus project in the U.S. using mass timber.

“Structurlam is uniquely positioned to deliver its innovative approach to digital design collaboration and mass timber manufacturing to Walmart and the state of Arkansas,” said Dan Bartlett, executive vice president of Walmart Corporate Affairs.

“With their help, we are able to realize our goal of connecting our associates with nature and the beauty of Arkansas through our new Home Office project.”

Structurlam selected Conway for its proximity to 19 million acres of sustainable forestland that covers more than half of the state’s total land area. The new plant is located close to transportation corridors that reach large southern and eastern markets.

Other considerations included a site-ready location and available workforce.

“Today’s announcement is one of the most exciting in Conway’s long manufacturing history,” said Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry. “Structurlam is a perfect fit for our community. We’re excited and honored to join their commitment to sustainability and innovation. This is a big win for the Conway workforce, the local economy and the entire state of Arkansas.” n

“With 19 million acres of available forestland and a skilled workforce that is second to none, Arkansas is the natural choice for Structurlam’s first expansion into the United States.”

–Governor Asa Hutchinson

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NEW HIRES SFI Arkansas to add up to 75 new positions at Conway facility

Conway-based manufacturer SFI Arkansas announced in December 2019 that it will expand its facility and hire up to 75 new employees over the next 18 months.

“Our reinvestment into our Conway facility is very intentional,” said Jim McGill, vice president and business unit manager for SFI Arkansas. “Our employees work hard every day to assure we stay globally competitive. They deserve to have the best tools and technology to maintain that competitiveness.”

SFI Arkansas offers a unique blend of light- to medium-gauge steel fabrication. It specializes in laser cutting, punching, bending, roll forming, welding, and powder coat painting. McGill says the expansion is the result of continued manufacturing growth in the South as well as the increased presence of steel manufacturing in Arkansas.

“We are happy to support the expansion of the SFI plant in Conway and the additional jobs it will create,” said Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston. “This is a testament to how a skilled, advanced, manufacturing workforce influences decision-makers when it comes to locating, moving, or expanding. SFI employees and their families, their clients, and Arkansas as a whole will benefit from this smart business decision for years to come.”

SFI Arkansas has been located in Conway for more than 40 years and currently has approximately 70 employees. The company

develops, supplies, and services medium- to heavy-gauge components and value-added services for a select group of original equipment manufacturers in the agricultural, construction, industrial, transportation, and defense industries.

SFI is a fully integrated fabricator encompassing two plants located in Memphis, Tennessee, and Conway. Under the same ownership umbrella of one of the largest steel service centers in the country, SFI brings the strength and breadth of over one million tons of steel and metals, sourced, processed, and distributed across all industries each year.

“The best economic news a community can get is that one of its longtime employers is expanding,” said Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry. “SFI has an excellent reputation in the manufacturing community. Their employees and management deserve a lot of credit for working in a way that is creating opportunities for even more Arkansans.”

McGill said that the new investments and positions would represent a move toward increased mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.

The average wages for new positions could approach $25 per hour. Hiring would begin in early 2020.

“It’s cliché to say our employees are the key to our success,” said McGill. “But it’s true. The folks who work at SFI and other small businesses in Conway, Faulkner County, and beyond are the backbone of our state.”

SFI Arkansas will more than double its workforce at the Conway plant by mid-2021.

A Quick Look at SFI Arkansas SFI supplies medium- and heavy-gauge fabricated steel parts and assemblies to various industries.

70 employees currently in Conway with plans to hire 75 more through 2021 Wages for new positions up to $25 per hour

2 plants located in Conway, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee 40+ years in Conway

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Hiring begins in early 2020

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+ health

care

GROWING TOGETHER Conway Regional breaks ground on new medical office building

In late September 2019, Conway Regional Health System broke ground on a three-story medical office building that will provide 42,000 square feet of space dedicated primarily to women’s health services.

“We’ve had expansions on our campus over the years – the latest expansion was in 2013 as many of you know – but this is actually our first ground-floor new building here on this campus in 18 years,” said Conway Regional president and CEO Matt Troup.

The building will house two of the three primary obstetrics/gynecology practices in Conway: Conway OB-Gyn Clinic and Conway Women’s Health Center. Dr. Andrew Cole, a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology and a member of the Conway Regional board of directors, said the new facility will streamline their practice and enhance the patient experience.

“We currently work out of two offices, so putting everybody under the same roof is something that’s been a dream of ours for a long time,” Cole said.

“It’s going to be a state-of-the-art, beautiful facility that will make us a lot more efficient and create a better experience for the patients.”

Lindsay Henderson, chief revenue officer at the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, said the facility marks the beginning of long-term future growth for Conway Regional and for Conway.

“When I think of Conway Regional’s ‘Growing Together’ campaign, I think of more than just a building. I think about the people who will visit this building. I think about the doctors and nurses who will care for those patients and offer support for their families. You are all examples of what creates this growth. Growth happens because this system provides exceptional care. Growth is happening because you are changing lives.”

Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry shared his personal experiences with the hospital and said it’s the people working for Conway Regional who make it an attractive option both for patients and for those seeking to build or relocate businesses in Conway.

“Wherever I go, I see people who work at and represent Conway Regional. From a patient standpoint, it is comforting for me to know you. From a business perspective, you’ve been a tremendous asset when it comes to bringing new people to Conway.

“Whenever someone wants to build, move, or bring a business to Conway, they want to know about the health care options, and they want to know about the schools. When it comes to health care, Conway Regional makes Conway an easy sell.”

Henderson also talked about the economic impact of the hospital, from being a major employer to working with a local contractor to complete construction of the new building.

“Beyond providing care for a seven-county region, Conway Regional is providing an opportunity for our graduates to pursue a career in the health care field,” Henderson said. “For the Chamber and the Conway Development Corporation, this translates into an engaged workforce investing payroll back into our community.

“We have a local contractor, Nabholz Construction, building this 42,000-square-foot facility, and we have the ability to staff this future medical office space with graduates through the partnerships formed between Conway Regional and the University of Central Arkansas, Central Baptist College, and Hendrix College. As a chamber of commerce, this is a story we love telling; it is a story that is hard to beat, and it is a story not many communities can share.”

Established in 1921, Conway Regional Health System is approaching its 100th year in Conway.

Troup said growth has been a big part of Conway Regional’s focus, and that growth is focused in Conway.

“We are not just growing; we’re growing together.” n

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ASK THE EXPERT

BanisterLieblong Clinic From disease prevention and treatment to managing chronic conditions, family practice clinics provide comprehensive care.

For more than 60 years, Banister-Lieblong Clinic has provided comprehensive and quality health care to Conway and central Arkansas. Its team of experienced and professional physicians and staff specialize in family practice, focusing on prevention as well as treatment of a wide variety of medical conditions. We sat down with two of the clinic’s seven physicians, Dr. Caleb Dickson and Dr. Thad Hardin, about the medical discipline of family practice.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in medicine?

DR. DICKSON: My interest in medicine began in high school.

I enjoyed seeing how physicians impacted their communities and developed relationships with people over time. I saw the joy it brought these physicians to be able to help people in their community – to get to know them, treat them, treat their family members, and just help them get through life.

DR. HARDIN: As a child, I was in the doctor’s office all the time.

After seeing how my primary care physician, Dr. James Young, always helped me when I was a child, I knew becoming a physician was something I wanted to do.

What should people look for when choosing a family practice clinic?

DR. HARDIN: Look for someone who is accessible and who you’re comfortable with. That relationship will play a big role in keeping you healthy.

DR. DICKSON: Find somebody you trust. Personalities always blend differently, so I think you have to find someone you can talk to and trust.

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Dr. Caleb Dickson and Dr. Thad Hardin

Talk to us about why someone should continue seeing a primary care physician despite the convenience and accessibility of walk-in clinics.

DR. HARDIN: Your primary care physician knows who you are.

They know your medical history, your likes, and your dislikes. Every time you walk into an urgent care clinic, all of those things have to be discussed for the first time over and over again. This lack of consistency results in fragmented, disjointed care, as you may see one doctor on Tuesday night, a different doctor on a Thursday, and a nurse practitioner on Saturday. What’s missing is continuity of care, and that continuity is what makes primary care, primary care.

Urgent care clinics are a stopgap; they are there for emergencies or urgent needs.

DR. DICKSON: I can walk down the hallway, find Dr. Hardin, and ask for his opinion about his patient since he knows that patient better than I do. We discuss each other’s patients almost daily, so the fact that we have your medical records here and can speak to your primary care physician immediately and in person is something that will improve care for everyone. If you’re around doctors who know you, can access your records, and can talk to your primary care physician, then you’re going to receive better care in that setting versus in a setting where you frequently see doctors who have no idea who you are and have never cared for you before. I understand that people are busy; they want convenience, and there are times when they need to see a doctor quickly. Over the past 12-18 months, our clinic has approached that need by asking ourselves, “How do we get our patients here, and how do we make ourselves available to them?”

Family Medicine has changed so much over the last 15-20 years. It is shifting back to how it used to be in some ways, and we are now making ourselves more available by staying open later to better care for our patients.

What do you wish patients knew before visiting the doctor?

DR. DICKSON: We’re likely not going to be able to fix everything on that first visit. Good medical care takes time, and it takes time to develop that trust we spoke about.

Speaking of the first visit, be prepared to be in the waiting room a little longer. You’ll have to fill out paperwork with our front-office staff, and our nurses will have to provide us with the information they get from you so we can review it before we see you. After the first visit, though, things run more smoothly because you’re already in the system. But we will be the first to admit that we do get behind sometimes.

If patients need more time, we give it to them, just like we’ll give it to you when you’re in the exam room.

DR. HARDIN: The best time to schedule an appointment is first thing in the morning or after lunch. That’s when the wait is likely to be the shortest. We want to be on time as much as patients want us to be on time. We realize our patients’ time is important, too, but when a patient needs more time, we are going to give them what they need. So please understand and be patient with us because every patient will get the extra time when they need it.

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HEALTH TIPS FROM THE DOCTORS

Be active.

The health benefits of regular activity are endless.

What you put into your body matters.

There is no substitute for a healthy diet. Even if you exercise for an hour every day, it means little if you eat junk all the time. You can’t outrun your fork.

Find a primary care physician.

Choose someone who is available and who you’re comfortable with.

Don’t diagnose yourself from what you read online.

The internet is good for information but bad for diagnosing.

A Google search asking, “What can I eat as a diabetic?” is far different from searching, “What is causing my chest pain?”

You can be honest with us.

We have heard it all! We are here to take care of any and every problem.

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ASK THE EXPERT

Keeping Your kids safe at home, on the road, & online

Three nurse practitioners offer practical kid-safety tips for every stage of childhood

The most important job for parents and other caregivers is to keep their children safe. Online resources and internet forums combined with well-meaning advice from family and friends can lead to information overload. Nurse practitioners Kellie Bishop, APRN, PNP; Mallory Hoelzeman, APRN, FNP; and Sydney Madden, APRN, FNP, shared some of the most important safety tips parents and caregivers can be aware of to help keep their children safe. Kellie, Mallory, and Sydney. practice at Central Arkansas Pediatrics, located at 2425 Dave Ward Drive in Conway.

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AT HOME Safety begins at home. There are many things you can do to make sure your home is safe for your children: • Make sure outlets have outlet covers, cords and cables are off the floors, and baby gates are used in front of stairs or to block a child from entering unsafe rooms.

• It is recommended to set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid burns.

• Never leave your child unattended in a bathtub or on a high surface, especially during infancy and toddler years.

• If you have a swimming pool or if you are taking your child swimming, make sure they have a proper life jacket.

• If your child is riding a bicycle or scooter, make sure they are wearing a helmet.

• Have a fire escape plan and a place to seek shelter during a tornado. Practice these plans with your child so they know where to go and what to do in case of an emergency.

• Teach your child how to dial 911 in case of an emergency.

ON THE ROAD It is inevitable that you will have to leave the home with your child. Remember these tips when on the road: • Notify neighbors if you will be gone for an extended period of time, and avoid posting your location on social media.

• Always try to make a note of what your child is wearing before leaving the house in case they get separated from you. If your child is 4 years or older, it is a good idea to make sure they know your name, their address, and a phone number for a guardian.

• Car seat safety is crucial. Guidelines change, so make sure your child is in an appropriate safety seat.

All infants and children under 2 years old must be in a rear-facing car seat, and it is now recommended that they remain rear facing until they exceed the height and/or weight restrictions that your car seat’s manufacturer says is safe. This information should be posted on the side of your car seat.

• Once your child reaches the height and/or weight that is no longer safe to be rear facing in their car seat, you may turn them forward facing. It is still important to secure them with the five-point harness. Your child may move up to a booster seat once they reach age 6 years and 60 lbs. They should remain in the booster seat until they are four feet, nine inches tall. Following car seat recommendations is vital to keeping your child safe!

ONLINE While it’s easy to control keeping our homes safe and ensuring our children are in proper car seats, it is more difficult to control their safety online. Children are now using the internet to play games, watch videos, and socialize through various social media outlets. Follow these tips to keep your child safe online: • If you have young children, make sure you have restrictions set on the devices they use so that they can only open specific apps and programs that you want them using. It is important that your children cannot communicate with people they do not know through apps and other online venues.

• For older children and teenagers, you can use a parental control app to set restrictions and monitor what your child is doing on their devices. There are many options available, but some of them with the best reviews are Bark, Net Nanny, and FamilyTime. These apps allow you to monitor their text messages, social media use, screen time, YouTube use, and emails.

• Make sure you discuss the dangers of talking to and meeting strangers online. It is also important to know which apps and social media outlets your child is using so you can monitor their online behavior. While this may feel intrusive, it is necessary for their safety.

Being a parent can be overwhelming, as you are always concerned that you are not doing enough to keep your child safe. We hope these tips will help ease your mind, clear up confusion about common safety issues, and help keep your children and family healthy and safe.

Kellie Bishop, APRN, PNP; Mallory Hoelzeman, APRN, FNP; Sydney Madden, APRN, FNP — Central Arkansas Pediatrics

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Chamber Event Spotlight North Metro Healthcare Awards Doctors, nurses, hospital administrators and other medical professionals are front and center in February at an awards luncheon focused on the health care industry. Nominations are open year-round in the following categories but must be received by November to be considered.

• Administrator of the Year • Healthcare Professional of the Year • Nurse of the Year • Physician of the Year • Community Impact Award

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YOUR AD HERE Call the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce to reserve your spot in the 2021 guide.

501-327-7788

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PACE:

PROFESSIONAL ADULT COLLEGE EDUCATION

New students eligible for 20% discount during landmark year

F

or two decades, Central Baptist College has helped hundreds of busy adults earn a college degree through PACE, its nontraditional degree program.

PACE, or Professional Adult College Education, offers a flexible format and delivery method to accommodate the schedules of adult learners, many of whom work full-time, take care of children or aging parents, and manage other roles and responsibilities.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the PACE program, CBC is offering a 20% discount to new PACE students or students re-admitting to the program after at least a semester off.

Amy Reed, a graduate of PACE who works at Central Baptist College as its director of development, said PACE made it possible for her to attend school and continue to work.

“I began my collegiate journey right out of high school in 1984, but I didn’t receive my degree until 2015,” Reed said. “PACE gave me the ability to work full time and attend classes full time. The instructors understood the struggle of trying to do both, and they made themselves available and supported me every step of the way.”

By focusing on one class at a time, only one night per week, students like Reed are able to more easily dedicate their limited time to a degree program.

PACE classes are five weeks long and meet one night per week. The program is designed to allow students to take one five-week class, or three credit hours, at a time. Students who enroll in one class every five weeks over the course of a semester would have completed four courses – or 12 credit hours – making them full time.

To be considered full time during a traditional 16-week semester, students must take the four courses, or 12 credit hours, simultaneously, making it difficult for those with work or family obligations to complete a degree program.

PACE courses are offered Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights from 6-10 p.m. Students can pick the night and the delivery method –in-class, online, or a hybrid of the two – that fits their schedule.

Online courses can be completed synchronously in real time or asynchronously via a video recording.

Students with a high-speed internet connection and a computer, laptop, or

mobile device can log on during the class session and engage with the instructor and fellow students from anywhere in the world. Students also can opt to complete the online course at their convenience by viewing the recording within the five-week course structure.

“Although I chose to do most of my coursework in the classroom, the online option was also helpful,” Reed said. “I enjoyed being in a class with adults who had similar life experiences.”

One of those adults with a similar life experience was her husband, Donnie.

“My husband and I were able to graduate together. That was special because we were both first-generation college graduates.

It was important to both of us to set an example for our girls.”

PACE offers associate degree options in general education, business, and military technologies and bachelor’s degree options in business administration, general studies, church administration, human resource management, leadership, leadership and ministry, management information systems, organizational management, and psychology. All degrees are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and fully transferable to other accredited institutions. Central Baptist College also accepts transfer credits from other accredited institutions.

Several students in the PACE program are enlisted in the military. Central Baptist College provides one of the most competitive veteran discounts in the state, which is part of the reason the college has been recognized as a Military Friendly School for 10 consecutive years. CBC’s Gold distinction is awarded to the top 10% of all military-friendly schools.

In most cases, after their military benefits are applied, the remaining tuition costs will be waived. In addition, if all military benefits are exhausted, a 25% discount is still applied.

CBC has also incorporated other ways to make its PACE program more accessible to adult learners.

Through a partnership with external organizations, businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities, CBC offers employees or members of these organizations a tuition discount to enroll in PACE bachelor’s degree classes. The goal of the CBC PACE Preferred Business Partnership is to help create a better educated and skill-based workforce.

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CONWAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

UNIVERSITY of CENTRAL ARKANSAS Three major building projects to be completed at the University of Central Arkansas over the next three years Greek Village Phase II Projected Opening Date: Fall 2020 Greek Village Phase II is a project consisting of three fraternity houses and one National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) facility. The houses for the three participating fraternities are located on the east side of Donaghey Avenue in the two blocks between College Avenue and Martin Street. The fraternity houses will be approximately 7,000 square feet operated as university housing and have 20 beds per house plus a chapter room. The NPHC facility will be located in the area between Western Avenue and Augusta Avenue, adjacent to the existing NPHC sorority facility.

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Integrated Health Sciences Building Projected Opening Date: Fall 2021 The Integrated Health Sciences Building at the University of Central Arkansas will support UCA’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of Arkansans. Students will have the opportunity to practice critical skills in state-of-the-art educational models in both the Nabholz Center for Healthcare Simulation and the interprofessional practice clinic.

The $34 million, 80,000-square-foot, four-story facility will be located at the corner of Western Avenue and Bruce Street.

The Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts Projected Opening Date: Fall 2022 The $45 million Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts at the University of Central Arkansas is designed at 98,000 square feet. With two stories, the facility includes dedicated art space, art and gallery space, and an exterior location for three-dimensional art. The Windgate Center, located at the corner of Donaghey and Bruce streets, will also include a 450-seat concert hall and a Black Box theatre.

Chamber Event Spotlight Academic Signing Day Each year, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates academic all-stars at Academic Signing Day. Eligible students must...

• be a graduating senior of Conway High School, Conway Christian High School, St. Joseph High School, or home-schooled and living in the Conway school district • have a 3.8 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale • be recognized in one or more of these five areas: 1. the recipient of a top scholarship from the four-year accredited college or university they plan to attend 2. a National Merit Scholar or National Merit Finalist designation 3. acceptance into a U.S. Service Academy 4. the winner of a state or national scholarship program 5. the recipient of a Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship or Governor’s Scholarship

Applications are due in March of each year. Apply at conwaychamber.org/academic-signing-day

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HOW TO HELP

“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”

–Booker T. Washington

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how to help

ANIMALS

A large network of rescue groups in Faulkner County works tirelessly to place animals or help with their medical needs.

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T

om DeBlack of Conway has found his share of lost dogs and cats in his life — and he wishes he could keep them all.

He was holding a little black dog, Batman, who was dropped over a fence at a Conway High School football game. A big, older dog slept in the kitchen, and a cat lounged on his daughter’s bed.

“All we’ve got are shelter animals or ones who have wandered up,” he said.

As president of the Friends of the Conway Animal Shelter, he is in frequent contact with the Conway Animal Welfare Unit, which runs the shelter, when he finds a furry friend needing a home.

A call to the Conway Animal Welfare Unit, 501-450-6160, gives this option on the voicemail message: “If you have lost your pet or are interested in adoption, please Press 1.”

Shona Osborne, director of the city unit, said there are several ways for people who have found a lost animal to help locate its owner.

“If it’s not wearing any identification, if you can get the animal to a veterinary clinic or out to the Conway Animal Welfare Unit to scan for a microchip, that’s the first thing to do,” she said.

However, Osborne said that what the staff sees quite often is that the microchip wasn’t registered [on a website], or the phone number with the registration has changed.

Dr. Sharon Stone, owner of St. Francis Veterinary Clinic in Conway, said it’s common to have people contact her about a dog or cat that has wandered into their yards.

She said St. Francis, as well as most veterinary clinics, will scan for a microchip as a free service. The clinic also offers microchipping, as do others, she said. It’s not just for dogs and cats, either — she’s seen rabbits and horses get microchipped, as well.

Stone said the Conway Animal Welfare Unit “does an excellent job,” and she suggests that people take animals there, if the owner cannot be located.

Donna Clawson, a retired Conway teacher, has been championing animal causes for 12 years. She often fosters dogs and has rescued more than her fair share. She’s regularly the goto person when someone has a question about an animal, and she also is a member of Friends of the Conway Animal Shelter.

Clawson said people sometimes assume a collar with identification is enough, “but collars slip off easily,” so she also touts microchipping.

Social media is a good way to spread the word about a lost or found animal, Clawson and Osborne agreed.

They both recommend posting a photograph of the dog or cat to Arkansas Lost and Found Pet Network, alfpetnetwork. com, or to its Facebook page.

“It’s pretty popular,” Osborne said of the site. “You can go on there as an individual and post an animal you’ve lost or found. We post our animals there that come into the shelter.”

A lost-and-found pet form also is available on the website conwayanimalwelfare.org, so the staff can post a photo to its Facebook page.

Clawson said neighborhoods often have Facebook pages where residents can post photos to see if Fido has slipped out of the fence down the street. And, yes, you can go door to door, too.

“There are lots of ways to help,” Osborne said, adding that newspaper advertisements are another option.

Social media makes it easier for lost or found pets to be reconnected with their owners.

A large network of rescue groups in Faulkner County works tirelessly to place animals or help with their medical needs.

Clawson said the Friends group has a small fund to help injured dogs and cats, as well, but it functions on donations.

The Faulkner County Humane Society is another resource that offers services through its volunteers.

Shirley Jarman, president of the organization, said the Humane Society works to prevent strays, as well as to help place them.

“Our big focus is spay/neuter, and we do have [financial] help for people, and we do low-cost spay-neuter,” she said.

The organization owns Companions Spay and Neuter Clinic, 589 Highway 65N in Springhill, which is leased to a veterinarian.

“Most of the vets, we work with them, because we have an injured animal policy.

If you find a stray animal that’s injured, go online to fixingfaulknercounty.com and fill out the application, and we’ll respond to that,” she said. “We try to get a foster.”

If the found animal is not so tame — your cat gifted you with an injured squirrel, for example — the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is the place to call. A 24-hour hotline is 800-482-9262.

Keith Stephens, director of communications, said a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the website, agfc.org, and any of the individuals can help if available, regardless of whether they live in the county where the animal was found.

Susan Higgins of Conway said her cat, Rivet, brought a flying baby squirrel into the house.

Although it looked fairly healthy, Higgins put a plea on Facebook for a wildlife rehabilitator, and it was suggested that she contact the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Higgins connected with wildlife rehabilitator Beth Renfro of Roland.

“I wrapped it up and called Beth, and it was 8 o’clock at night and … she met us,” Higgins said.

Renfro said she has taken care of a menagerie of animals in her 15-plus years as a wildlife rehabilitator.

“We’ve done foxes; we’ve done coyotes; we’ve done deer, squirrels, rabbits, possums, bats — we do just about everything,” Renfro said.

She said if an animal has fallen out of a nest, such as a baby squirrel or rabbit, and it isn’t injured — and hasn’t been in a cat or dog’s mouth — it can be placed back in the nest. It’s a myth, she said, that the mother will reject it.

Renfro said the rehabilitators are a close-knit group who work together to help wild animals.

A few months ago in a rural area, a man lost his pet boa constrictor, which he described as 11 feet long. In that case, AGFC herpetologist Kelly Irwin said to call the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and “don’t mess with it.”

That’s a suggestion that’s easy for most people to follow. n

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how to help M

PEOPLE

ost people have experienced stopping at a red light and seeing a person nearby holding a handwritten cardboard sign asking for help.

The individual making the appeal may be homeless and hungry, and Conway is a caring community. Should you roll down your window and hand over cash, or take the person a meal, or is there a better way?

Several local organizations have outreach services to help, and many are agencies of the United Way of Central Arkansas.

Judi Lively, executive director of the Bethlehem House, a transitional homeless shelter in Conway, said she understands the heartfelt desire to help these individuals.

“If they’re on the corner with the sign, I do think directing them to places that can help is good,” she said.

The shelter, at 1115 Parkway St. in downtown Conway, serves a free breakfast between 6-8 a.m. daily and a free hot meal at 6 p.m. each day. Volunteers always are needed to help provide the meals, Lively added.

“That’s the thing that really gets most of us is when the sign says they’re hungry,” she said.

Lively suggests carrying $5 gift cards to McDonald’s, Sonic or other fast-food restaurants to give to someone in need. One of her favorite suggestions is to create small packages of items to hand out to the homeless.

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“I believe those little blessing bags are good that would have some sort of energy bar or protein bar with other things. ... It could have Chapstick, little packages of HotHands [Warmers].”

In addition to food, Bethlehem House offers free laundry services, but individuals must sign up on Mondays. Lively said Bethlehem House works with other organizations to extend their reach to people who are having a hard time.

“The Conway Ministry Center and Bethlehem House have cards that list what we do on one side and what they do on the other,” she said.

Spring Hunter, executive director of Conway Ministry Center, said the nonprofit organization at 701 Polk St. is a place where homeless individuals can get help meeting immediate needs or long-term goals.

“If they walk in any day that we’re open, we do have a homeless pantry — shoes, hygiene items; we can make them a hot meal on-site,” she said. “We also order those vital records like birth certificates, Social Security cards ...we do some specific homeless case management where we take them to the next step.”

The ministry can help with a deposit on a place to live through its Rapid Rehousing program.

The staff at Conway Ministry Center can evaluate people’s needs and get to know them, but stopping at a red light and seeing a person standing with a sign is different, Hunter said.

Other Ways to

“You have all of 35 seconds to make a decision of whether you’re going to avoid eye contact or do something. The best thing to do is be prepared for that interaction,” she said.

Hunter agrees with Lively that it’s better to hand a person useful items or gift cards rather than cash.

“Currently, in my car I have a tote with blessing bags. Right now, they have some nonperishable food items, bottled water, a poncho, it might be nice to have those little Wet Ones [hand wipes] when you don’t have access to water; a small flashlight with batteries; a lighter,” she said.

When it gets colder, Hunter said she adds heavy socks or gloves.

“I don’t have to access someone’s life story to see how you’re going to spend my $5 [cash].

There’s not a market for ponchos,” Hunter said.

She includes information in the bags about services other agencies offer. Hunter also suggests having $5 gift cards to McDonald’s or Waffle House to give someone seeking help. The person can get food and sit in those restaurants for a bit to cool off or warm up.

Conway Ministry Center also has a 10-week winter warming station at its facility on Polk Street for homeless individuals to spend the night. More information about its programs can be found by calling 501-358-6098.

The Salvation Army Conway Corps covers Faulkner, Perry, Cleburne and Van Buren counties. It offers emergency services, food, clothing and utility assistance, as well as Project Angel Tree at Christmas.

Capt. Trish Knott, corps officer, said anyone who is hungry and/or homeless can find food throughout the day at The Salvation Army Conway Corps office, 2125 Harkrider St., Suite 12.

“We have breakfast every morning; we open at 8 a.m. They can come to our office and we have coffee; this summer we had water, and we have prepared foods such as breakfast burritos or doughnuts,” Knott said.

“It’s turned into a fellowship time for them.

Debbie Hendrix, our social services caseworker, mingles and talks to them.”

Knott said a recent addition to the office lobby is a refrigerator stocked with sandwich meat and often leftovers from The Salvation Army’s church services.

“It’s kind of like the refrigerator at your grandma’s house; you just go in and see what’s there,” she said.

Fresh fruit is available every day, too, Knott said, such as a bowl of apples.

At 10 a.m. the first Saturday of each month, the Conway corps offers a hot breakfast, everything from biscuits and gravy to vegetarian options, at the Harkrider Street location.

Community Action Program for Central Arkansas has a section of its food pantry dedicated to homeless people and those forced to stay in a hotel because of natural disasters — fires, floods or tornadoes — or abuse. The pantry is located at 707 E. Robins in Conway, and more information is available by calling 501-329-3891.

A recent social-media discussion revolved around a man who visited multiple churches in Conway saying he needed money to travel to see his daughter out of state. Sunday school classes wanted to help, but class members were concerned about the validity of the man’s story.

The United Way of Central Arkansas has a way to vet those requests through Charity Tracker.

Former executive director Maret Wicks said the computer software system purchased about a year ago helps weed out people who are trying to milk the system from those who have legitimate needs.

Churches and organizations can join, which creates a database of individuals served.

“It is the coolest thing we put in place, and we didn’t even know how cool it was going to be,” she said. “We put it in place in 2014 after the tornado. As we all know, when a tragedy like that happens, good people come out of the woodwork, but so do people who want to take advantage. We started in Mayflower, here in Conway and also in Vilonia, and started offering it to churches and agencies.

“Say I’m a bad person, and I say, ‘I need $150 to pay my light bill.’ I pay you $50, and you put me in the system, and I go to the next church and say, ‘I need $150.’” She said a church employee can look in the computer system and say, “I see First United Methodist Church has paid you $50, so you only need $100.’”

Wicks said 130 assistance-provider organizations are included in the database.

“We’re going to keep adding,” she said. To find out more, call 501-327-5087.

Hunter said of all the ways to help, sometimes the simplest can mean the most.

For a person holding a sign, “there is something life-giving” to know that someone stopped to acknowledge them. “You’re not going to solve their problems with a $5 McDonald’s card, but it’s just that encouragement somebody gets from a person pulling over and saying, ‘Hey, man, God bless. I hope things work out for you.’ Look them in the eye, wave and smile at them. That’s human contact.” n

HELP Fundraise With the click of a button, GoFundMe and Facebook fundraisers make it easy to raise and give money to causes you and your friends care about.

Mentorship Make a difference in the life of a child.

Blood Donation Donating blood is painless and doesn’t cost a dime.

Volunteer Local nonprofits meet several needs in the community and can always use extra hands. You can find a list of area nonprofits in the back of this guide.

Organ Donor Register online at donatelifearkansas.org to leave behind the gift of life.

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HAVEN HOUSE Since 1986, Haven has provided abused and neglected teenage girls with a safe place to call home. Thanks to community support, the nonprofit can meet the needs of these girls in a more modern and spacious environment.

H

aven Director of Development Marti Jones had a brief moment of doubt after the $2.5 million capital campaign kicked off in 2017 to build a house for abused and neglected teenage girls.

Then she realized something: “I’m from Conway, so I had high hopes we could do this,” she said.

The community didn’t let her down.

“It was more than I ever expected,” Jones said.

The campaign raised $2.3 million, and the 10,000-square-foot, two-story home for teenage girls ages 13-18 in foster care who have experienced trauma opened July 29, 2019.

Furnished with homey and yet modern decor, each of the 12 girls who lives there has her own bedroom, some for the first time in their lives.

Haven had operated the past 14 years out of a former single-family home built in 1910. The girls were crammed four to a room and shared two bathrooms.

“We had totally outgrown it; it just did not meet our needs anymore,” Jones said.

The plan to build a larger home was approved by Counseling Associates Inc., which is the umbrella organization for Haven.

First, a feasibility study was conducted among community leaders “to see if this was something they’d get behind before we jumped feet first,” Jones said.

It was two thumbs up after talking to movers and shakers, and Jones took the leap.

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Susan Salter led the 15-member steering committee, and Salter Construction also built the home, which was designed by Conway architect Rik Sowell.

Jones said committee members sponsored rooms, too, and introduced her to people she didn’t know so she could share the story of Haven and its need. “You think you know everybody in Conway, and then I really got to meet so many people; that was probably my favorite part, for sure,” Jones said.

“There were times I was like, ‘What have I done? Why have I started this? This is too much to take on.’ I knew God wouldn’t take me in this direction if it weren’t meant to be,” she said.

The Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Oklahoma, kicked the campaign off with a $380,000 challenge grant, and the community ramped up its efforts to match it.

Stoby’s, an iconic Conway restaurant, rebuilt after a fire and sold tickets for $100 each — with all the proceeds going to Haven — for people to be the first to eat in the rebuilt restaurant.

The new home had 54 naming opportunities; at last count, 50 had been taken. The levels for naming rights ranged from $12,000 to $150,000, with most people pledging the money over a three-year period.

“Every single thing, except for four rooms, was named by local families, businesses, companies, foundations,” Jones said.

Conway Regional Health System sponsored the exercise room; and Baptist Health sponsored a bedroom. David and Shirley Smith,

owners of Smith Family Pharmacy, gave money to name the space in the home where the girls’ medications are stored.

Businesses gave in-kind donations, which were integral to the project, too. Rogers Group in Conway donated $24,000 in rock and asphalt for the parking lot — “that was a big in-kind donation,” Jones said. Virco in Conway gave $15,000 worth of furnishings.

Some donors named rooms in “loving memory” or “in honor of” people.

Conway runner Don Potter gave proceeds from his annual Chase Race and Paws to sponsor a bedroom in memory of his late teenage son.

“Don and I can’t lock eyes without crying every time I see him,” Jones said. “At the stud signing, he wrote some of the most amazing things to his son in that room.”

Potter said foster children have a special place in his heart because he volunteered for seven years as a court-appointed special advocate to support foster children in the court system.

A small plaque identifies the room as being in memory of Chase Potter and sponsored by the race.

He said, “You don’t know how many little girls will walk through that doorway. I’m very proud to be able to let the race do that and knowing that plaque is there. It’s going to be there a long, long time after I’m gone, and that’s very exciting to me. That whole place has a special meaning.”

Potter said he and wife, Cathy, enjoy giving back to the community.

“We can’t say enough about Conway; we love its people. We love where we live and what we do,” he said.

Bunny and Carol Adcock stepped up to name the study room, and their gift has special significance, Jones said. “Carol Adcock wrote the grant that funded Haven’s very first house on Center Street in 1986,” she said.

Carol Adcock said Haven was the project she came up with as a provisional member of Junior Auxiliary of Conway, and Susan Salter was the president. The service organization bought a house, and it first served as a shelter for abused women and their children.

The home needed a name, though, and Adcock said, “I went to sleep one night, and I woke up and thought, HAVEN. Those letters stood for Help for Abuse Victims in Emergency Need.’”

The name has changed to simply Haven, and the motto is Every Child Deserves a Home.

Susan Salter said her oldest son, Nathan, is president of Salter Construction, and he did everything he could to keep costs down when building the home. She said he asked subcontractors to donate part of their work or items toward the construction of the house, “which is very, very rare.”

“He knew how much it meant to me and stepped up do a lot of things he didn’t have to do to make it perfect for the girls — and it is perfect,” Salter said.

She said the long list of donors “just tells you what a giving community and a unique community Conway is. It was not only buying the rooms, but even after that, when we started to move in, the donations. For example, Robert Anthony, who used to be the principal at Ida Burns, said ‘I love doing plants. How about I donate all the plants for the front porch, and I’ll take care of them?’

“It was so neat to me the things people would do. Conway Christian School had several projects; one time they raised and donated cash; another time they all brought new towels,” she said.

Jones recalled that one of her favorite donations was the time-consuming, hands-on work by a group of women at First Baptist Church.

“A women’s ministry asked, ‘What can we do?’ I sort of jokingly said, ‘I sure need a lot of kitchen cabinets lined with cabinet paper,’” Jones said, laughing.

“All these ladies showed up with more lining paper than I could ever imagine and lined every kitchen cabinet and every drawer in the house. Stuff like that has been amazing to me.”

Jones said the space has been everything she dreamed about, and the girls are settled in and feeling at home.

Raising $2.3 million of $2.5 million is wonderful, Jones said, but she isn’t stopping.

“We are at the point where we have to get a bank loan; obviously, we don’t want a house payment; that was my goal starting. Once everybody sees the house, they assume it’s paid for. That last little push is hard,” Jones said.

“But we’re still talking to people and hope to lower that house payment as much as possible. We’re trying to gather in everything, see what’s left to come in on pledges and what actually needs to be raised.

“Then we’re going to do a push to burn that note,” she said.

Jones is confident it will happen. She knows where she lives. n

Each of the 12 girls living there has her own bedroom, some for the first time in their lives.

From fundraisers to naming opportunities to in-kind donations, an outpouring of support from the Conway community helped Haven raise $2.3 of the $2.5 million needed for its new home.

Raising $2.3 Million by the Numbers $380,000 challenge grant from Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Oklahoma

$100 tickets to re-opening of Stoby’s, an iconic Conway restaurant

naming

54 opportunities with levels for naming rights ranging from $12,000 to $150,000

$100,000

total in-kind donations

from local businesses and community members

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Moving for a Mission

Individuals of all skill levels and abilities can participate in a number of races in Conway that benefit charitable organizations. Whether your goal is to crush your PR (personal record) or simply cross the finish line, your entry fee to these races helps support charitable causes in the area while keeping you active. Here are seven local races to put on your calendar.

JANUARY Team Loco Marathon & Half Marathon Benefits Arkansas Hospice Distance: Marathon (26.2 miles), Half Marathon (13.1 miles) facebook.com/teamlocomarathon

FEBRUARY Freezin’ for a Reason Benefits Arkansas Children’s Hospital Distance: 10K, 5K, Lap for Life freezin4areason.org

APRIL Heroes for Hope Race Benefits Children’s Advocacy Alliance Distance: 1.31K, 5K, 10K hopeandjustice.org

MAY Tour de Toad Benefits Literacy Action of Central Arkansas Distance: 50 miles, 25 miles, or family 10 mile-ride (cycling) facebook.com/tourdetoad Toad Suck Daze 10K/5K Run Benefits local nonprofits in Faulkner County Distance: 10K, 5K, Tadpole Trot toadsuckrun.com Women Can Run/Walk 5K Benefits the Children’s Tumor Foundation and the Women Run Arkansas Running Club Distance: 5K womenrunarkansas.net

NOVEMBER

(Thanksgiving Morning)

Turkey Trot Benefits United Way of Central Arkansas Distance: 5K uwcark.org/turkey-trot

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ASK THE EXPERT

The Saxion Team Whether you’re buying or selling a home, a good real estate agent will provide you with a smooth transition from start to finish.

Zach Saxion is a real estate investor and agent with The Saxion Team at RE/MAX Elite. He shared with Conway+ tips on how buyers and sellers can make informed decisions throughout the process – from choosing a real estate agent to negotiating repairs.

How would you describe the Conway and Faulkner County residential real estate market?

SAXION: The Conway and Faulkner County market is thriving! For the past few years, it has been very much a seller’s market. Generally, once a buyer has honed in on what they are looking for, they need to move quickly. However, compared to other markets with similar homes, a buyer can still find a great home at an affordable price. With Conway’s focus on attracting new businesses, developers, as well as college students who end up staying here after graduation, we are seeing a housing market that will continue to grow and mature.

This makes for an ideal place for investors.

On average we are seeing our investors make 10-17% on their money.

What is the role of a buyer’s agent in the current market?

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market conditions. The end goal is always to find a way to attain a home that meets my clients’ needs even when curveballs are thrown our way. Once the right property is narrowed down, the negotiation begins.

As a buyer, you want an agent who’s on your side and is going to fight for your best interest. A great buyer’s agent is going to guide you throughout the process, making sure every detail is covered along the way until closing day.

What is the role of a listing agent in the current market?

SAXION: The role of the listing agent in the current market involves a lot of behindthe-scenes work. The listing agent deals with all sorts of administrative tasks. Most listing agents start their days by checking the most recent MLS activity reports. This information can aid in helping a client know what’s the best price point for their home.

The listing agent is in charge of scheduling and holding open houses. In order to prepare for an open house, the listing agent must coordinate with the seller, ensuring the seller’s important belongings are secured and the home is clean and presentable. They are also responsible for printing brochures and having them ready to distribute at the open house. It is important for listing agents to set aside time to follow up with their clients.

They are there throughout the whole process – from start to finish.

What are some of the most common mistakes you see people make when buying or selling a home?

SAXION: Many people under or overvalue a property when buying and selling. It’s important to remember the principle of supply and demand when entering the real estate market. A property is only worth what people are willing to pay for it.

Once in the negotiation process, take into consideration the other party’s wants and needs. Sometimes getting a property under contract for much less than the asking price means the seller may be unwilling to do any repairs when asked. I’ve seen buyers and sellers alike lose out on great deals because of stubbornness when it comes to negotiating repairs. And lastly, but most importantly for buyers, consider what the property could be worth in the future. More than likely, someday you will be selling what you buy. Make sure you are looking at every property as an investment. Is the property in a desired area? If it’s an older home, is the area improving? Is the house in a convenient location?

What are the first steps when preparing to buy or sell a home?

SAXION: The first step when preparing to either buy or sell a home is choosing the best buyer or listing agent. It’s critical to choose someone you can trust and has your best interest at heart. Remember, choose based on the person themselves and not solely base your decision on their years of experience.

That agent can then direct you to the resources you need.

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CONWAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE Local economic factors align to spur residential construction

For decades, Conway and Faulkner County have been defined by somewhat steady population growth.

The residential building industry, however, is more dynamic. Interest rates, lending regulations, and even infrastructure all affect just how many homes are being built. In 2019, those factors and many more aligned to create a volume of new home construction not seen in more than a decade.

“We’ve just seen good, steady, consistent growth,” said Keller Johnson of Keller Johnson Construction.

“The last two years have been noticeably busier than the previous six to eight years.”

In 2019, single-family home permits outpaced 2018 by more than 40%. Beyond the trend in increased volume, homes also got slightly more affordable. New single-family home sizes shrunk by approximately 300 square feet to an average size of 2,700 square feet. That reduction in size caused the average new construction value per home to decrease by 7% to $224,000.

Johnson attributes that decrease to an increase in “starter” size homes.

“Two trends stand out this year. There are a larger number of smaller, more affordable homes currently

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being built in Conway. Also, from a design standpoint, we’re seeing a move toward more craftsman-style homes and floorplans.”

Multifamily permits were also up by 100% over 2018, the most high profile being Fountaine Bleau at Central Landing. The luxury project has 339 units planned on an 18-acre site within the Central Landing development.

“We feel like we’re bringing something completely new to the Conway housing market,” said Burkhalter Technologies CEO and developer John Burkhalter.

“There are currently no multifamily options that offer anything close to our amenity suite or quality of construction – whether it’s a corporate option for executives or a someone who wants to downsize without making sacrifices.”

Both Johnson and Burkhalter were optimistic about continued growth in Conway.

“I think people will continue to seek out Conway as a place to live and work,” Johnson said. “The community has a lot to offer. And we’ve all benefited from good leadership within the private sector and city government. People see that and respond to it.”

ASK THE EXPERT

Melvin's Painting Five Ways to Save Money on Painting Your Home Melvin Gonzalez, owner of Melvin’s Painting, says there are a number of ways homeowners can save money when planning an interior or exterior paint job. Knowing what to ask for or offer is the key to getting your best deal.

1. Limit the number of colors used.

Ideally use one color for multiple rooms.

2. Get out of the way.

A willingness to make the home unoccupied or vacant during painting can cut costs from 15%-20%.

3. Paint walls only.

Ceilings and cabinets benefit from paint, but walls offer the biggest “bang for your buck.”

4. Combine interior and exterior paint jobs.

Doing both at the same time means less travel and setup for the crew.

It will save time and money.

5. Paint the interior of your home during the winter months.

Because exterior jobs aren’t an option, many painters price more competitively during cold-weather months.

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CONWAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

TRANSPORTATION Transforming Donaghey Avenue – The “Backbone” of Conway As UCA and Conway Regional undertake ambitious construction projects to reinvent their campuses, the City of Conway is beginning an equally transformative construction project.

One and one-half miles of Donaghey Avenue will be rebuilt to better accommodate traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians. The project includes replacing traffic signals with roundabouts at Prince Street, College Avenue, and Caldwell Avenue. There also will be protected bike lanes (cycle track), new sidewalks, and increased landscaping.

Phase 1 of the project (Dave Ward Drive to College Avenue) will take place throughout 2020 and should be completed in the spring of 2021.

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YOUR AD HERE Call the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce to reserve your spot in the 2021 guide.

501-327-7788

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NEW TO CONWAY?

These tips can help your home search East to West = Old to New If you start on Locust Street at the edge of town and head west, as a rule, the homes get newer.

Old Conway is bound by Locust Street on the east and Donaghey Avenue on the west.

It includes a variety of architectural styles representing the 1910s to the mid-century. It’s adjacent to downtown and close to all three colleges. It’s also conveniently close to all of the shopping and dining options along Interstate 40.

Midtown is approximately bound by Donaghey Avenue on the east and Country Club on the west. The Bainbridge, Oak Forest, Tucker Creek, Parkwood, and Smoking Oaks subdivisions all offer traditional home styles from the 1970s and 80s. Other subdivisions like Windcrest, Pippinpost, Scherman Heights, and Adamsbrooke are mingled in and were developed in the 1990s. The commercial development along Prince Street and Salem Road offers instant access to everyday conveniences.

West Conway has dozens of subdivisions with homes ranging in price from the mid-100s to over one million dollars. Subdivisions like Centennial Valley, Sunderlin Park, Westin Park, St. John’s, Chapel Creek, and many more are all in west Conway. West Conway is the most purely residential part of town, but there are some commercial options along Hogan Road.

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Look south for a convenient commute Conway’s fifth interstate exit opened just south of the city in 2017, giving residents who travel back and forth into Little Rock an easier commute. The Cresthaven, Richland Hills, Southwind, Catherine Place, and other subdivisions south of Dave Ward Drive can now take advantage of a three-mile “head start” on their morning drive.

Don’t shop elementary schools If you’ve got school-aged children, where they go to school is a big deal. But in Conway, it’s almost impossible to pick an elementary school you won’t be happy with. Over the past decade, six out of our nine elementary schools have spent time at the top of our academic rankings. Benchmark exams, stateassigned letter grades, Blue Ribbon achievement awards – the recognition has been spread around.

Changing district lines and overall district health make picking the “best” elementary school a fool’s errand. Pick the house you love and know there is a great school just around the corner.

These tips hopefully will let you start orienting yourself to the Conway house hunt. There are so many other great places to live beyond what’s mentioned here. Go to ConwayChamber.org and find a real estate agent to help you make a home in Conway.

Conway is surrounded by growing communities in Faulkner, Conway, and Pulaski counties.

Greenbrier, Maumelle, Mayflower, Morrilton, and Vilonia are just a short drive from Conway and offer great schools and affordable living.

GREENBRIER Population: 5,271 County: Faulkner Median Home Value: $132,100 VILONIA Population: 4,390 County: Faulkner Median Home Value: $149,500 MAYFLOWER Population: 2,218 County: Faulkner Median Home Value: $124,700 MAUMELLE Population: 17,967 County: Pulaski Median Home Value: $220,600 MORRILTON Population: 6,663 County: Conway Median Home Value: $94,300

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles

defining the

NORTH METRO

As Conway has added people and amenities over the last 25 years, its regional influence has also grown. The city is the epicenter for labor, retail, and health care for the “North Metro,� a trade area encompassing the cities of Beebe, Cabot, Searcy, Heber Springs, Russellville, and Maumelle.

MAUMELLE Population: 17,967 County: Pulaski Distance from Conway: 20 miles south

CABOT Population: 25,732 County: Lonoke Distance from Conway: 30 miles east

BEEBE Population: 7,992 County: White Distance from Conway: 36 miles east

HEBER SPRINGS Population: 7,079 County: Cleburne Distance from Conway: 40 miles north

RUSSELLVILLE Population: 29,147 County: Pope Distance from Conway: 45 miles west

SEARCY Population: 23,819 County: White Distance from Conway: 50 miles east

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles

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Conway Shopping Districts Conway has four distinct shopping districts, each of which is close to Interstate 40.

If you have more than one stop in mind, another district is only moments away.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s in store when you shop Conway.

EXIT 127 DOWNTOWN From antique stores selling treasures from days gone by to high-fashion boutiques offering the latest trends, Conway’s downtown shopping scene is a perfect mix of old and new. Approximately 40 retail businesses and restaurants call downtown Conway home.

EXIT 129 LEWIS CROSSING Conway’s newest shopping destination is Lewis Crossing. Located just off Dave Ward Drive east of Interstate 40, Lewis Crossing offers more than a dozen nationally known restaurants and stores, including Sam’s Club, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Ulta Beauty, Michaels, On The Border, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Petco.

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MAP KEY

Downtown Exit 127 Conway Towne Centre Exit 125

Lewis Crossing Exit 129 Conway Commons Exit 127

EXIT 125 CONWAY TOWNE CENTRE The Conway Towne Centre is an 180,000-square-foot shopping center located off U.S. Highway 65. Anchored by a Cinemark movie theatre, Urban Air Trampoline Park, JCPenney, and Office Depot, the Conway Towne Centre is also home to several other restaurants and retail stores.

EXIT 127 CONWAY COMMONS Located off East Oak Street, Conway Commons is a regional shopping hub featuring 43 stores spanning more than 654,000 square feet, including big name brands such as T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods, Belk, Target, Old Navy, Kohl’s, and Best Buy.

Explore the Great

oUTDOORs With its location in the heart of The Natural State, Conway is a great place for an outdoor adventure. Possibilities for fishing, boating, swimming, or other water sports are just a short drive away, as are hiking trails, picnic areas, and camping grounds.

Fairfield Bay

Greers Ferry Lake

Drive Time: 45 minutes

Drive Time: 1 hour 8 minutes

Nestled on Greers Ferry Lake, this community offers swimming, fishing, golf, hiking, tennis, and more. Annual events attract visitors year-round.

40,000-acre lake with camping sites, cliff diving, and public beaches.

Buffalo River Drive Time: 2 hours 16 minutes

America’s first “National River.”

500-foot cliffs line this 150-mile waterway that sees tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Pinnacle Mountain State Park Drive Time: 40 minutes

Minutes from Little Rock. Scenic hikes with sweeping views of central Arkansas.

Woolly Hollow State Park Drive Time: 36 minutes

Only 12 miles north of Conway, this park has a 40-acre lake, campsites, and miles of hiking and mountain bike trails.

Petit Jean Mountain State Park Drive Time: 53 minutes

One of Arkansas’s premier state parks. Tons of trails, waterfalls, camping, and lodging options.

Cadron Settlement Park Drive Time: 19 minutes

Scenic overlook of the Arkansas River Valley. Mountain bike trails, pavilions, and historic markers minutes from campus.

Little Red River Drive Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Home to world-record brown trout, full-service resorts, and easily accessible fishing.

Mount Magazine State Park Drive Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

The highest point in Arkansas and one of the highest in the central United States. Resort-quality lodge, hiking trails, and climbing.

Hiking

Climbing

Mountain Biking

Fishing

Sightseeing

Swimming

Boating

Canoeing

Christmas Open House This Sunday afternoon event kicks off the holiday shopping season. Enjoy special deals and discounts from downtown merchants.

Moonlight Madness Take advantage of extended hours at your favorite downtown stores during the semiannual Moonlight Madness shopping event.

Illuminate: A Downtown Christmas Celebrate the holiday season in downtown Conway. The entire family can enjoy amusement and horse-and-carriage rides around downtown Conway, home to the 54-foot-tall Christmas tree.

Dazzle Daze Dazzle Daze is the annual fundraiser for the Conway Regional Women’s Council. This three-day shopping extravaganza features more than 85 merchants from around the country.

Conway Christmas Parade Conway’s annual Christmas Parade benefits the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Faulkner County.

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Toad Suck Daze A free-admission, familyfriendly festival, Toad Suck Daze takes place on the streets of downtown Conway during the first weekend of May. Farmers Markets From May to October, get a variety of fresh produce, baked goods, and handmade crafts at one of Conway’s two outdoor farmers markets.

You don’t have to live in a big city to experience and appreciate the arts and celebrate your community’s culture. With three colleges, a symphony, thriving arts organizations, and a vibrant downtown, there’s always something going on in Conway.

Experience our city’s culture with these special events throughout the year.

Visit ConwayArkansas.org/events for updates.

YEAR ROUND

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre The state’s only professional Shakespeare company produces a selection of the Bard’s plays along with other productions during its annual summer festival.

Moonlight Madness Take advantage of extended hours at your favorite downtown stores during the semiannual Moonlight Madness shopping event.

EcoFest and ArtsFest Organized by Conway Alliance for the Arts, ArtsFest is a citywide celebration of the arts. The event is held in conjunction with EcoFest, an annual festival dedicated to making incremental changes in Conway and central Arkansas through conservation, sustainability, and innovation.

Faulkner County Fair & Parade A parade through downtown Conway kicks off the festivities. During the weeklong fair, exhibits featuring livestock, food, crafts, art, and photos will be on display, along with other fair favorites.

Taste of Conway Taste of Conway is part of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo.

Local restaurants offer up a wide variety of samples from their menus.

Tucker Creek Trick-or-Treat Organized by the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, this community-wide event takes place on Halloween night and features family-friendly activities, samples of food from area restaurants, a costume contest for kids and pets, and of course, candy.

ComiConway This literacy-based annual event hosted by the Faulkner County Library is Arkansas’s premier comic, sci-fi, anime, and gaming convention.

Turkey Trot Take part in fitness before your Thanksgiving feast while benefiting United Way of Central Arkansas. Complete with food and a costume contest, this 5K run and walk is fun for the entire family.

Conway Symphony Orchestra Beginning with a free outdoor community concert in September, CSO performs a full season of six concerts.

UCA Public Appearances From the fall until the spring, enjoy a variety of performing arts programming in UCA’s Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall.

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+ the

guide

CONWAY

GUIDE

How many elementary schools are in Conway?

How can I volunteer or donate to nonprofits in the area? Where can I view and purchase works of art from local artists?

In the following pages, you can find answers to these questions and more in the Conway+ Guide. All locations are in Conway unless otherwise noted.

Baptist Health–Conway

65,000-square-foot mental health treatment center provides acute inpatient care in a secure setting for adults and adolescents.

As the largest, not-for-profit health care organization in the state, Baptist Health has delivered quality health care to Arkansans for more than 90 years. Its ninth and newest hospital location, Baptist Health–Conway, is a faith-based, state-of-the-art facility offering an integrated healing environment for the care and comfort of patients and families.

Conway Behavioral Health is part of the Acadia network, a provider of inpatient behavioral health care services. Acadia operates a network of 593 behavioral health care facilities with approximately 18,100 beds in 40 states, the United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico. Acadia provides behavioral health and addiction services to its patients in a variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, specialty treatment facilities, residential treatment centers, and outpatient clinics.

Health Care

1555 Exchange Avenue 501-585-2000 baptisthealthconway.com

Located on the west side of Interstate 40, the 260,000-squarefoot facility features 111 beds and eight operating rooms.

Baptist Health–Conway offers a full spectrum of comprehensive services, including inpatient and outpatient surgical care, orthopedic care, heart services, women’s health, and MRI and CAT scan services.

Conway Regional Health System

2302 College Avenue 800-245-3314 conwayregional.org

Since it opened in Conway in September 2016, Baptist Health has worked with various educational institutions and nonprofits to promote health and wellness in Faulkner County and the surrounding communities.

Conway Regional Health System provides inpatient and outpatient health care services to Faulkner County and the surrounding area. As a not-for-profit health system, Conway Regional is committed to reinvesting in health care services that benefit the communities it serves.

Conway Behavioral Health Hospital

The health system works with numerous philanthropic organizations throughout the community to provide programs

2255 Strugis Road 866-868-2716 conwaybh.com

Conway Behavioral Health Hospital treats adults and adolescents with a variety of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and co-occurring addiction. The 80-bed,

that benefit people of all ages and income levels. Conway Regional also offers support programs to help families and patients through difficult situations, such as cancer treatment, diabetes management, and the tragic loss of an infant.

In addition to its 150-bed, acute care medical center, Conway Regional Health System features an all-digital outpatient imaging center, an outpatient surgery center, a freestanding rehabilitation hospital, several primary care clinics, and one of the largest hospital-owned fitness centers in the nation.

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PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

Conway Junior High (8th–9th) 1815 Prince Street 501-450-4860 cjhs.conwayschools.org

Conway Public Schools 2220 Prince Street 501-450-4800 ConwaySchools.org @ConwaySchools

Education

District Overview: Founded: 1878 Mascot: Wampus Cat School Colors: Blue & White Number of Schools: 16 Pre-K through 12th Enrollment: 10,117

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Conway Public Schools consists of a preschool, nine elementary schools, four middle schools, one junior high school, one high school, and a career center. The district has established a reputation for high performance. Over the last decade, six out of nine elementary schools have spent time at the top of academic rankings – from benchmark exams and stateassigned letter grades to National Blue Ribbon achievement awards.

Conway High School Marguerite Vann

2845 Carl Stuart Road 501-450-4870 mves.conwayschools.org

Theodore Jones

1800 Freyaldenhoven Lane 501-450-6645 tjes.conwayschools.org

Woodrow Cummins

1400 Padgett Road 501-513-4417 wces.conwayschools.org

Middle Schools (5th–7th)

Bob and Betty Courtway

Preschool

1200 Bob Courtway Drive 501-450-4832 bc.conwayschools.org

1629 South Boulevard 501-450-6693 sallieconepreschool.weebly.com

Carl Stuart

Sallie Cone Preschool Center

Elementary Schools (K–4th)

Carolyn Lewis

1805 Old Military Road 501-450-4835 cles.conwayschools.org

Ellen Smith

1601 South Donaghey Avenue 501-450-4815 eses.conwayschools.org

Preston and Florence Mattison 2001 Florence Mattison Drive 501-450-4820 fmes.conwayschools.org

Ida Burns

1201 Donaghey Avenue 501-450-4825 ibes.conwayschools.org

Jim Stone

4255 College Avenue 501-450-4808 jses.conwayschools.org

Julia Lee Moore

1301 Country Club Road 501-450-4830 jlmes.conwayschools.org

2745 Carl Stuart Road 501-329-2782 cs.conwayschools.org

Raymond and Phyllis Simon 1601 East Siebenmorgan 501-513-6120 si.conwayschools.org

Ruth Doyle

800 Padgett Road 501-450-6675 rdi.conwayschools.org

(10th–12th) 2300 Prince Street 501-450-4880 chs.conwayschools.org

Conway Area Career Center 2300 Prince Street 501-450-4888 cacc.conwayschools.org

The Conway Area Career Center fosters learning through career and technical education. Programs of study include architectural drafting and design, cosmetology, culinary arts, photography, and welding, among others. The Career Center is located on the Conway High School campus but serves students attending high schools throughout Faulkner, Van Buren, Cleburne, Perry, and White counties.

PRIVATE & PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS St. Joseph Catholic School

502 Front Street 501-329-5741 StJosephConway.org @SJSBulldogs

District Overview: Founded: 1879 Mascot: Bulldog School Colors: Purple & Gold Grades: Pre-K through 12th grade Pre-K through 12th Enrollment: 447 St. Joseph School has provided quality, Catholic education to students in Conway since 1879. Its ultimate goal is to integrate faith and learning in order to develop the whole person: soul, mind, and body. St. Joseph Catholic School is accredited by the Arkansas Nonpublic School Accrediting Association and is under the direction of the Diocese of Little Rock.

Conway Christian School 500 East German Lane 501-336-9067 ConwayChristianSchool.org @ConwayChristian

District Overview: Founded: 1992 Mascot: Eagles School Colors: Blue, White & Red Grades: Pre-K through 12th grade Pre-K through 12th Enrollment: 509 Conway Christian School, established in 1992, provides a comprehensive educational program for students. The interdenominational, college preparatory school strives to provide an environment where students can grow spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

Conway Christian School is accredited by the Arkansas Nonpublic School Accrediting Association and the Association of Christian Schools International.

HIGHER EDUCATION Conway is the proud home of three institutions of higher learning, earning the distinction as the “City of Colleges.” Central Baptist College, Hendrix College, and the University of Central Arkansas consistently produce graduates who stay in the area and enter the workforce. This is part of the reason Conway surpasses the state and national averages when it comes to the educational attainment rate – more than one-third of Conway’s adults age 25 or older have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Central Baptist College

Central Baptist College is a four-year, private, liberal arts college owned and operated by the Baptist Missionary Association of Arkansas.

1501 College Avenue 501-329-6872 CBC.edu @CentBaptCollege Founded: 1952 (predecessor Central College founded in 1893) Mascot: Mustang School Colors: Blue & Gray Enrollment: 678 Degrees Offered: 40 bachelor’s degrees, 5 associate degrees, 23 minors, 25 pre-professional programs

Hendrix College

Hendrix College is a four-year, private college of liberal arts affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

1600 Washington Avenue 501-329-6811 Hendrix.edu @HendrixCollege Founded: 1876 (moved to Conway in 1890) Mascot: Warrior School Colors: Orange & Black Enrollment: 1,120 Degrees Offered: 32 undergraduate majors, 34 minors, 15 preprofessional programs

University of Central Arkansas University of Central Arkansas is a four-year, state-run institution granting bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.

201 Donaghey Avenue 501-450-5000 UCA.edu @UCABears Founded: 1907 Mascot: Bear School Colors: Purple and Gray Enrollment: 10,870 Degrees Offered: 89 undergraduate degrees, 34 master’s degrees, 11 post-master’s certificates, 11 graduate certificates, 7 doctoral degrees, 3 associate degrees, 2 certificates of proficiency, 2 technical certificates, 2 specialist programs

Outreach & Nonprofits

United Way of Central Arkansas

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1110 W. Oak Street 501-327-5087 uwcark.org

Center for Exceptional Children

1004 B. Street (Perryville) 501-889-1295 centerforexceptionalchildren.org

United Way of Central Arkansas improves and enhances the lives of people in the communities it serves. Through the generosity and work of advocates, volunteers, and donors, United Way has impacted more than 50,000 lives. It funds more than 30 programs in Faulkner, Perry, and Van Buren counties – many of which are listed in this directory – that focus on health, education, and financial stability.

Child Care Aware of Northcentral Arkansas

In addition to funding local agencies, United Way of Central Arkansas provides direct services that further its commitment to health, education, and financial stability. These community initiatives include Imagination Library, Charity Tracker, Stuff the Bus, VITA Free Tax Prep, and a financial opportunity center.

Choosing to Excel

Shelters & Housing Assistance Bethlehem House

1115 Parkway Avenue 501-329-4862 bethlehemhouse.net

Habitat for Humanity of Faulkner County

825 Parkway Avenue, Suite A 501-513-3244 habitatfaulknerco.wordpress.com

Haven

501-327-1701 havenconway.org

The Harbor Home for Women 501-499-8622 theharborhome.com

Women’s Shelter of Central Arkansas

501-329-7405 conwaywomensshelter.com

Programs for Children & Youth Boys & Girls Club of Faulkner County 1405 Robins Street 501-329-8849 bgcfaulkner.org

4255 College Avenue 501-450-4808 jses.conwayschools.org

Children’s Advocacy Alliance of North Central Arkansas 574 Locust Street 501-328-3347 hopeandjustice.org

1200 Bob Courtway Drive 501-730-0205 choosingtoexcel.org

Community Connections

Deliver Hope / Deliver Hope Work Crew / Glenhaven Ministries 1403 Robinson Avenue 501-358-6306 deliver-hope.org

Faulkner County Juvenile Court

501 South German Lane 501-328-5922 faulknercounty.org

KLIFE of Conway 1800 Hillman Street 501-329-4929 conway.klife.com

Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots 501-625-9407 toysfortots.org

Shine Xpress

2740 College Avenue 501-733-1627 communityconnectionsar.org

2415 Donaghey Avenue 501-327-7742

Community Service Inc.

thecallinarkansas.org

818 North Creek Drive 501-327-9788 csiyouth.com

Conway Cradle Care 2400 Prince Street 501-730-0017 cradlecare.org

Conway Juniors Volleyball Club

conwayjuniors.com

The CALL

Programs for Seniors Alzheimer’s Arkansas

201 Markham Center Drive (Little Rock) 501-224-0021 alzark.org

Faulkner County Council on Aging (Conway Senior Wellness & Activity Center) 705 East Siebenmorgen Road 501-327-2895 fcseniors.com

Perry County Senior Adult Center

107 N. Magnolia Street (Perryville) 501-354-8044 mhrcinc.org

Van Buren County Aging Program

311 Yellowjacket Lane, Suite 2 (Clinton) 501-745-2244

White River Area Agency on Aging

258 Joe Bowling Road #8 (Clinton) 800-382-3205 wraaa.comHealth & Wellness

Health & Wellness American Cancer Society cancer.org

Arkansas Hospice 1105 Deer Street 501-328-5400 arkansashospice.org

Conway Regional Interfaith Dental Clinic 830 North Creek Drive 501-932-0559

Counseling Associates 350 Salem Road, Suite #9 501-336-8300 caiinc.org

Life Choices Inc.

609 Locust Street, 2nd Floor 501-329-5944 lifechoicesinc.org

Hope and Compassion Ministries 501-514-1625 hopeandcompassion.org

Renewal Ranch

501-269-4306 therenewalranch.org

Education AETN

350 S. Donaghey 501-682-2386 aetn.org

Arkansas Preschool Plus 105 Center Street 501-472-6395 arpreschoolplus.org

Conway Area Leadership Institute

900 Oak Street 501-327-7788 conwayarkansas.org/leadership

Conway EcoFest

422 Conway Boulevard 501-328-3915 conwayecofest.com

Faulkner County Historical Society 501-329-8584 faulknerhistory.org

Faulkner County Museum Locust Street 501-329-5918 faulknercountymuseum.org

Lifeword Media Ministries 611 Locust Street 501-329-6891 lifeword.org

Literacy Action of Central Arkansas 1900 Tyler Street 501-372-7323 literacyactionar.org

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Faulkner County 501-420-4638 aspsf.org

St. Joseph School Endowment & Charitable Trust

Physical & Developmental Disabilities

Conway Pride

Disabled American Veterans–John H. Dunn Chapter #10

Junior Auxiliary of Conway

dav.org

501-472-4068 jaconway.org

Independent Living Services

Ozark Conference Center

1605 Robinson Avenue 501-269-3340

615 East Robins Street 501-327-5234 indliving.org

Milestones Services Inc.

102 Ozark Mountain Road (Solgohachia) 501-254-3959 ozarkconferencecenter.org

1700 South Boulevard 501-329-8102 milestonesconway.org

Student Mobilization

Community Outreach

Poverty and Hunger Alleviation

888-467-8866 stumo.org

Arkansas Community Foundation of Faulkner County

Conway Ministry Center

1315 College Avenue 501-932-0390 arcf.org

766 Harkrider Street 501-358-6098 conwayministrycenter.org

Center for Healing Hearts & Spirits

St. Joseph Flea Market

2416 South Chester (Little Rock) 501-372-3800 hhscenter.org

Community Action Program for Central Arkansas 707 Robins Street, Suite 118 501-329-0977 capcainc.org

Conway Morning Optimist Club 501-679-3601

1313 College Avenue 501-513-6899 stjosephconway.org

The Salvation Army Family Store

2125 Harkrider, Suite 12 501-329-1712 salvationarmyaok.org/conway

Water for Christ

240 Skyline Drive #204 501-329-1400 waterforchrist.com

1315 College Avenue 501-329-1818 sjse.org

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Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre 501-852-0702 arkshakes.com

Conway Symphony Orchestra 501-269-1066 conwaysymphony.org

Faulkner County Fair & Livestock Association faulknercountyfair.net

Toad Suck Daze Committee 900 Oak Street 501-327-7788 toadsuck.org

Van Buren County Fair 501-745-8566

Economic Opportunity Arkansas Research Alliance 1125 Oak Street, Suite 301 501-450-7818 aralliance.org

Arkansas World Trade Center arwtc.org

Central Arkansas Planning and Development District capdd.org

Conway Downtown Partnership 900 Oak Street 501-327-7788 downtownconway.org

Public Service Faulkner County Republican Committee faulknergop.org

Faulkner Forward PAC faulknerforward.com

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Houses of Worship

Arts & Culture

Antioch Baptist Church

Second Baptist Church

Central Baptist Church

St. Joseph Catholic Church

City Church

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

Conway Cowboy Church

The Summit Church

150 Amity Road 501-329-5153 antiochconway.com

3333 Dave Ward Drive 501-329-9283 conwaycentralchurch.org

766 Harkrider Street 501-313-0802 citychurch.tv

501-327-4033

Conway’s First Baptist Church

1719 Robinson Avenue 501-329-5648 conwayfbc.com

Conway First Church of the Nazarene 1501 Scott Street 501-327-7676 conwaynazarene.com

Fellowship Bible Church 1051 Hogan Lane 501-327-3444 fellowshipconway.org

First United Methodist Church 1610 Prince Street 501-329-3801 conwayfumc.org

Grace United Methodist Church 1075 Hogan Lane 501-329-6056 graceconway.org

New Hope Baptist Church 1232 Watkins Street 501-358-5054 newhopefamily.org

New Life Church

633 South Country Club Road 501-328-5433 newlifechurch.tv

OneChurch

1073 Front Street onechurchconway.com

Peace Lutheran Church

800 South Donaghey Avenue 501-329-3854 peaceconway.org

2600 Dave Ward Drive 501-327-6565 2bc.tv

1115 College Avenue 501-327-6568 sjparish.org

925 Mitchell Street 501-329-8174 stpetersconway.org

1905 Dave Ward Drive 501-205-2920 thesummitchurch.org

True Holiness Saints Center 198 Highway 286 East 501-327-8770 trueholiness.net

Woodland Heights Baptist Church 4215 Prince Street 501-329-0001 whbcconway.org

Utilities & Public Services

Conway Corporation 650 Locust Street 501-450-6000 conwaycorp.com

Conway Corp operates the cityowned utility system and provides electric, water, wastewater, video, internet, voice and security services for the Conway community.

City of Conway Department of Sanitation 4550 Highway 64 West 501-450-6155 conwaysanitation.org

The City of Conway’s Department of Sanitation provides trash pickup, yard-waste collection, and free recycling service to Conway homes and businesses

CenterPoint Energy 817 North Creek Drive 800-992-7552 centerpointenergy.com

CenterPoint Energy provides natural gas services to residential and business customers in Conway.

Entergy Arkansas

112 Oak Street 800-368-37492 entergy-arkansas.com Entergy Arkansas provides electricity to residences outside of Conway’s city limits.

Arkansas 811

811 or 800-482-8998 arkonecall.com Arkansas 811 is the statewide “call before you dig” center. It allows excavators of all types to notify multiple utilities of their intent to excavate with a single phone call or online submission.

Expand your knowledge.

Red Curtain Theatre 913 Oak Street 501-499-9776 redcurtaintheatre.com

Arts & Culture

Faulkner County Library

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1900 West Tyler Street 501-327-7482 fcl.org

Red Curtain Theatre offers performance opportunities through community theatre, workshops, and private instruction, including acting coaching, vocal coaching, and piano lessons.

In addition to its wide range of books, research materials, electronic media, and other collections, Faulkner County Library hosts a variety of programs for children and adults. Panel discussions; musical programs; book discussions; story time; crafts; and classes in sign language, yoga, and knitting are just some of the regular programs you’ll find on the library’s calendar.

Explore the history of The Natural State.

Faulkner County Museum 801 Locust Street 501-329-5918 faulknercountymuseum.org

Faulkner County Museum displays the history of the area from prehistory to the present. Exhibits on sports memorabilia, antique tools, Native Americans, a model railroad, agriculture, and politics can be found in one of two historic buildings on the museum grounds.

Appreciate art.

Baum Gallery

201 Donaghey Avenue 501-450-5793 uca.edu/art/baum Baum Gallery is an educational art museum located in the west wing of McCastlain Hall at the University of Central Arkansas. The gallery, which is open to the public, develops free exhibitions and events that invite interaction and encourage dialogue about visual art and relevant topics.

Reynolds Performance Hall – UCA Public Appearances

201 Donaghey Avenue 501-450-3265 uca.edu/publicappearances

See live performances.

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre 501-428-4165 arkshakes.com

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, the state’s only professional Shakespeare company, brings to Conway professional performers from around the country and provides opportunities for local performers as well. AST produces a selection of the Bard’s plays, along with other productions, during its annual summer festival.

The company operates under the aegis of the University of Central Arkansas Foundation.

Community Arts Association of Conway – Lantern Theatre thelanterntheatre.com

Community Arts Association of Conway has provided the Conway area with quality theatrical experiences since the 1970s. The volunteer-run, live theatre group produces a wide range of shows at the Lantern Theatre, which is housed in the Parish Hall at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

UCA Public Appearances is an annual series under the auspices of the University of Central Arkansas College of Fine Arts and Communication.

The organization develops and presents performing arts programming to Conway and the central Arkansas community. Performances take place in the 1,200-seat Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall. Since it opened in 2000, Reynolds Performance Hall has hosted numerous celebrities as well as presented national and international tours.

Hendrix College Special Events

1600 Washington Avenue 501-329-6811 hendrix.edu/events Hendrix College hosts a variety of artists and performances throughout the year through a program called “Hendrix Special Events: Programs in the Fine and Performing Arts.”

The performances are free to the campus community and the public. The many student productions, student recitals, and faculty recitals at Hendrix are also open to the public.

Listen to the music.

Conway Symphony Orchestra 501-269-1066 conwaysymphony.org

Conway Symphony Orchestra performs a full season of six concerts, including a free outdoor community concert, a holiday performance, and a children’s concert.

The CSO also offers a classroom program to local elementary and intermediate schools and has many ensemble performances throughout the year.

Palmer Music Company 501-327-8129 palmermusic.co

Palmer Music Company is a full-service musical resource for central Arkansas, offering private music lessons, quality instrument sales, and instrument repair. Owner Preston Palmer and student musicians from Palmer Music Company are available to perform at special events in the community.

Unleash your creativity in Conway.

Whether you’re interested in honing your or your child’s talent or simply want to dabble in a new hobby, you can find several opportunities for lessons in the performing and visual arts.

Conway Institute of Music 945 Carson Cove, Suite 103 501-450-2931 conwayinstituteofmusic.com

Red Curtain Theatre 913 Oak Street 501-499-9776 redcurtaintheatre.com

Stage Door Dance Arts 575 Club Lane, Suite 102 501-336-7306 stagedoordancearts.com

Sonshine Academy

2415 Donaghey Avenue 501-327-7742 sonshineacademy.com

Take the Lead Academy 255 East German Lane 501-329-2233 taketheleadacademy.com

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City of Conway Parks | conwayparks.com

Basketball

Baseball/ Softball

Pavilion/ Picnic Area

Playground

Airport Park 425 6th Street

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Bainbridge Park 80 Kensington Drive

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Facilities

Beaverfork Lake Park 20 Kinley Drive

Restrooms

Tennis/ Racquetball

Volleyball

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Cadron Settlement Park 6200 Highway 319

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Conway Expo Center & Fairgrounds 2505 East Oak Street

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Centennial Soccer Park 5200 John W. Allison Road

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Walking/ Jogging/ Biking

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Curtis Walker Park 1700 Museum Road

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Don Owen Sports Complex (Indoor) 10 Lower Ridge Road

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Fifth Avenue Park 600 5th Avenue

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Gatlin Park 2325 Tyler Street

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Laurel Park Robinson Avenue & Prince Street

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McGee Center (Indoor) 3800 College Avenue

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Pine Street Park 690 Pine Street

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Pompe Park 2550 Prince Street

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Tucker Creek Walking/ Bike Trail 275 Salem Road

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Simon Park 805 Front Street

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Conway Station Park 1501 Robins Street

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Water Sports/ Splash Pads

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City of Colleges Park 1025 East Siebenmoregen Road

Soccer/ Football

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