Ð԰ɵ¼º½

Skip to main contentSkip to main navigationSkip to footer content

News Stories

Ð԰ɵ¼º½ News

Aerial photo of a snow-covered Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Campus Green with the Bell Tower, Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, Math Science Building, and Breedlove Building in the background.
AlumniArts and SciencesBusiness and IndustryCenter for Economic DevelopmentFeaturedHealth Education and Human SciencesIntrepid Ambition

2025: An 'Ambitious' Year for Ð԰ɵ¼º½

View some of the top stories and events at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith from 2025.

December 08, 2025
Two Ð԰ɵ¼º½ students from left to right, Abdur-Rehman Sajjad and Tyler Teague, accept their check for $500 after coming in second place during the thrid Lion's Lair Business Plan Competition. The students are joined by Ð԰ɵ¼º½ staff members, Ty Barrett and Kendall Ross.
Arts and SciencesBusiness and IndustryCenter for Economic DevelopmentHealth Education and Human SciencesNewsStudents

‘Shark Tank’ Inspired Competition Returns to Ð԰ɵ¼º½

The Lion's Lair Business Plan Competition returned to the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith for its third year. The 'Shark Tank' inspired competition provided six student-led teams with the opportunity to create and pitch a new business idea, marketing...

November 17, 2025
Audience members applaud during the second Center for Economic Development Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards at the Bakery District
Center for Economic DevelopmentCommunityFeaturedNews

Excellence in Family and Small Business Award Winners Recognized

The second Center for Economic Development Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards recognized ten businesses and individuals from across the region.

October 31, 2025
Faculty of the Ð԰ɵ¼º½ college of business and industry tour a lab with new advanced manufacturing engineering equipment
Business and IndustryCenter for Economic DevelopmentFeaturedIntrepid Ambition

Advanced Manufacturing Equipment Arrives at Ð԰ɵ¼º½

Ð԰ɵ¼º½ has installed new state-of-the-art robotics and automation equipment in its Advanced Manufacturing Lab, made possible through more than $5.7 Million in HIRED grant funds awarded by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education and the Arkansas Department...

October 27, 2025
Portrait of of Joel Manby
Center for Economic DevelopmentEventsFeatured

Manby Tabbed as Keynote for CED Awards

Joel Manby, who has more than 25 years of experience as a CEO for SeaWorld, Herschend Enterprises, and SAAB North America, will keynote the Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards on Oct. 20.

October 09, 2025
Evening photo of the Bakery District in downtown Fort Smith
Arts and SciencesCenter for Economic DevelopmentCommunityEventsFeatured

Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Launches Monthly Research Den Programming

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith to launch Research Den, a monthly series to share research conducted by students and faculty through casual conversation.

August 21, 2025
Ty Barrett, director for the ASBTDC regional office stands outside the new Van Buren Chamber of Commerce building
Center for Economic DevelopmentCommunityFeaturedNews

Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Center for Economic Development's ASBTDC Opens in Van Buren

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Center for Economic Development's Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center opened its second office location in Van Buren.

August 13, 2025
Portrait of emily treadaway
Center for Economic DevelopmentCommunityNews

Treadaway Named Center for Nonprofits Director

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith announces Emily Treadaway as the new Director of the Center for Nonprofits (CNP), a brand-new division of the university’s Center for Economic Development located at the Bakery District in downtown Fort...

July 23, 2025
The Bakery District
Center for Economic DevelopmentFeaturedIntrepid AmbitionNews

$7.5 million gift launches Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Center for Nonprofits

Ð԰ɵ¼º½ announced a transformational $7.5 million gift on Wednesday, April 2, which will endow a comprehensive Center for Nonprofits (CNP) at the university. The anonymous gift, one of the largest in Ð԰ɵ¼º½ history, was unveiled during the public kickoff...

April 02, 2025
Nighttime at the Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Center for Economic Development at the Bakery District
Center for Economic DevelopmentCommunityIntrepid Ambition

Empowering Our Economy

The Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Center for Economic Development is a pillar of our community. By equipping the workforce, empowering entrepreneurs, and supporting the region’s most vital industries, the CED is building more than economic momentum—it’s building a...

March 26, 2025
A man programs a piece of robotic equipment in an advanced manufacturing engineering lab
Business and IndustryCenter for Economic DevelopmentIntrepid AmbitionNews

Advancing Manufacturing

Ð԰ɵ¼º½ is laying the foundation for the next era of industry in the River Valley—equipping students, workers, and employers with the tools, training, and talent to lead in an advanced manufacturing economy. From engineering labs to apprenticeship...

March 26, 2025
The Ð԰ɵ¼º½ satelitte office at the Fort Smith Bakery District
Business and IndustryCenter for Economic DevelopmentFeaturedNews

Barrett Named Director of ASBTDC at Ð԰ɵ¼º½

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith announced Ty Barrett as the new director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center Regional Office. With more than 30 years of experience in finance and community banking, Barrett brings...

March 04, 2025
Representatives from Ð԰ɵ¼º½ accept a check for $1.7M
Business and IndustryCenter for Economic DevelopmentCommunityNews

$1.7M HIRED Grant Bolsters Advanced Manufacturing Efforts

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith has been awarded a $1.7 million Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development (HIRED) grant, one of just three universities in the state to receive awards from both the Division of Higher Education...

December 19, 2024
Reyna Lamb and Troy Rodriguez (center) accept their 2nd place prize presented by Justin Smith, director of the Jim Walcott Family Enterprise Center and Kendall Ross, associate vice chancellor of economic and workforce development.
Arts and SciencesBusiness and IndustryCenter for Economic DevelopmentNews

Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Students Conquer Lion's Lair Business Competition

Ten students from the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith competed Wednesday in the Lion's Lair Business Plan Contest. Teams had about five minutes to deliver the perfect pitch for their fictional business to showcase innovative ideas, market research,...

November 21, 2024
uafs representatives stand wiht arkansas governor sarah huckabee sanders after being awarded a $4m HIRED grant
Center for Economic DevelopmentFeaturedNews

Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Receives $4 Million Workforce Development Grant

On Thursday, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Secretary Hugh McDonald, Chief Workforce Officer Mike Rogers, and Arkansas Workforce Connections Director Cody Waits awarded $48 million in training grants to support workforce development efforts aligned...

November 14, 2024
The audience applauds for the winner of the Family Business of the Year Award, Littlefield Companies, at the inaugural Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards
Business and IndustryCenter for Economic DevelopmentCommunityFeaturedNews

Winners Announced at Inaugural Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Center for Economic Development celebrated the accomplishments of more than a dozen small businesses and family-owned businesses from around Fort Smith at the inaugural Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Excellence in Family and Small Business...

October 25, 2024
Center for Economic DevelopmentCommunityEventsFeatured

Willie Robertson to Keynote Inaugural Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards

Star of A&E's "Duck Dynasty" set to keynote the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Center for Economic Development's first Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards on October 24. The event will honor regional family-owned and small businesses...

August 08, 2024

Popular Topics

Media Relations

The Ð԰ɵ¼º½ Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.

Send%20an%20Email

Stay Up-to-Date

Sign up to receive news and updates.

Subscribe

Rachel Rodemann Putman

  • Director of Strategic Communications
  • 479-788-7132
Submit A News Tip