Chinese textile firm hiring up to 800 in east Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK — A Chinese textile company is transforming a former television factory in east Arkansas into its first North American facility in a $410 million project that’s expected to create up to 800 new jobs in the struggling Delta region.

Shandong Ruyi Technology Group announced Wednesday it would begin renovating the former Sanyo factory in Forrest City later this year into a facility where Arkansas cotton will be spun into yarn for textile use. The Sanyo factory has been vacant since late 2007 when the company shut down production.

Production is expected to begin at the new facility by mid2018, and the company plans on processing more than 200,000 tons annually of Arkansas cotton.

Arkansas is providing up to

$4 million in cash incentives and

$11 million in payroll rebates.

Alcohol applications filed for UA

FAYETTEVILLE — The concessions company at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville has filed applications to sell alcohol at sports facilities, but the school’s athletic director says the university has no plans to expand alcohol sales on campus.

Levy Premium Foodservice LP sent in the permits for baseball, basketball and for the gymnastics and volleyball facilities, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. The company also submitted a request to replace the university’s current concessionaire services as the alcohol sales permit holder for its football stadium. Levy is replacing Sodexo as the university’s concessions company for athletic events.

“This letter will serve as authorization for Levy to take the necessary steps to obtain a license for the storage and sale of alcoholic beverages in designated areas of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Bud Walton Arena, Baum Stadium, and Barnhill Arena,” a letter from Athletic Director Jeff Long stated.

Long also said, “There are no current plans to approve the sale of alcoholic beverages during intercollegiate athletic events in those venues.”

Judy Chwalinski, administrative analyst for Alcoholic Beverage Control, said approval of a permit application from the state occurs within 30 days from the verified posting that notifies the public at the site about a request to sell alcohol.

Chwalinski said Levy paid a total of $7,500 each new “large attendance facility” application.

In 2014, the university began limiting alcohol sales at the football stadium, with about 9,000 fans in premium seating able to purchase beer and wine at indoor “club” areas.

The university’s officials haven’t made an official announcement about expanding alcohol sales.

Oklahoma woman finds 2.65 carat diamond at Arkansas park

MURFREESBORO — An Oklahoma woman has found a 2.65 carat diamond at a state park in southwest Arkansas.

Victoria Brodski of Tulsa says in a news release Wednesday from Crater of Diamonds State Park that she picked up the stone May 6 about 10 minutes after entering the park because she thought it was a pretty piece of glass.

Brodski says she didn’t realize it might be a diamond until hours later after visiting an information center to see what an uncut diamond looks like and park staff then confirmed it is a diamond.

Park interpreter Waymon Cox said the diamond is smooth and appears to be free of blemishes, but the park doesn’t estimate the worth of diamonds.

Brodski plans to sell the diamond and share the money with her family.