story by Roby Brock, a TCW content partner and owner of Talk Business & Politics
roby@talkbusiness.net
Three technology companies announced plans to locate new facilities in downtown Conway, investing $2.5 million and adding 140 new jobs.
Metova Inc., a mobile app development company; Big Cloud Analytics, a predictive analytics software company; and Eyenalyze, a Conway-based company that has developed innovative software for use in the food service sector; will invest a combined $2.5 million and create 140 new jobs.
The announcement included Conway economic leaders and Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
“Conway continues to build on its reputation as a hub for technology companies,” said Hutchinson. “Metova, Big Cloud Analytics and Eyenalyze had the opportunity to locate these new facilities anywhere in the U.S. The fact all chose Conway is a testament to the strength of the local workforce. Thanks to each company for making the decision to make a significant investment in Arkansas. We look forward to working with you as you continue to grow.”
Metova, which has a facility in Cabot, recently acquired a radio-frequency identification (RFID) company in New Hampshire and is moving operations to Conway. As part of the move, the company is working to establish a wireless engineering degree at the University of Central Arkansas in an effort to sustain and grow new jobs. The company plans to invest $2.075 million and create approximately 60 new jobs in Conway.
“Conway offers a desirable combination of a skilled tech workforce, with a welcoming business environment and great living conditions,” said John Adams, CEO of Metova Inc. “We’re all very excited about opening offices here and look forward to working with central Arkansas’ universities to help bolster the region’s pool of engineering talent.”
Big Cloud Analytics provides technology enabled real-time marketing predictions through the use of “big data analytics,” a process of collecting, organizing and analyzing large sets of data to discover patterns and useful information. The company plans to invest $116,000 and hire up to 40 employees in Conway.
“We are simply thrilled to open a new location in Conway,” said Bryan Throckmorton, Big Cloud Analytics’ chief revenue officer. “The global analytics market is booming, and our growth plans require that we have access to the right kinds of talent. The combination of existing talent and new talent emerging through the three universities in Conway makes it an ideal place for us, and being downtown enables us to create a fun work environment to go along with the long days.”
Eyenalyze, a new player in the restaurant industry, hopes to give local, independent restaurants the same type of real-time profit analysis used by larger chain competitors. The company services restaurants, franchises, hotels, country clubs and caterers.
Eyenalyze is working with Metova to develop software that captures and compiles data from multiple sources to provide managers with sales information, labor costs, plate costing, and profit information along with day-to-day accounting. Eyenalyze has plans to employ 40 by 2016.
“Eyenalyze is meeting the hospitality industry’s demand for real-time profit analysis at a scale that wasn’t imaginable only a few years ago,” said Eyenalyze President Michael Rasmussen. “We’re excited to join these companies in establishing Conway, and its downtown, as a destination for big-data professionals.”