<p>Every project matters. Crafton Tull engineers and planners pour their heart into each project they work on, but sometimes, a project tugs a heart string and reminds us that our work is leading to something bigger than the project.</p>
<p>The South Cato Springs development in Fayetteville is one of those projects. This isn&rsquo;t just another land development; it&rsquo;s a mixed-use development that promotes inclusion of and will provide opportunities for neurodiverse adults. It&rsquo;s truly a site for everyone as it is the future site of the <a href="https://slscommunity.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SLS Community&rsquo;s</a> scaled operations, along with a wide variety of educational, commercial, and recreational developments that will welcome the entire community.</p>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crafton Tull has earned recognition as a Silver</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Bicycle Friendly Business from the League of American Bicyclists.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We&rsquo;ve joined the movement of over 1,500 local businesses, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies across the United States in transforming the American workplace to be more welcoming to our customers and employees who bike. So many more have joined or returned to the bike movement during the pandemic, and we are proud to support the health and well-being of our community by being more welcoming to people choosing to bike.</span></p>

<p>HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas - Crafton Tull, an employee-owned professional services firm based in Arkansas, announced Monday (Feb. 7) it has acquired Hot Springs-based B &amp; F Engineering (B &amp; F). B &amp; F will do business as B &amp; F Engineering, a Division of Crafton Tull, as it transitions away from its current name.</p>
<p>B &amp; F employs 40 people, including civil engineers, structural engineers, surveyors, and administrative staff. The firm&rsquo;s professionals have decades of experience working with departments of transportation, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local governments, private land developers, industries, and educational institutions.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We are excited to join forces with B &amp; F Engineering,&rdquo; Crafton Tull President and CEO Matt Crafton said. &ldquo;Our two firms have worked together for many years, and we have always greatly admired the quality of service and professionalism of their people. We think our common values, mission, and culture align perfectly to form an exceptional expanded capability to serve our clients.&rdquo;</p>
<p>B &amp; F President and CEO James Montgomery will remain in a leadership role and manage operations and staff in Hot Springs.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Joining the Crafton Tull family in our firm&rsquo;s 50th year of business is an exciting new chapter for us,&rdquo; Montgomery said. &ldquo;This partnership will provide enhanced service to our clients and generate long-term growth opportunities for our employee-owners.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Founded in 1963, Crafton Tull employs more than 250 people and has offices located throughout Arkansas and Oklahoma. The firm is one of three 100% employee-owned Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) corporations headquartered in Arkansas.</p>
<p>The combined company offers professional services, including civil and structural engineering, architecture, surveying, landscape architecture, planning, and environmental services to both public and private clients. Clientele includes departments of transportation, state and local governments, land developers, educational institutions, healthcare providers, industries, and energy companies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Crafton Tull announces Employee Stock Ownership Plan</p>
<p>ROGERS, Ark., September 3, 2019 &ndash; Crafton Tull announced today its intent to preserve local ownership and further strengthen the company&rsquo;s strong future prospects by selling the company&rsquo;s stock to its employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (&ldquo;ESOP&rdquo;). Crafton Tull becomes just the third company headquartered in Arkansas to be owned 100% by employees through an ESOP, joining Harps Foods and Central States Manufacturing.</p>
<p>The company employs 250 people to provide its architecture, engineering, surveying, landscape architecture, and planning services. Founded in 1963 by Bob Crafton and Lem Tull, the firm has grown to $35 million in annual revenue and serves clients in numerous states through nine offices in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Crafton Tull has always maintained an active presence in the local community. Company employees serve in numerous community leadership positions and nonprofit organizations. &nbsp;To celebrate its 50th anniversary five years ago, the company performed 50 Acts of Kindness in the communities where it operates, volunteering at food banks, planting trees, working in schools, and assisting various nonprofit organizations.</p>
<p>Crafton Tull President &amp; CEO, Matt Crafton stated, &ldquo;We realized a number of years ago that we would eventually need a plan to transfer the ownership of the business to the next generation. &nbsp;We and those who went before us worked long and hard to build this business, and we want to see it continue far into the future. &nbsp;We want our workforce and the communities that have supported us all these years to continue to do well by us in the future. With this plan, all of our current leadership will stay in place, and we&rsquo;ll continue to operate and grow the company.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Crafton Tull Chief Financial Officer, Jim Tull, added &ldquo;We really needed a transition plan that worked for everyone &ndash; for our current owners, our staff, the communities we serve and of course for our clients. Transitioning ownership to the ESOP allows us to continue moving forward based on the core values that have always guided our business &ndash; integrity, respect, excellence, responsiveness, teamwork and safety.&rdquo;</p>
<p>An ESOP is a federally regulated retirement plan that is designed to invest primarily in the shares of the parent company. &nbsp;Employees will receive shares of Crafton Tull stock over time, and will receive the cash value of those shares after they retire or leave the company. &nbsp;As is the case with most ESOPs in successful companies, the ownership transition will be funded with corporate earnings &ndash; individual employees are not investing their own funds.</p>
<p>There are approximately 6,500 ESOPs in the U.S., according to recent figures provided by the ESOP Association in Washington D.C. &nbsp;ESOP Association CEO James Bonham observed that</p>
<p>&ldquo;Most ESOPs are in small to mid-sized firms that are very successful and that need a plan to transfer ownership to a future generation. &nbsp;Crafton Tull is part of a growing trend of successful businesses making the decision to pursue employee ownership to position themselves for ongoing success.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;The most successful ESOPs combine employee ownership with effective participation, careful communications and education. &nbsp;Research consistently shows these companies tend to outperform their competitors in the marketplace in terms of sales growth, employee retention and other performance metrics,&rdquo; Bonham said. &ldquo;Not only are ESOPs beneficial for the employees and owners, but research is now showing they can be a true competitive advantage in the market.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Mr. Crafton noted that Crafton Tull already has a number of these initiatives in place, and plans a strong communications effort to explain the new ownership changes to employees. &nbsp;&ldquo;We are planning a series of employee communications &ndash; starting with written materials, meetings with employees and the formation of an employee owners&rsquo; committee &ndash; to explain what we&rsquo;ve done, why and how it will affect everyone.&rdquo; &nbsp;Mr. Crafton added, &ldquo;We are truly thrilled with this outcome and look forward to many more years of successful operations in the communities we serve.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Metroplan embarked on an ambitious endeavor in 2020 when it announced a $55 million investment in a regional pathway network in central Arkansas. The money will help build more than 170 miles of planned multi-use paths connecting Faulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski, and Saline counties. To put that in perspective, the hugely successful Razorback Regional Greenway, which extends from Fayetteville to Bella Vista, is approximately 40 miles.</p>
<p>Metroplan is the planning organization that determines needs and funding priorities for federal transportation investments in Little Rock and surrounding areas. The multi-million dollar commitment at the time represented about half of the agency&rsquo;s federal Surface Transportation Block Grant funding over 10 years.</p>
<p>Tab Townsell, executive director of Metroplan, said a 2019 trip to the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, South Carolina, was a revelation for the agency he leads. The Metroplan Board of Directors biked the 22-mile trail, toured the area, and met with local leaders. They returned to Arkansas with a vision.</p>
<p>&ldquo;That trip sealed the idea that we could do this too, but do it regionally, with less stress on local budgets,&rdquo; Townsell said.</p>
<p>Smaller cities near the Swamp Rabbit Trail began asking for more local connections to the greenway after its construction. The same pattern followed the completion of the Razorback Regional Greenway, and Townsell hopes the central Arkansas project will spark a similar culture shift.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I hope this greenway system will motivate citizens to support more active transportation options in each city in our region,&rdquo; he said.</p>

<p>July 2<sup>nd</sup>, 2021</p>
<p>Construction on the final phase of multiple transportation infrastructure projects at the Port of Little Rock began in June. Crafton Tull designed the widening and reconstruction of Zeuber Road, the widening of Fourche Dam Pike, and the extension of Pratt Remmel Road. These projects represent an $11 million investment to accommodate increased traffic produced by the new Amazon fulfillment center and other companies with active plans to locate at the Port.</p>
<p><img src="https://api.crafton-tull.doc4.pro/media/uploads/news/port_of_little_rock_econ_development/pratt-remmel-road-port-of-little-rock.webp" alt="" width="800" height="712" /></p>
<h6>Pratt Remmel Road | Port of Little Rock</h6>
<p>The Zeuber Road project was funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the City of Little Rock, and Pulaski County. In 2019, the Port hired Crafton Tull to complete a conceptual plan, preliminary engineering report, environmental narrative, and cost estimate for the EDA grant application. Pulaski County then hired Crafton Tull for the design of Zeuber Road, which was completed in December 2020.</p>
<p>The other projects were funded in part by EDA and Delta Regional Authority grants. The Crafton Tull design team worked with Pulaski County, the City of Little Rock, the Port, Little Rock Regional Chamber, and Central Arkansas Planning and Development District to apply for grant funding. The projects were carefully planned around grant funding limits and Amazon&rsquo;s aggressive construction schedule. The design of Fourche Dam Pike and Pratt Remmel Road started in April 2020, with an anticipated construction completion of early fall 2021.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Matt Crafton goes into greater detail about the history-making Employee Stock Ownership Plan&nbsp;announcement with Northwest Arkansas Business Journal's editor Paul Gatling.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6WcXqj8pyH8" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="ArrowButton_blueArrow__UtOI3 ">
<div class="ArrowButton_innerLink__wu8Rw"><a style="color: #0065a4; text-decoration: none;" href="https://crafton-tull.doc4.pro/team/matt-crafton">Learn More About Our CEO</a>&nbsp;<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="71.203" height="9.105" viewbox="0 0 71.203 9.105"> <line id="Line_3" data-name="Line 3" x2="70" transform="translate(0.5 4.602)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> <line id="Line_4" data-name="Line 4" x2="4.9" y2="3.9" transform="translate(65.6 0.703)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> <line id="Line_5" data-name="Line 5" y1="3.9" x2="4.9" transform="translate(65.6 4.503)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> </svg></div>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>ROGERS, Arkansas - Crafton Tull added David Ganoung of Harps Food Stores and Martine Pollard of Mercy Health of Northwest Arkansas as independent members to its board of directors on January 7, 2021.</p>
<p>In 2019, Crafton Tull sold 100% of its stock to its employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The process preserved local ownership and included the addition of two independent board members. The current internal leadership structure of the firm remains unchanged. &nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;We are so excited to have David and Martine join our board of directors, having known both of them for many years. They fit our culture of service to clients, and they are both exceptional members of our community,&rdquo; said Matt Crafton, President and CEO of Crafton Tull.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ganoung is Vice President of Marketing at Harps Food Stores, the largest employee-owned company headquartered in Arkansas and the 20<sup>th</sup> largest in the United States.</p>
<p>&ldquo;After knowing both the Crafton and Tull families for so many years, and knowing the quality in which the organization stands for, it will be both an honor and a pleasure to serve on their board,&rdquo; Ganoung said.</p>
<p>Pollard is the Executive Director of Community, Government &amp; Public Relations at Mercy Health of Northwest Arkansas. Martine has been recognized by peers for her work and commitment to improving the quality of life for communities, including being part of the inaugural class of Women in Business by Northwest Arkansas Business Journal.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been close to the Crafton Tull team for a long time and think highly of them and the work they do. I am truly humbled and honored to have been asked and serve as a member of the Crafton Tull Board of Directors,&rdquo; Pollard said.</p>
<p>Crafton Tull employs more than 200 people and offers civil engineering, architecture, surveying, landscape architecture, planning, and environmental services. Founded in 1963, the firm has offices located throughout Arkansas and Oklahoma. It is one of three 100% employee-owned companies headquartered in Arkansas.</p>
<p>Crafton Tull provides its services to both public and private clients, including cities, departments of transportation, school districts and universities, healthcare providers, industries, energy companies, and land developers.</p>

<p>Matt Crafton&nbsp;is a retired Air Force engineer and current President and Chief Executive Officer of&nbsp;Crafton Tull, a professional design firm with offices throughout Arkansas and Oklahoma.</p>
<p>Crafton Tull provides quality planning, architecture, engineering, and survey services to customers across the nation in the architecture, energy, infrastructure, planning, and transportation sectors.</p>
<p>In this episode, Matt explores his engineering beginnings with the Air Force, the early days of Crafton Tull, and the adversities he&rsquo;s faced as CEO.</p>
<p>This episode is now on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.&nbsp;</p>
<div class="ArrowButton_blueArrow__UtOI3 ">
<div class="ArrowButton_innerLink__wu8Rw"><a style="color: #0065a4; text-decoration: none;" href="https://hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Listen Here</a> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="71.203" height="9.105" viewbox="0 0 71.203 9.105"> <line id="Line_3" data-name="Line 3" x2="70" transform="translate(0.5 4.602)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> <line id="Line_4" data-name="Line 4" x2="4.9" y2="3.9" transform="translate(65.6 0.703)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> <line id="Line_5" data-name="Line 5" y1="3.9" x2="4.9" transform="translate(65.6 4.503)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> </svg></div>
</div>
<p><br /><br /></p>

<p>Matt Crafton joined the Arkansas Trucking Association, Arkansas Good Roads Foundation, and several contracting companies in voicing support for the Governor's $300 million per year plan to maintain the State's roads and bridges.</p>
<div class="ArrowButton_blueArrow__UtOI3 ">
<div class="ArrowButton_innerLink__wu8Rw"><a style="color: #0065a4; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/125546/truckers-construction-firms-ready-to-roll-with-arkansas-highway-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read Article Here</a> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="71.203" height="9.105" viewbox="0 0 71.203 9.105"> <line id="Line_3" data-name="Line 3" x2="70" transform="translate(0.5 4.602)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> <line id="Line_4" data-name="Line 4" x2="4.9" y2="3.9" transform="translate(65.6 0.703)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> <line id="Line_5" data-name="Line 5" y1="3.9" x2="4.9" transform="translate(65.6 4.503)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> </svg></div>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dave Roberts is featured on the cover of the latest edition of BIKE AR magazine. Inside the issue, he explains how his love of cycling as a kid helped inform his work today.</p>
<div class="ArrowButton_blueArrow__UtOI3 ">
<div class="ArrowButton_innerLink__wu8Rw"><a style="color: #0065a4; text-decoration: none;" href="https://issuu.com/arkansastimesvisitorsguide/docs/bike_arkansas_august_2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read the Issue</a> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="71.203" height="9.105" viewbox="0 0 71.203 9.105"> <line id="Line_3" data-name="Line 3" x2="70" transform="translate(0.5 4.602)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> <line id="Line_4" data-name="Line 4" x2="4.9" y2="3.9" transform="translate(65.6 0.703)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> <line id="Line_5" data-name="Line 5" y1="3.9" x2="4.9" transform="translate(65.6 4.503)" fill="none" stroke="#0065a4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="1"></line> </svg></div>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

NEWS

South Cato Springs 230-Acre Development Will Benefit Neurodiverse Adults and Broader Community

Crafton Tull Named Silver Bicycle Friendly Business

Crafton Tull Acquires B&F Engineering