In the News

Pediatrics Plus celebrated the grand opening of its expanded 40,108-square-foot Conway facility Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“The specialized health care provider will now serve 400 families and employ 174 in Conway for a total payroll of more than $6 million,” a Pediatrics Plus spokesman said.

Owner Todd Denton said the location of the building brings back memories.

“Our first location was right here, and I still remember hearing a lot of things about that first location,” he said. “It was an old Nazarene Church that we had to tear down. We decided we needed to bless that church before we tore it down.”

The location also has personal meaning for Denton as he met his wife at Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center just across the creek on Salem Road.

Denton said Conway is a special place for his family and that he likes to hear how people found success.

He said almost every conversation has the work “lucky” brought up at some point and then, brought up his “luck.”

“Our luck consisted of several different things,” he said. “We happened to start in Conway is the first thing. Conway is the only city with occupational and physical therapy schools in Arkansas. It helped us hire the right people.

“We had really intelligent and progressive people who were open-minded to all the development we wanted to do and new ideas.

“Then we had some amazing people who were called to lead and wanted to help developmental children and families who had those children. Those three things became the magic that has helped us find success.”

Mike Preston, Arkansas Economic Development Commission executive director, said the state is benefitting from Pediatrics Plus in ways other than economics.

“To the folks that work here, you guys are the true champions,” he said. “You guys that have dedicated your life and have taken that charge as your mission in life. You guys don’t have an easy job, but I know it’s one that is very rewarding and fulfilling. We wouldn’t be the state we are without you.”

Rep. French Hill said Pediatrics Plus provides a needful service to the area.

“I know about this business intimately, bringing PT and OT services for all of our kids is such an important thing for all of our communities have access to,” he said. “There’s no doubt Conway, Russellville and Little Rock are greatly benefitted by your vision. Not everybody in the room knows, but at Simmons Bank have got to see this persistence every day.”

The expanded building includes a multi-purpose room for parent and staff trainings, a low- and high-sensory gym, gross motor therapy gym, a feeding and swallowing lab, activities of daily living suites and a fully accessible playground.