A group’s planned deal to purchase the Little Rock Heifer International campus for Lyon College’s proposed dental and veterinary schools has fallen through.
In 2022, the Batesville-based college announced it was working with OneHealth Education Group of Little Rock to create the schools.
OneHealth had agreed to purchase the 94,000-square-foot building and land for Lyon’s new Institute of Health Sciences, which will oversee the new programs.
After the sale, OneHealth had planned to lease back portions of the office building to Heifer International and the Heifer Foundation.
However, published reports say the purchase agreement for the deal expired last week. In a statement yesterday, Heifer International confirmed the deal will not be completed.
Plans to open the dental school in the summer of 2025, with the veterinary school to follow in the fall, are still on, according to Lyon College.
In a statement, Lyon president Melissa Taverner said, “At this time, the Lyon College Institute of Health Sciences remains on track to open in 2025. Lyon College has hit all of its marks in terms of developing the veterinary medicine and dental academic programs.
“We are actively collaborating with the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, the City of Little Rock, the Clinton Foundation, and the Downtown Little Rock Partnership on our planned dental and veterinary medicine schools, ensuring that the academic programs continue to progress with unwavering momentum.”
For more on the initial announcement of Lyon’s dental and veterinary schools, click here.
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.
