For the first half of the year, building permit values are up in the area compared to the same time last year.  The City of Fort Smith Arkansas ussued 1,385 permits from January through June this year valued at $100.77 million, up 60 percent from the $63.19 million last year on 1,339 permits.  For June, total permits increased 43 percent to 14.47 million on 236 permits.  R.H. Ghan Commercial Properties has helped with many of these projects here in Fort Smith.