 Recent economic growth is also turning Russellville into a regional shopping and dining destination, with new restaurants and businesses popping regularly along a new shopping center and hotel, featuring a convention center set for construction within the next several years; though both projects are running behind schedule, they are still moving forward.Russellville is home to Arkansas Tech University, which was founded in 1909 and as of 2014 has 12,003 students.Tech is marked by one of the highest graduation rates in the state as well as its quality of education.