Defense and aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin plans to expand its operations in Camden, Arkansas. The $420 million project is expected to create 650 jobs over five years.
11/03/2026
Lumber manufacturer Canfor Southern Pine plans to expand its operations in El Dorado, Arkansas. The approximately $96 million project is expected to create 75 jobs in Union County.
10/30/2026
Defense manufacturer Hanwha Defense USA plans to establish operations in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The $2.2 billion project is expected to create nearly 400 jobs over seven years.
09/25/2026
Intelligent power management company Eaton plans to establish operations in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The more than $242 million project is expected to create 1,200 jobs.
09/04/2026
Protein snack manufacturer SANY Nutrition Group has established operations in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The more than $30 million project is expected to create over 150 jobs.
08/21/2026
Furniture manufacturer James & James plans to establish operations in Heber Springs, Arkansas. The more than $9.4 million project is expected to create 47 jobs.
08/05/2026
Advanced manufacturing company Oobotic plans to establish operations in Melbourne, Arkansas. The $6.5 million project is expected to create up to 70 jobs over the next four years.
07/07/2026
Steel manufacturer Hybar plans to expand its operations in Osceola, Arkansas.
06/30/2026
Italy-based prefabricated electrical substation manufacturer CEP USA Inc. plans to establish operations in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The approximately $1 million project is expected to create roughly 27 jobs over the next five years.
05/21/2026
Agricultural solutions company Gowan Milling plans to expand its operations in Blytheville, Arkansas. The more than $8.7 million project is expected to create 34 jobs over the next five years.
05/19/2026
Steel processor Marubeni-Itochu Steel America Inc. (MISA) plans to establish operations in Osceola, Arkansas. The more than $37 million project is expected to create 35 jobs in Mississippi County.
04/25/2026
Aviation services company Envoy Air Inc. plans to expand its operations in Little Rock, Arkansas. The more than $600,000 project is expected to create approximately 100 jobs.
04/24/2026
Cable manufacturer AmerCable plans to expand its operations in El Dorado, Arkansas. The more than $10 million project is expected to create 13 jobs in Union County.
04/20/2026
Packaged foods company Conagra Brands, Inc. plans to expand its operations in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The approximately $220 million project is expected to create more than 100 jobs over the next five years.
03/19/2026
Smaller and mid-sized U.S. metros are outpacing big cities, leveraging workforce agility, affordability, and livability to redefine competitiveness and attract investment in 2025.
Economic growth shines at the Area Development Shovel Awards, with states like South Carolina and Louisiana leading the charge. Discover which regions are driving innovation and sustainability in industries from automotive to green technology.
The leading metro areas are those poised for long-term growth and are often hubs of high-tech industry, where workers may benefit from an affordable cost of living.
With concerns about climate change now supplanting pandemic fears, projects to produce EVs — and the semiconductors used by vehicles and other high-tech goods — come to the forefront in this year’s Shovel Awards report.
U. S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt said in a statement that the company is “reshaping the future of steel making” with this mill.
Area Development’s annual Shovel Awards highlight the nation’s swift post-pandemic economic recovery in 2021 with many projects being initiated that represent billions of dollars in investment and thousands of new jobs.
Workforce availability with the necessary skills and local partnerships are two trends driving investment to mid-size markets.
Big-picture data provides evidence of a regional economy on the rise, with manufacturing as the centerpiece of its growth.
The top-ranked states have landed on the radar of today’s site selection consultants because of their low business costs, generous incentive programs, and competitive labor environments, among other probusiness advantages.
Although its GDP growth has been sluggish, Arkansas boasts a low cost of doing business and of living.
The strongest states are doing more than assembling attractive business fundamentals. They are connecting talent, executable sites, utility capacity, government responsiveness and operating economics into a credible path from site search to operation.
Top States for Business
Annual Econdev Awards
Corporate Exec Survey Results
Leading Metro Locations
