Arkansas is at the heart of the country with ample resources for Pulp & Paper companies. The state is covered by 19 million acres of forestland, totaling more than half of the total area of Arkansas. The timber industry has a high impact on the state’s economy, and paper companies are thriving from the abundance of resources available in Arkansas.
Arkansas is home to several key pulp & paper companies, including Georgia-Pacific, Domtar and WestRock Corporation. The industry, directly and indirectly, employs 66,433 people and adds $6.4 billion to the state's economy. The value of standing timber in Arkansas is $12.6 billion.
For more information about the incentives available to Pulp & Paper companies, visit our incentives page.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (January 30, 2025) – Arkansas has been selected for a 2024 Deal of the Year Impact Award by Business Facilities, an industry publication for corporate site selectors and economic development professionals. This award will highlight one of the state’s recent economic development projects.
Business Facilities announced that Arkansas received a Deal of the Year Impact Award in the Timber and Forestry category for the state’s Weyerhaeuser project announcement. The Impact Awards are intended to “showcase corporate relocation and expansion investments that are having, or are expected to have, a significant impact on the communities in which they are located,” according to Business Facilities.
“Congratulations to Weyerhaeuser and the incredible team at the Department of Commerce for landing the 2024 Deal of the Year Impact Award. Weyerhaeuser’s investment helps bring more jobs and expand the critical forestry industry in South Arkansas,” said Governor Sanders.
In November 2024, Weyerhaeuser announced plans to build a new, state-of-the-art TimberStrand® facility near Monticello and Warren, Arkansas. An estimated $500 million investment, this facility is expected to create 200 new jobs in the south Arkansas region. This will be Weyerhaeuser’s third manufacturing facility in Arkansas, in addition to a lumber mill in Dierks and a plywood and veneer plant in Emerson, as well as a seedling nursery and multiple offices.
“We thank Business Facilities magazine for recognizing the Weyerhaeuser investment near Monticello and Warren as one of their 2024 Deal of the Year Impact Award winners,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “The timber industry is a critical part of our state’s economy, and south Arkansas has all the elements – workforce, abundant natural resources, and infrastructure – that companies like Weyerhaeuser need to succeed. This project will have a major positive impact on the lives of many Arkansans, and we are excited to see this significant economic development project recognized by a leading industry publication.”
The Deal of the Year Impact Award will be highlighted in the January/February 2025 edition of Business Facilities magazine.
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About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
At AEDC, we know economic advancement doesn’t happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success. AEDC is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. To learn more, visit ArkansasEDC.com.
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