NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — More jobs are set to come to North Little Rock soon as city officials announced plans for a new Dollar General Distribution Center. It would initially bring in 300 new jobs with 600 happening over time.
Members of the North Little Rock city council approved a resolution that allowed the city to partner with Dollar General Corporation to build a $140 million warehouse distribution center, according to Arkansas Business.
The plan was announced Monday at a city council meeting and it includes a 65% tax abatement.
The site would reportedly be near the Amazon fulfillment center on U.S. Highway 70.
With the announcement of the distribution center, city officials are eager for the opportunities that the building will provide for those in the area.
"These jobs are no longer $11 an hour jobs. These jobs are actually getting up to $20 an hour, have good strong benefit packages with them, and they're places where you can work and actually advance," said City Director of Development Robert Birch.
He said the land, totaling 152-acre areas of land, will now be turned into nearly one-million square feet of space that future employees will call home.
The distribution center will hold cold storage for produce that will later be added as groceries to Dollar General locations, which will result in healthier options for the city amid the pandemic, according to Birch.
"All air conditioned and heated and climate controlled," he said.
Birch also mentioned that the Chambers of Commerce in North Little Rock and Little Rock have both been a big help.
Darryl Hartwick with the North Little Rock chamber said a rising tide raises all ships, meaning all places of business will benefit as the city brings a business of this magnitude to the area.
"Specifically the chamber members just with those relationships, because these new employees, 300 initially growing to 600 is a big deal," said Hartwick.
This development didn't happen overnight, according to Birch the project has been in the works since the beginning of the year.
Now, construction could begin in late January or early February once the city counsel finalizes the remaining terms.
"I've got family that lives outside of Conway in Enola which is like 300 people. On the way there in the middle of nowhere there's a Dollar General and it's always crowded. So, they're filling a need," said Birch.
A public hearing will happen on Jan. 10, where city counsel will consider final terms for the project.
Construction could begin in late January or early February once the city counsel finalizes the remaining terms.