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Mars Petcare Mounts $145M Expansion, to Add 120 Jobs

2 min read

Mars Petcare of Franklin, Tennessee, said Friday that it will expand its operation in Fort Smith, investing $145 million and adding 120 jobs.

The company, which already employs 300 at Fort Chaffee, said the expansion will help it meet rising demand for its pet food products.

Speaking at the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, Michael Poffinbarger, the Fort Smith facility’s director, said the expansion will begin this month. 

The company plans to add 200,000 SF and two production lines, increasing capacity by more than 40%. The expansion is scheduled to be complete by next year.

“The investment from Mars Petcare in their Fort Smith manufacturing facility will boost the economy at both the local and state level,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in a news release. “Since the facility opened in 2009, it has become a hub of diverse and quality jobs, and we thank Mars Petcare for continuing to grow and invest in the Fort Smith community.”

According to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the company is receiving the following incentives: the Tax Back Program, which provides a sales and use tax refund for eligible expenditures; five years of the Create Rebate Program, which is a cash rebate based on the company’s annual payroll for new employees; $1 million from Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund; and $125,000 for workforce training.

The Fort Smith facility is one of 14 Mars operations in the United States and manufactures brands including Sheba, Cesar, Iams and Nutro.

In 2016, Mars announced a $72 million expansion that was to add as many as 130 jobs. It began operating in Fort Smith in 2009.

Last week, the chamber, the governor and economic development officials announced that Hytrol Conveyor Co. Inc. of Jonesboro would establish a new factory in Fort Smith, hiring 250 people over the next five years.

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