Mars Petcare announced Wednesday that it will invest at least $72 million to expand its Fort Smith pet food manufacturing plant and add as many as 130 jobs over the next few years.
The plant produces Cesar and Nutro dog food and Sheba wet cat food. As part of the expansion, a can line will be converted into a tray line and two new lines will be added.
Mars received the following state incentives, according to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission:
- Ten years of the state’s Create Rebate program, which provides a cash rebate equal to up to 5 percent of total payroll. Mars will receive 3.9 percent of its total payroll associated with the expansion.
- Tax Back, which provides sales tax refunds on building materials, taxable machinery and equipment associated with the expansion.
- $400,000 from the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund.
- $100,000 for training.
The company said it could invest up to $110 million in the expansion. Mars said that since starting the Fort Smith plant in 2007, it has invested $130 million and created 200 full-time jobs.
“Since the site was built, the city of Fort Smith and state of Arkansas have been tremendously supportive of our investments and business,” Mars President Mark Johnson said in a news release. “Their support and the high-quality northwest Arkansas workforce have enabled our continued growth – ensuring we can continue to feed more pets.”
Gov. Asa Hutchinson also joined Mars leaders and local officials to celebrate the announcement Wednesday.
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