Arkansas Lands Superproject: 106,000 New Jobs

State economic officials today announced that Arkansas will be the new international headquarters for Ronco, Inc., a superproject expected to add 106,000 new jobs to Arkansas.

The workforce addition is expected to virtually erase unemployment in Arkansas, which currently stands at 106,100 workers.

Ronco manufactures and distributes a variety of products including the Pocket Fisherman, the Six-Star Knife Set, and the Chop-o-Matic.

"Are you freakin’ kidding me?!" said Maria Haley, director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. "I love Ron Popeil and all of those Ronco products. I always tune in to the Home Shopping Network when he’s on."

Popeil, the founder of Ronco, said Arkansas was a "natural fit" for his company.

"With all of the wildlife and hunting and fishing – heck, you’ve got a constitutional amendment protecting them – it just seemed right that we’d come to Arkansas. Our products were made FOR Arkansans, so they ought to be made BY Arkansans," he said.

Popeil is one of America’s unique inventors. Over the past 40 years, his products have pulled in more than $2 billion in sales.

Ronco will relocate its corporate headquarters from New York to Little Rock in several former Alltel buildings on the Verizon Wireless campus. Manufacturing facilities will be located in a number of communities throughout the state, including North Little Rock, Jonesboro, Fort Smith, Pine Bluff, Camden and Blueball.

"I just wanted to be able to say we had an operation in Blueball," said Popeil. "You know, they actually have a Blueball Store there and I think we can build it as a tourist destination for our GLH Formula 9 System."

Because the project is employing so many workers, it does qualify for the state’s superproject incentives.

Ronco will receive $968.22 in corporate welfare payments to cover the costs of locksmiths to change the keys on existing facilities.

If it falls short of the 106,000 worker hire goal, Ronco will have to provide a 5-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator to all Arkansans over the age of 18.

"I’m not going to lie. I want Ronco to succeed, but Arkansans are going to make out like bandits if they don’t," said AEDC’s Haley. "This is a real win-win for the state and better than an old car factory any day of the week – even on April Fool’s Day."

Editor’s Note: Today is Friday, April 1st – April Fool’s Day.  Watch out for practical jokes and find a reason to smile today!