Bekaert may add 45 jobs at Van Buren plant

Forty-five jobs could be on the way to Van Buren following action taken by the town's city council tonight (Aug. 19).

At the meeting, the council approved an application for a state grant that would help pay for part of an expansion at the Bekaert Corporation's Van Buren facility. The grant, an Arkansas Community and Economic Development Grant, would be used to expand a parking lot, according to Mayor Bob Freeman.

"(The grant would be) $265,000 for expansion and improvements of their parking lot," he said. "The application, as you're aware, is done by the city of Van Buren but it's actually a Bekaert application process, but we need a resolution to do that."

The grant, if approved, would be given to the city and then administered out.

Shortly after approving the application for the grant, the council passed a resolution authorizing Western Arkansas Planning and Development District to assist the city with administration of the grant. The organization, Freeman said, would primarily be responsible for not only administering the grant, but also ensuring that the company fulfilled the jobs component of the grant.

Information from Bekaert on the company's expansion plans were not immediately known, such as the overall money to be spent on the expansion, when the expansion may take place or whether the company will still expand regardless of whether or not the grant is approved by the state.

Freeman was unsure of when the city may find out whether the grant has been approved.

Bekaert, based in Belgium, produces in Van Buren wire cord for various products. The company employs around 27,000 people in 120 countries.

PARKS WORK
In other business, the city approved a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a 50/50 matching grant to purchase $170,000 in parks and recreation equipment to be installed at three sites across the city.

The projects are diverse, from the installation of pickle ball courts (a racquet sport that combines various aspects of badminton, tennis, and table tennis) at a park in the Rolling Hills neighborhood, installation of new restroom facilities at Dr. Louis Peer Memorial City Park and playground equipment at the Field of Dreams complex off interstate 40.

Director of City Planning Joe Hurst said building these projects through the 50/50 matching grant program offered by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism's Outdoor Recreation Program was the first step in fulfilling the vision citizens shared with the city through various public meetings held in June.

"We had a lot of good ideas and we got to hear different needs and priorities. A lot of those needs and priorities that were at that particular meeting were more long-term, I think, but they were good ideas and I think they're something we can plan for in the future."

The proposed projects presented tonight are what Hurst calls short-term ideas, "things we can tackle now and really begin investing, continuing to invest in our parks."

PROJECT DETAILS
In explaining the various projects, Hurst said the developments would take place on land already available for park development. On the site of the proposed pickleball court is a basketball court, which Hurst said could be split in half and then house the basketball court, along with two of the pickleball courts. A parking lot would be built for about eight vehicles at a total cost of about $25,000.

The restroom facility would be south of the old pool house at the city's main park, which is home to the city pool, golf course, a small lake and the Boys and Girls Clubs. The total cost, which includes burying overhead power lines as required by the grant, would total about $75,000.

The final project is $40,000 for playground equipment to be used by families while at the Field of Dreams. In addition to the playground equipment, the improvements at the Field of Dreams would also include the addition of two pavilions at a cost of $15,000 each.

In all, Hurst said the city would only end up paying a total of $85,000 once the state reimbursed the city's costs.

Freeman said it was possible the city could continue applying for the grant year after year to help with other projects, as well, but he said the Department of Parks and Tourism would look at three different criteria:
• Taking care of equipment previously purchased through the 50/50 matching grant;
• Using the funds for the projects proposed in the application; and
• Completing projects before the next application is due.

As with the grant for Bekaert, it is unknown when the grant could be approved, though Hurst said the city should be notified of a decision by the end of the year. A timeline on construction would be determined following approval of the grant, Freeman said.