Area?s Largest Employers Huddle in Two Cities

Of the largest Northwest Arkansas employers, Siloam Springs and Springdale companies make up half of this year’s Northwest Arkansas Business Journal listing.

Including only employees working in Washington and Benton county locations, Siloam Springs claimed five of the biggest employers — Simmons Foods Inc., Allen Canning Co., Gates Rubber Co., DaySpring Cards and La-Z-Boy Arkansas.

Springdale is home to Tyson Foods Inc., Northwest Health System, Harps Food Stores, Rockline Industries Inc. and Kawneer Co.

Strong working relationships between a city and its largest employers benefits both parties, said Perry Webb, president of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce. All of the Springdale firms on the list regularly participate in Chamber activities, Webb said, and employees from those companies often serve on committees and boards within the Chamber.

Featherfest, Springdale’s biggest springtime, family-oriented event, owes its existence to contributors such as Tyson. This year, musical acts at FeatherFest included Shenandoah and Iron Butterfly.

“Just about anything we’ve asked for, they’ve been able to help us,” Webb said.

In return, Webb said, the Chamber monitors the companies’ public images.

“We should help make their businesses profitable, too,” he said.

When occasional rumors of layoffs circulate within larger companies, especially during tougher economic turns, Webb said the Chamber will alert the firm’s administration.

“That’s part of our obligation as a Chamber,” Webb said.

George’s Inc., a Springdale poultry company, McKee Foods Corp, which manufactures Little Debbie snacks in Gentry, and Franklin Electric in Siloam Springs employ enough people in Washington and Benton counties to have been included on the list. However, the businesses didn’t respond to repeated inquiries.

According to Poultry magazine, George’s employs 2,300 people in its Springdale, Tontitown and Siloam Springs plants.