Van Buren Hush on Prospective Company
by July 3, 2006 12:00 am 80 views
There’s something so big in the works in Van Buren that the city’s Chamber and the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce won’t divulge one single word — only “it’s going to be big for this area.”
During a June Van Buren City Council meeting, board members were presented with an agreement and deed of easement to construct a public parking lot for a new business looking to move into the old Wal-Mart store in Cloverleaf Plaza on Alma Highway.
The company wants 500 parking spaces for its employees. Five hundred employees is a lot for the city. The Springdale-based Tyson Foods’ plant is the largest employer in Van Buren with 828 employees.
According to sources, the mystery company is a Fortune 500 company looking to relocate its offshore call center.
But the Fort Smith and Van Buren Chambers — which are working together — aren’t saying anything. The building’s windows are even covered.
Nicole Moore, executive director of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce, said the announcement will be made “soon.” She said everything is ready on the Chamber’s part; it’s just waiting on the company.