Our View

Our View

Forrest City getting massive economic boon with textile plant

News that our neighbors in nearby Forrest City will soon be getting a major Chinese textile manufacturer willing to invest $410 million and employ about 800 people is, no doubt, a big disappointment to anyone in Crittenden County and particularly West Memphis wanting to enjoy such economic growth.

Oh, we’re sure we’ll hear all sorts of excuses and reasons why West Memphis either wasn’t interested or was unable to accommodate this Chinese company but, it sure would have been a major economic shot in the arm when we’re dealing with an unemployment rate in this county’s largest municipality of over 5 percent when compared to the state average of just 3.6 percent.

So, what is Forrest City in St. Francis County where unemployment now is 4.8 percent, getting that we’re not? Thanks in large part to Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson Shandong Ruyi Technology Group has agreed to invest $410 million to remodel the former Sanyo manufacturing facility and will use the plant to spin Arkansas cotton into yarn, which will then be sold to garment manufacturers.

We’re told this will be the company’s first factory in North America and it is locating right next door to us.

Another major economic factor in all this is that Rujyi aims to purchase about 200,000 tons of Arkansas cotton per year, according to Hutchinson, who spoke alongside Ruyi’s chairman, Yafu Qiu, and state economic development leaders during an announcement in Little Rock.

In return, Forrest City and St. Francis County have agreed to provide close to $1 million in incentives.

The average pay for these 800 employees will be $15.25 per hour, not bad, not bad at all based on the current job market.

And, let’s not forget folks how our neighbors in nearby Osceola are sitting back in their rocking chairs, smoking their big fat Cuban cigars enjoying the massive benefits from the recently completed multi-million Big River Steel Plant. At least Marion is trying to benefit from this major economic boom by marketing itself as an ideal location for Big Steel employees to live, school their children and raise their families in an ideal family-oriented environment. Granted, it isn’t much but at least Marion is making an effort.

This latest economic boom to this Delta region is due in large part to this Republican governor’s relationship with Chinese officials and business leaders during his two trade missions to China since he became governor.

What also needs to be realized is the residual economic impact this manufacturing plant will have on the entire Forrest City and St. Francis County area, which will include additional housing, retail expansion and restaurants.

While we don’t have a massive steel plant or now a major textile manufacturer that are creating hundreds of well-paying jobs we can be proud of our soon-tobe new hospital and thanks to Crittenden County Judge Woody Wheeless we have a Department of Corrections Women’s rehabilitation facility. Let’s hope that some day in the near future we’ll be rejoicing over such an economic opportunity.