The Little Rock Regional Chamber is dedicated to economic development. Jobs, corporate investment and business growth are the Chamber’s top priorities. In 2024, the Little Rock region saw dynamic growth across multiple industries, from manufacturing to logistics. The Port of Little Rock, in particular, was a hotspot for investment last year.

Windsor Door Invests $21M in Little Rock Facility

In June, Windsor Door cut the ribbon on a new production line that was poised to double its facility’s annual output. The new line represented a $21 million investment in its Little Rock operations.

The company, which has been located in Little Rock since 1964, is a leading manufacturer of residential garage and commercial sectional overhead door products. The new automated production line will produce 400,000 garage doors annually, and company President Bob Strahan said it will necessitate job creation.

“Even though there’s fewer people working on that line, it’s going to generate more opportunities for employment, because we’re going to need more tracks, more hardware, more people loading trucks. Even though it’s focused and it’s reducing our cost, it’s enabling us to still grow our business and expand,” Strahan told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Local officials applauded the company’s investment and dedication to growing in Arkansas.

“In economic development, it’s often newsworthy to land a new-to-market company, but the true success of a community is its ability to support the companies already located in the area,” said Little Rock Regional Chamber Vice President of Economic Development Jack Thomas.

Windsor Door’s production expansion is expected to additionally double the company’s purchase position from Arkansas steel mills, another boon to local supply chains supporting the state’s economy.

“When Arkansas businesses grow, our entire economy grows with them,” said Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “Today’s announcement is great news for Windsor Door and its Central Arkansas employees, but it’s also a win for our steel industry, our home builders, our logistics companies and everyone who works at and benefits from these homegrown businesses.”

Learn more about Windsor Door at windsordoor.com.

Construction Begins on Elopak’s State-of-the-Art Facility

In March, just three months after announcing plans to construct its first U.S. production site in Little Rock, global manufacturer Elopak broke ground on the facility at the Port of Little Rock.

“Thanks to the fantastic support of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Little Rock Regional Chamber, this great project is now underway,” Elopak’s North American Executive Vice President Lionel Ettedgui said.

Based in Norway, Elopak will produce sustainable cartons for milk, juices, plant-based products and liquid eggs at its Little Rock facility. The factory represents a $70 million investment that will create 100 permanent jobs.

“Great international companies like Elopak are discovering that Arkansas has everything needed to be successful, from a favorable business climate to workforce to available land,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

The company held a job fair last November, with expectations that the facility would be fully up-and-running by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

“Elopak’s decision to build its first U.S. production plant here in Little Rock is a testament to the strength of our economy, the local workforce and the logistical advantages of The Port of Little Rock,” said Mayor Frank Scott. “We appreciate the investment and commitment to this community, and we are glad to be a focal point for Elopak’s North American expansion efforts.”

Learn more about Elopak at elopak.com.

Total Quality Logistics Chooses Little Rock for Arkansas Expansion

In February, Total Quality Logistics chose to locate its second Arkansas office in Little Rock.

“We’ve been in Arkansas for over a decade and are proud to expand our footprint and deepen our commitment to the state with an office in the Little Rock community,” said TQL President Kerry Byrne. “We chose Little Rock for many reasons, including its thriving local economy and great pool of talent. We’re excited to be part of the state’s largest municipality.”

The second-largest freight brokerage in North America, TQL selected Little Rock because of its status as a transportation hub in Arkansas. The Port of Little Rock, for example, is a designated Foreign Trade Zone and United States Customs Point of Entry; the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport transports 2.2 million passengers annually; and there are two Dual Class I rail lines locally.

“Arkansas sits at the crossroads of America and is proud to host some of the world’s largest logistics companies, including TQL. I’m proud they’ve decided to double down on their investment in our state and expand to Little Rock,” said Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

TQL has over 60 offices nationwide, including in Fayetteville, where more than 100 people are employed. The company has its sights set on establishing and growing the Little Rock office to the same level.

“Because of the geographic and infrastructure advantages that make Little Rock an important logistical and transportation hub, there’s no better fit than Arkansas’s capital city for one of the world’s largest logistics firms,” said Mayor Frank Scott Jr. “We welcome TQL and its investment in our community, and we appreciate its commitment to expansion within our region.”

TQL’s new 5,000-square-foot office is located at 1701 Center View Dr. Learn more about the company at tql.com.

Big Wins Timeline

February

► National freight brokerage Total Quality Logistics chooses to add an office in Little Rock, citing a thriving local economy and great pool of talent.

“We’ve been in Arkansas for over a decade and are proud to expand our footprint and deepen our commitment to the state.” — TQL President Kerry Byrne

March

► Global manufacturer Elopak breaks ground on a facility at the Port of Little Rock, just three months after announcing plans to construct its first U.S. production site in Little Rock.

“From all the locations I looked at, Little Rock wasn’t the biggest place. It was the smallest. But it acted big, thought big.” — Reinard Dreesmann, Elopak vice president of operations for the Americas

June

► Windsor Door adds a production line to double the facility’s annual output by 400,000 garage doors

“It’s often newsworthy to land a new-to-market company, but the true success of a community is its ability to support the companies already located in the area.” — Little Rock Regional Chamber Vice President of Economic Development Jack Thomas

August

► Trex Company holds topping out ceremony at new building on 300-acre Little Rock manufacturing campus

“This new campus has the potential to be Trex’s largest and most productive.” — Adam Zambanini, Trex chief operations officer

October

► Faymonville Group selects Little Rock for first U.S. production facility

“Faymonville Group recognized our state’s demonstrated industrial success and future potential when selecting the Port of Little Rock to be its first U.S. production site. This major investment will create hundreds of new jobs for Arkansans and represents the confidence it has in our workforce and business climate.” — U.S. Sen. John Boozman

► Welspun Tubular announces Port facility upgrades

“We are excited to make this expansion in Arkansas and add additional high-skilled, high-wage jobs to the region.” — Gerard Mosley, Welspun Tubular chief operations officer

December

► LRockRX opens compounding pharmacy, offering personalized health care

“Supporting entrepreneurs is critical for economic growth, and we are excited to see companies like LRockRx achieve success in their entrepreneurial ventures and grow in the Natural State.” — Clint O’Neal, Arkansas Economic Development Commission executive director