Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson joins Mars Petcare and city and state officials to celebrate the announcement of a $145M expansion to the Mars Petcare Fort Smith manufacturing facility. Left to Right: Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman, Curtis Ralston, Arkansas Secretary of Commerce, Mike Preston, Mars Petcare Site Director, Michael Poffinbarger, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Fort Smith Mayor, George McGill. Credit: James Shelly of J. Shelly Photography
Mars Petcare is investing $145 million to expand its manufacturing facility located in Fort Smith, Ark. According to the January 15 announcement, the expansion will begin this month and is scheduled to be completed in 2022.
The $145 million will allow the petcare arm of Mars Inc. to add more than 200,000 square feet and two additional production lines which will increase production capacity 40%.
The Fort Smith facility opened in September 2009 and is part of Mars' 14 Petcare sites in the United States. To date, Mars Petcare has invested more than $420 million into this facility, which currently employs 300 people from the surrounding community. According to company officials, the latest investment will create an additional 120 full-time jobs.
