MORRILTON, Ark. (KATV) — The city of Morrilton and Conway County closed out a year of historic economic growth, driven by major investments in manufacturing, education and infrastructure that local leaders said will shape the region for years to come.
Construction has been underway across Morrilton and Conway County on some of the largest projects in the community’s history.
The biggest driver of that growth has been manufacturing. Last summer, Green Bay Packaging broke ground on a $1 billion expansion of its Arkansas Kraft Mill, the largest private investment in Central Arkansas history.
Green Bay Packaging makes historic $1 billion investment in Arkansas Kraft Paper Mill
“It’s a $1 billion investment. It’s the largest in Central Arkansas history for private investment, and it’s had a major impact on our community already and will for several, several years,” said Donnie Crain, president and CEO of the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce and Conway County Economic Development Corporation.
Crain said the investment is fueling growth beyond the mill itself. “With aging infrastructure, this investment in their facility not only preserves what we have, but also allows additional growth as they’ll be able to increase their output,” he said.
Economic momentum is also showing up in retail. Conway County’s sales tax collections are leading the state, up more than 9% year over year. “I would say that our local economy here in Conway County, in Morrilton, is red hot,” Crain said. “Conway County is growing population-wise.”
Education and healthcare are also seeing major investments. The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton recently completed a $16 million nursing and science center, while CHI St. Vincent Morrilton plans to invest $10 million in facility improvements.
Transportation projects, including the completion of the Highway 113 relocation, are helping support growth and future development. “We’re laying the groundwork. So a lot of these are projects that not only are good for us here in the short term, but what they will be able to lead to in the future is what’s really most exciting to me,” Crain said.
Tourism investments at Petit Jean State Park and more construction projects are also in the works, signaling that Conway County’s growth is far from finished. The city plans to continue developing new industrial sites to attract future investment.