The Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, the Stuttgart Industrial Development Corp. and Entergy Arkansas announced Tuesday the completion of Select Site certification for two industrial sites, one 154-acre site and one 62-acre site in the Stuttgart Industrial Park on U.S. 79.
“Select Site is an initiative designed to provide Entergy Arkansas-served communities with a competitive advantage and shovel-ready sites,” according to a news release. “This developmental and promotional tool allows communities to certify sites using a set of comprehensive and pre-determined criteria to better satisfy site location searches by consultants and companies.”
Representatives from participating organizations, along with Stuttgart Mayor Norma King Strabala, were on hand to celebrate the achievements.
“We have been working diligently on improving the Stuttgart Industrial Park,” said Bethany Hildebrand, president and CEO of the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce. “For the past two years, we were successful in obtaining two significant grants, one from the Economic Development Authority and one from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, that helped us extend water and sewer to the industrial park. This certification is the next step to making these two sites among the top industrial sites in the state.”
Danny Games, Entergy Arkansas vice president of Business and Economic Development, was on hand to recognize the two Stuttgart sites as the newest Entergy Arkansas Select Sites and commended the group on the completion of the comprehensive review and documentation process. A grant was provided by Entergy Arkansas to help offset some of the costs associated with the certifications. Also, as a benefit of certification, a custom video and 360-degree images of the sites were created by Entergy Arkansas.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Stuttgart Industrial Park Site 1 and Site 2 will be featured on the Arkansas Site Selection Center.
“Certifying a site is not an easy or quick task and certifying two at the same time is an even bigger challenge,” Games said. “Accomplishing these certifications ensures that Stuttgart has timely information on hand to satisfy site location consultants and prospective company inquiries. We are pleased to recognize Stuttgart for achieving this milestone and look forward to featuring the Stuttgart Industrial Park Select Sites on our website and promoting them as our newest certified sites.”
The Select Site initiative helps communities better prepare their sites as winning candidates for high-tech, manufacturing and distribution projects with a thorough audit of the site’s readiness for new or expanding business. Through the Select Site program and the Arkansas Site Selection Center, Entergy Arkansas is helping to meet those needs.
Other Select Site properties are located in Little Rock, Jefferson County, Newport, Osceola, Russellville, West Memphis and Wynne.
Recently-announced projects in the state that have begun operations or are under construction on former Select Sites include an Amazon Fulfillment Center in Little Rock, Owens Corning in Russellville and the Tractor Supply Co. distribution center in Maumelle.
Visit www.ArkansasSiteSelection.com for details on each Entergy Arkansas Select Site, including the new Stuttgart sites.