When it comes to economic development, it pays to think ahead. For communities across Arkansas, recruiting a major employer can be essential to ensuring stability and continued growth. So it was with no small celebration that Maumelle hosted the grand opening of its Tractor Supply Co. distribution center in 2024.
“Across the country, many Americans are struggling right now,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at the event. “Prices are higher, but paychecks are staying the same. There’s only a few times in the past when so many Americans feel so badly about our country’s national economy. Here in Arkansas, though, we’re bucking that trend, and Tractor Supply’s just one of many companies that have decided to make a major investment in our state in the past couple of years.”
The company did not land in Maumelle by mere happenstance, however. Courtney Dunn, community engagement director, said it was an effort three years in the making that required close collaboration with the city, Entergy Arkansas, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and local landowners.
“The city of Maumelle recruited this investment through years of intentional planning, strong partnerships and a commitment to being truly ready when opportunity arrived,” she said. “We worked hand in hand with Entergy Arkansas and its business and economic development team through the Select Site program, as well as with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, to make sure the property was not just available but genuinely shovel ready.”
The Select Site certification process helped capitalize on the site’s potential while addressing challenges head-on, she said. The property underwent rigorous reviews of environmental, historical, cultural and geotechnical considerations, along with detailed land surveys, legal research and site-control verification, to ensure appropriate utility access, right-of-way readiness and fewer unknowns for future occupants.
The city also coordinated infrastructure planning, including early site improvements starting in 2017, and ensured the property aligned with zoning and long-term land-use goals, she said. By 2019, the property had achieved Select Site certification, signaling that it was ready for development.
“That preparation proved critical when TSC’s site selection consultants, JLL, approached AEDC in fall 2019, seeking a location for a 900,000-square-foot distribution center,” Dunn said. “Because of the prior work, Maumelle could respond quickly and confidently.”
The site was an ideal fit for the company’s needs for scale, zoning, transportation access and construction readiness, she added. Over several months, the city, state and utility partners worked closely with JLL and Tractor Supply Co., conducting meetings, site walkthroughs and even a helicopter flyover.
In 2022, the company publicly announced that Maumelle would be the site of its 10th distribution center.
Cody Ritchson, general manager, said Tractor Supply Co. chose Maumelle because of its strategic location, workforce availability and readiness to support the growing store network.
“The Maumelle facility allows us to efficiently serve stores across the region while strengthening our supply chain capabilities,” he said.
Having a development-ready property also encouraged Tractor Supply Co. to move forward quickly and confidently, building a state-of-the-art distribution center that reflects the company’s commitment to efficiency, long-term growth, and bringing new jobs and investment to central Arkansas, he said.
“Maumelle also offers a high quality of life, which matters to us as we attract and retain team members,” he added. “Its preparation, collaboration and access to a strong workforce made it a natural fit for this milestone investment as Tractor Supply continues to grow and support our stores and customers.”
Dunn said the city plans to utilize the same proactive approach when attracting additional investment.
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