FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — A pet food manufacturing facility in Fort Smith has announced plans for an expansion that will create 130 new jobs.
Mars Petcare announced Wednesday that it will invest $72 million — with the potential to grow to $110 million — in the Fort Smith plant, which produces dog food and cat food under the Cesar, Nutro and Sheba brand names.
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission says Wednesday's announcement is in addition to the $130 million that Mars invested in the site between 2007 and 2015, which resulted in 200 full-time jobs. Officials say that the Mars plant was Arkansas' first sustainable manufacturing facility when it was constructed in 2007.
State officials say Mars received a $500,000 incentive plus additional tax rebates from the state.