FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — Rheem Manufacturing Co. says it plans to shift about 250 jobs from its operation in Fort Smith to a plant in Mexico.
Fort Smith is the company's air conditioning division headquarters. The company said Thursday it's expanding its plant in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, by more than 290,000 square feet and will begin producing residential products there that now are produced in Fort Smith.
The company says the process of moving the jobs will take about three years. It says it anticipates most employees in the affected jobs will be able to move into other positions that will open at the Fort Smith plantthrough normal attrition and retirements.
