From the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Bell Lumber & Pole is expanding its manufacturing facility in De Queen, Arkansas to accelerate the production of Southern Yellow Pine utility poles in the southern region of the United States. This facility represents a meaningful, long-term capital investment and is expected to create 12 new jobs in De Queen over the next two years.
“We’re excited to become part of the De Queen community and to build strong local partnerships as we grow. This investment allows us to expand capacity, strengthen our regional presence, and create opportunities that support both our customers and the people who make this work possible,” said Tom Bell, President of Bell Lumber & Pole.
The facility—the company’s first in Arkansas—focuses on the peeling, conditioning, and interior storage of utility poles. Bell Lumber & Pole currently has 17 full-time employees at the De Queen facility.
“Bell Lumber & Pole’s first investment in Arkansas is a testament to our strong forestry industry, hardworking and talented workforce, and thriving economy,” said Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “By producing utility poles here at home, this project will strengthen domestic supply chains and infrastructure and bring new opportunity to rural Arkansas communities.”
De Queen was selected for the facility thanks to its strategic location and proximity to natural resources. With its location and resource advantages, Bell Lumber & Pole plans to increase its company’s production capacity and efficiency, enabling faster turnaround times for manufacturing and delivering of utility poles.
“Arkansas is the heart of America’s wood basket, and we are excited to see continued growth in our region with Bell Lumber and Pole’s new manufacturing facility in De Queen,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “The investment will have a significant impact on this community and the surrounding region, creating new job opportunities and boosting the local timber industry. We thank Bell Lumber and Pole for their confidence and congratulate the City of De Queen and the local leadership driving economic development in Sevier County on this important win.”
At the De Queen facility, utility poles will be manufactured by a multi-step process, taking raw timber and conditioning it into a finished product. The raw timber will be peeled to ensure high-quality poles for utility infrastructure and will then be conditioned to increase durability and ability to withstand environmental stressors. The facility will also provide organized storage for the utility poles ahead of shipping for customer needs.
“Bell Lumber & Pole’s decision to locate in De Queen speaks volumes about the strength of our workforce, our location, and the partnerships we’ve built at every level,” said De Queen Mayor Jeff Brown. “This investment brings new opportunity to our residents and reinforces De Queen’s role as a place where industry and community grow together.
“Today’s announcement shows what’s possible when a community works together with intention,” said Veronica Ozura, economic development director for Sevier County and director of the FRIENDS Foundation. “Bell Lumber & Pole’s decision to locate in De Queen reflects the strong collaboration among the company, FRIENDS, and local, regional, and state partners, aligned around a shared purpose of creating quality jobs and long-term opportunity for Sevier County.”
Headquartered in New Brighton, Minnesota, Bell Lumber & Pole is a fifth-generation, family-owned company delivering customized wood products for a range of industries, including the utility and telecom industries. Bell Lumber & Pole also manufactures piling and posts as well as mass timber solutions.
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