Springdale Leads Arkansas in Job Creation
By: Marissa Stevens, KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: March 15, 2013
Jobs can be hard to come by in a tough economy, but a city in Northwest Arkansas claims one of the top spots for job creation in the state.
"We're just very excited and pleased that we're showing such strong numbers," says Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse.
Springdale created 43-percent of the jobs in Northwest Arkansas between January 2010 and December 2012, according to the Arkansas Department of Labor.
"Springdale has traditionally been a very strong job creator and we've got a lot of industry here. We've certainly got a fast growing school district," says Mayor Sprouse.
He knows growth is a good problem to have.
"Number wise, Springdale has been over the past decade the fastest growing city in the state and we put all that together and continue to show strong job growth, then I think it's a very positive sign for us," he says.
With job creation, comes development. The city is looking to add 200 acres of parks, three fire stations and an interstate interchange, but the mayor believes there is still work to be done.
"There are sectors where I think Springdale has fallen behind in certain retail areas, and we need to work on that. All those people that come here to work, they need a place to eat lunch, they need places to do other things and shop. Going to see a lot of orange barrels and a lot of construction for a while, but through that pain will come great infrastructure that will continue to encourage great development," says Mayor Sprouse.
Orange barrels, representing a thriving city that is leading the state in job creation.
"It's encouraging to know that that spirit is still here in Springdale and going strong... We're about to take our turn, so I think that's a good way to put it," the mayor says, adding that Springdale has actually been one of the top cities in the state for job creation since 2000. So while they have been holding the lead, these new numbers are quite impressive.
Click here to watch this report.
"We're just very excited and pleased that we're showing such strong numbers," says Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse.
Springdale created 43-percent of the jobs in Northwest Arkansas between January 2010 and December 2012, according to the Arkansas Department of Labor.
"Springdale has traditionally been a very strong job creator and we've got a lot of industry here. We've certainly got a fast growing school district," says Mayor Sprouse.
He knows growth is a good problem to have.
"Number wise, Springdale has been over the past decade the fastest growing city in the state and we put all that together and continue to show strong job growth, then I think it's a very positive sign for us," he says.
With job creation, comes development. The city is looking to add 200 acres of parks, three fire stations and an interstate interchange, but the mayor believes there is still work to be done.
"There are sectors where I think Springdale has fallen behind in certain retail areas, and we need to work on that. All those people that come here to work, they need a place to eat lunch, they need places to do other things and shop. Going to see a lot of orange barrels and a lot of construction for a while, but through that pain will come great infrastructure that will continue to encourage great development," says Mayor Sprouse.
Orange barrels, representing a thriving city that is leading the state in job creation.
"It's encouraging to know that that spirit is still here in Springdale and going strong... We're about to take our turn, so I think that's a good way to put it," the mayor says, adding that Springdale has actually been one of the top cities in the state for job creation since 2000. So while they have been holding the lead, these new numbers are quite impressive.
Click here to watch this report.
