W&W|AFCO Steel to Expand Arkansas Operations
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (April 20, 2022) – W&W|AFCO Steel will be locating a new steel fabrication facility in the former LM Wind Power building at the Port of Little Rock, the company announced today. The expansion will add another 115 full-time jobs over five years and a $18.7 million investment to the company’s operations throughout the state. W&W|AFCO Steel currently has four other locations in Arkansas, including three in Little Rock, employing more than 400 Arkansans combined.
The Port of Little Rock location will allow W&W|AFCO Steel to expand their production of fabricated structural steel used in bridges and commercial buildings.
“W&W|AFCO Steel is proud to announce this expansion in Little Rock. Our bridge operations are headquartered in Little Rock and we are happy to seize the opportunity to make a productive plant out of this vacant building,” Grady Harvell, President and COO of W&W|AFCO Steel, said. “The new facility will enhance our ability to continue providing competitive steel bridges to the state of Arkansas and the region as well as increase our production capacity for steel building products. We are happy to partner with AEDC, Little Rock and the Little Rock Port Authority in this expansion.”
“For more than a century, W&W|AFCO Steel has been a strong business partner in Arkansas,” said Governor Asa Hutchinson. “Much of Little Rock’s commercial buildings were built with AFCO steel, and I’m thrilled to see that a company that has invested so much in our community continues to prosper.”
AFCO Steel was founded in Little Rock in 1909. The family-owned company was sold in 2002 to W&W Steel of Oklahoma City where it is now headquartered. Today, W&W|AFCO Steel is the largest structural steel fabricator and erector in the United States. The company now has 18 production facilities in 11 states covering 3.4 million square feet.
“W&W|AFCO Steel’s decision to expand in Little Rock further solidifies our state’s position as a national steel leader,” said Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston. “With a skilled workforce and competitive business environment, we continue to build on the economic momentum we’ve been seeing the past couple of years. I’m confident this expansion will continue to allow the company to reach their full potential.”
“W&W|AFCO Steel is a valuable community partner that understands Little Rock is a great place to expand its operations,” said Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. “With its central location and access to multiple modes of transportation, the Port of Little Rock is the best location in the country to grow a business. We’re excited to see more than 100 new jobs come to the city as we continue growing forward with our economic development efforts.”
“County Judge Barry Hyde welcomes this announcement that W&W|AFCO Steel, a company with a long history in Pulaski County, is expanding operations and will create more, good-paying jobs in our community. I applaud their efforts and thank them for being a good corporate citizen in our county.”
“Nearly 60 years ago AFCO Steel was one of the first businesses to operate at the Port of Little Rock,” said Port Authority Chairman Joe Bailey. “Today’s announcement brings the company full circle, and we look forward to supporting W&W|AFCO Steel as they expand and continue to grow at the Port.”
“W&W|AFCO Steel has been a staple of Little Rock’s manufacturing industry for over a century,” said Jim Cargill, 2022 Chairman of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. “It is always gratifying to see home grown companies have the opportunity to expand here and continue to add to our community’s vibrant future.”
The company’s steel has been used in such projects as the Tesla Gigafactory in Sparks, Nev.; AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex.; the Boeing 777X Composite Wing facility in Everett, Wash.; the National September 11th Memorial and Museum in New York, and the Big Rock Interchange in Little Rock. With a strong commitment to sustainability, W&W|AFCO Steel can support any level of LEED certification.
For more information about W&W-AFCO Steel, visit www.wwafcosteel.com.