Chamber reports manufacturing expansion, downtown prospects and Majestic site activity

Representatives from the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and Metro Partnership delivered the chamber’s July economic development update to the board, reporting multiple prospect meetings, workforce initiatives and a local manufacturing expansion that the chamber said will add jobs.

Cole McCaskill, delivering the July report, said a July 25 announcement by Wind Choice Windows included “50 new jobs at their facility, a $3,000,000 expansion to their manufacturing facility, and a rebrand of all of their different brands into 1 name called just Wind Choice.” McCaskill said the company hinted at a potential additional expansion in the near future.

McCaskill and chamber partners described multiple prospect meetings, outreach to National Park College about program revamps, employer panels for high-school teachers and workforce presentations. He said the chamber hosted professional development for teachers, met with new managers at the Arkansas Passport Center about expansion construction, and participated in outreach with AEDC on manufacturing prospects.

Regarding the Majestic site, the chamber said there are three serious projects under consideration; one is a publicly discussed library proposal while two remain confidential. McCaskill said some prospects may be able to share the Majestic site because none require the site in its entirety.

The chamber also noted other economic development activity: calls with manufacturers about expansions, a retail development prospect, Helms Briscoe team visits to recruit events, and continued trustee-level engagement. The chamber reported staff and trustees will travel to conferences and pursue new events such as a chamber bingo night and Washington, D.C. fly-ins.

The report was delivered as part of the board’s recognition of guests; no board action was required.