I'm about an hour north of Wal-Mart's headquarters, which is in Bentonville, Ark. Employment? Well, all around us, it isn't pretty. Kansas City has been especially bad because of Sprint. Tulsa, Okla., one might think, would be doing well because it's and old oil/gas town. But Oklahoma has lost thousands of jobs to Houston, for whatever reason.
Northwest Arkansas is booming. It's unreal. Proctor & Gamble, and dozens of other giant companies, are moving part of their operation to Northwest Arkansas to be closer to Wal-Mart and ensure friendly ties.
There is a new airport there that one day likely will be renamed Bill Clinton International Airport. It's huge, and they are rapidly running run out of space to expand.
Northwest Arkansas consists primarily of Fayetteville (home of the University of Arkansas), Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville. It is also the home of Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt Transportation.
The unemployment rate is 2.5%.
Caveat: You will be shocked at how little these people receive on payday. You will be even more shocked to learn that a person can rent a decent house for $300 a month.
But please _ do not visit Arkansas in August. It is hot and humid. That doesn't last long, though. Come October, the sheer natural beauty of the place is overwhelming.
PB |
