John Tyson, chairman of Tyson Foods, Inc. reaffirmed the company’s commitment to help rebuild downtown Springdale by sharing more about the company’s plans and vision for the area.
“We’re collaborating with the Downtown Springdale Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders on ways to make this area a hub of innovation,” Tyson said. “We hope others will join the effort to help make downtown Springdale an intersection where commerce, food, the arts and families meet.”
Last January, Tyson Foods announced a $1 million gift to the Downtown Springdale Alliance. “While the purpose of that donation was to help jump-start the revitalization of downtown, what’s even more important is bringing people back to Emma Street,” Tyson said. “That’s why we have plans to locate more than 300 of our corporate Team Members downtown.”
Tyson revealed plans for property the company owns in the city’s downtown, including its original headquarters located at 319 E. Emma Ave. and the adjacent building at 317 E. Emma Ave., formerly known as the Brown Hatchery building.
A new two-story, 44,000 square-foot structure will be constructed on the site, between and behind the two older buildings, preserving their original frontage. Workspace for about 250 people will be created by the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2017. Demolition of several other buildings on Tyson Foods’ property will begin in mid-October.
The original headquarters building was first constructed around 1920 and was once home to the Springdale Produce Company, owned and operated by John W. Tyson, John Tyson’s grandfather. A fire partially destroyed the building in the early 1950s. It was razed and rebuilt in 1952 and became home to Tyson’s Feed & Hatchery until 1969 when the company, now known as Tyson Foods, moved to its current location.
As previously announced in January, Tyson Foods is also renovating the 28,000 square-foot building located at 516 E. Emma, named the Tyson Foods JTL Building. It will become the new home to the Tyson Company Store, a wholesale outlet where Team Members and others can purchase Tyson Foods products and a limited selection of staple grocery items. About 75 people will work at the JTL Building beginning in spring 2016.
“Downtown Springdale is where we started,” Tyson said. “There’s a rich past here, but also an exciting future – and, we plan to be part of it.”
Tyson Foods employs more than 6,000 people in Springdale and nearly 23,000 people in Arkansas, and more than 1,700 family farmers in the state grow chickens for its operations. The company also purchases cattle, pigs, grain, diesel and other utilities in Arkansas and estimates its annual statewide economic impact at more than $1.6 billion.
Renderings of the building to be constructed on Emma Avenue and a map of the site are available by clicking here.
About Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world's largest food companies with leading brands such as Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Sara Lee®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells® and State Fair®. It’s a recognized market leader in chicken, beef and pork as well as prepared foods, including bacon, breakfast sausage, turkey, lunchmeat, hot dogs, pizza crusts and toppings, tortillas and desserts. The company supplies retail and foodservice customers throughout the United States and approximately 130 countries. Tyson Foods was founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson, whose family has continued to lead the business with his son, Don Tyson, guiding the company for many years and grandson, John H. Tyson, serving as the current chairman of the board of directors. The company currently has approximately 113,000 Team Members employed at more than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.