Trex Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of high-performance, low-maintenance, eco-friendly composite decking and railing, and a leading brand of outdoor living products, today commemorated the topping out of the flagship building at its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. Representing an estimated $400M investment by Trex, the multi-faceted production campus is intended to increase capacity and the company’s ability to meet the strong demand for its industry-leading products.
“We are thrilled to reach this important milestone in the development of our new facility,” said Bryan H. Fairbanks, President and CEO of Trex Company. “We continue to experience broad-based demand driven by strong consumer interest in outdoor living. This new campus will enable us to provide our customers with significantly better access to Trex products while strengthening our position for future growth.”
At a topping-out ceremony, held today at the Trex site, company executives were joined by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Clint O’Neal and Little Rock Regional Chamber President & CEO Jay Chesshir, along other local officials and representatives from the construction team. During the event, the final structural steel beam, signed by project stakeholders, was placed atop the new decking facility, symbolizing the collaborative effort and dedication of all involved in the project.
“Great things happen when every level of government and the private sector are working on the same page. That’s what this facility represents: not just one business investing in Little Rock, but an entire network working together to make it happen,” said Governor Sanders. “As we cut taxes and invest in our workforce, companies like Trex are only going to grow.”
“We are honored to celebrate this milestone with Trex, a company whose focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship complements the efforts of the City of Little Rock and Pulaski County,” said Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. “Today’s milestone signifies being one step closer to hundreds of high-paying jobs for our residents and we congratulate Trex on its progress.”
Situated on nearly 300 acres of land in the Port of Little Rock, the new site is Trex’s third U.S.-based manufacturing location, joining Fernley, Nevada and Winchester, Virginia, where the company is headquartered. When complete, the Little Rock campus will include buildings dedicated to decking and railing production, plastic film recycling and processing, reclaimed wood storage, warehousing and administrative offices.
“Four years after the Chamber submitted interest for what was then known confidentially as Project Treehouse, we stand with Trex to celebrate the vision of what existed then on paper, coming to life now at the Port of Little Rock,” added Jay Chesshir, President and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. “This milestone represents a collection of community partners rallying around Trex to advance the development of this significant investment.”
The site is being developed by Gray Construction who was selected by Trex to design and build the Little Rock manufacturing campus. “As we reach the topping-out milestone, we are not just marking the completion of the highest point of this structure, but also celebrating the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of everyone involved in this project,” said Brian Jones, president & CEO of Gray Construction. “This achievement reflects the collective commitment to excellence and innovation from Gray, Trex, and all our trade partners. We look forward to delivering a landmark that will stand as a testament to what we can accomplish together."
Today’s celebration marked the completion of the structural framework for the composite decking production plant. Once operational, this facility will feature advanced production lines equipped with the latest technology to ensure the highest quality and efficiency. In alignment with Trex’s legacy and ongoing commitment to sustainability, the facility will incorporate eco-friendly systems, practices and materials.
“This new campus has the potential to be Trex’s largest and most productive,” said Adam Zambanini, Executive Vice President and COO of Trex Company. “The facilities will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, employ proprietary technologies and energy-efficient systems designed to drive optimal output with a focus on sustainability and circularity.”
Leaning Into Little Rock
Beyond its impact as a new Little Rock business, Trex is actively immersing itself in the broader community as well. The company donated decking and drink railing to Dickey-Stephens Park, home of the Arkansas Travelers baseball team, to create a “Best Seats in the House” section that it has sponsored throughout this season. Area residents can also see Trex products on display at The Nest, a co-working community located on W Daisy L Gatson Bates Drive, where Trex provided decking, railing, a pergola and furniture for The Outer Wing.
In addition to product donations, Trex sponsored the 2024 Little Rock Marathon and plans to support the event again next year. The company also has worked closely with Keep Arkansas Beautiful to educate students across the state about the importance of responsible recycling through the NexTrex® Recycling Challenge. This joint initiative was recognized by the Arkansas Recycling Coalition as the “2023 Recycling Education Program of the Year.”
“Little Rock has been incredibly welcoming to us, and we are eager to become an integral part of the community,” added Fairbanks. “The people and quality of life are wonderful and are sure to help us attract top talent from across the country.”
“Trex’s announcement of its $400 million manufacturing facility was a major win for Arkansas, and we’re excited to see this important milestone,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “In the coming years, Trex will be creating hundreds of good-paying jobs, and Arkansas has an experienced manufacturing workforce and strong talent pipeline that can meet the company’s needs. We congratulate Trex and look forward to their future success in Little Rock, Arkansas.”
Over time, Trex expects the Little Rock facility to bring more than 500 new jobs to the area. Hiring has already begun for key facility management positions and recruiting for hourly employees will begin soon. In addition to working for a successful, established organization that is the undisputed leader in its category, Trex employees receive highly competitive pay and benefits, along with training and opportunities for quick advancement. Additionally, new Little Rock hires will have the uncommon opportunity to shape their roles and build success, nearly from scratch. More information can be found on the Trex Careers page.
“The Little Rock Port Authority was created sixty-five years ago to help grow Little Rock’s economy. As Trex tops out this amazing facility, it will soon be offering high paying jobs for hundreds of Arkansas families. This is exactly what the Port of Little Rock was destined to do. We are proud of all of our partners, but today, we are truly proud of Trex for their investment and for choosing Little Rock as their new home," said Clay McGeorge, Little Rock Port Authority Board Chair.
Trex Company opened its first production lines in Virginia in 1993 with 36 employees. The company now has more than 1,700 employees worldwide and leads the industry on a global scale with a dominant share of the composite decking market, unmatched brand recognition and unsurpassed channel placement in more than 6,700 retail outlets across six continents. Named America’s Most Trusted® Outdoor Decking* 4 Years in a Row (2021-2024), Trex was also recently included on Barron’s list of the 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2024, named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024 by Newsweek and ranked as one of the 100 Best ESG Companies for 2023 by Investor’s Business Daily.