I’ve worked for a Steel Company in that part of Arkansas before. In my experience what drove companies to move there were:
Lax environmental regulations
Access to the Mississippi river for raw materials
Cheap electricity from local coal and gas plants
Anti Union state and local governments
Tax incentives from the state and local governments
Wages weren’t really bad from what I remember. Many jobs starting at $80k, with good production bonus incentives. Though the work was often very physical with long working hours.
This is also why the right wing is so upset about falling fertility rates. Have more babies future desperate laborers. And of course current laborers become more desperate when they have more mouths to feed.
I’ve been to Arkansas many times as I live just across the state line.
There’s fucking nothing in the entire goddamn state, even in the state capital Little Rock. It’s gorgeous land, they don’t call it “The Natural State” for nothing, and I’ve found some cool shops when I’ve gone looking; but there’s just no infrastructure of any kind aside from decent roads.
Is it because they built the plants in Arkansas so they wouldn’t have to pay anyone?
I’ve worked for a Steel Company in that part of Arkansas before. In my experience what drove companies to move there were:
Wages weren’t really bad from what I remember. Many jobs starting at $80k, with good production bonus incentives. Though the work was often very physical with long working hours.
What is there in Arkansas for a steel mill? Iron ore??? cheap electricity???
Desperate laborers, and, I’m guessing, no union troubles.
This is also why the right wing is so upset about falling fertility rates. Have more
babiesfuture desperate laborers. And of course current laborers become more desperate when they have more mouths to feed.I’ve been to Arkansas many times as I live just across the state line.
There’s fucking nothing in the entire goddamn state, even in the state capital Little Rock. It’s gorgeous land, they don’t call it “The Natural State” for nothing, and I’ve found some cool shops when I’ve gone looking; but there’s just no infrastructure of any kind aside from decent roads.
Thank you for thinking. We could use more of that.