PRADCO-Fishing to build new manufacturing facility in Fort Smith
PRADCO-Fishing, the world leader in the manufacturing of fishing lures, announced plans to invest $21 million in a new 300,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at Fort Chaffee (Fort Smith). PRADCO, located in Fort Smith since 1962, currently occupies three buildings in Fort Smith that total 120,000 square feet. The move from the three existing buildings to the new Fort Chaffee location will give PRADCO the potential for further expansion.
PRADCO currently employs 150 people in Fort Smith.
“PRADCO and its fishing lures have found a great fit in Fort Smith and the Natural State for 46 years,” Governor Mike Beebe said. “We appreciate their continued investment in Arkansas, especially as we work with businesses to redevelop this area of Fort Chaffee.”
PRADCO is a subsidiary of ESBCO, which is ranked in the in the top 200 of the nation’s largest privately held corporations.
“PRADCO-Fishing has been a part of the Fort Smith community since 1962, and we appreciate the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, the City of Fort Smith and the State of Arkansas showing strong cooperation and commitment to our employees and our expansion vision,” said Bruce Stanton, Vice President and General Manager of PRADCO-Fishing. “We are a leader in the fishing industry worldwide, and we are pleased that the innovation and leadership will continue to be located in Fort Smith, Arkansas. This is our home, and we definitely have been made feel extremely welcome by our local and state leaders.”
PRADCO manufactures popular brand name fishing lures such as Rebel, Heddon, Yum, Bomber and Booyah.
“We are excited that PRADCO has chosen Fort Smith for its new state of the art manufacturing facility,” Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce Tom Manskey said. “The increased size and capacity of this facility ensures that PRADCO’s successful business will continue to grow here in Fort Smith for years to come.”
PRADCO’s fishing lures and products can be found at leading merchants, department stores, catalog houses and neighborhood and tackle stores.
Additional information can be found at www.lurenet.com.
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