Eaton Corp. to build $242 million factory in North Little Rock, employ 1,200

Eaton Corp. announced a $242 million investment to construct a new factory in North Little Rock, Arkansas, a project expected to create 1,200 jobs. The 1 million-square-foot facility will manufacture customized electrical enclosures for Eaton’s Fibrebond business, aiming to double its U.S. manufacturing capacity to meet the rapidly growing demand from data centers, utilities, industrial, and digital communications markets.

Mike Yelton, Eaton’s president of the Electrical Sector, Americas, stated that the investment will enhance the company's ability to deliver custom modular electrical enclosures while strengthening its U.S. manufacturing capacity and skilled workforce. The surge in data center construction across Arkansas, including projects by Serverfarm in Clarksville, Google in West Memphis and the Port of Little Rock, AVAIO Leo near Wrightsville, and EdgeConneX near Sheridan, is a key driver for this increased demand.

According to consultancy Wood Mackenzie, the U.S. data center electrical equipment market is projected to grow from $20 billion to $65 billion by 2030, with data centers potentially accounting for up to 40% of the total U.S. electrical equipment market. The project received $12 million from Arkansas’s Quick Action Closing Fund and an incentive through the Create Rebate Program, highlighting a collaborative effort between the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the City of North Little Rock, and the Metro Little Rock Alliance.

Jack Thomas, senior vice president of economic development for the Little Rock Regional Chamber, noted that North Little Rock's proximity to transportation infrastructure and its skilled workforce were crucial factors in Eaton’s decision. Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, hailed Eaton’s investment as