Walmart Shareholders

2 • Walmart Shareholders • 2022 Democrat-Gazette Staff Walmart Inc. said Wednesday that it will spend an additional $350 billion over the next 10 years on items made, grown or assembled in the United States. e company estimates this spending will support more than 750,000 new jobs. e investment builds on the Bentonville- based retailer's 2013 commitment to spend $250 billion on these products by 2023, said John Furner, president and chief executive of Walmart U.S., in April 2021. "We're on track to deliver on this commitment, but we think we can do more," Furner said in a company blog post. e $350 billion will focus on six categories, Furner said. ese are plastics; textiles; small electrical appliances; food processing; pharmaceutical and medical supplies; and Goods Not For Resale, defined on Walmart's website as products and services for the company's use. ese include store equipment and fixtures, construction materials and facilities maintenance. Walmart said it based its job creation figures on research by the Boston Consulting Group, which used data from the nonprofit Economic Policy Institute and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. e added funds will provide other benefits, Furner said, including avoiding about 110 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions by sourcing closer to customers. is aligns with Walmart's goal to cut its greenhouse- gas emissions 18% by 2025 compared with 2015 levels, according to the company's 2020 Environmental, Social and Governance Report. e money will also help out small businesses, suppliers and sellers based in the U.S., Furner said. One of the ways it will do this, he said, is by giving 9,000 entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their shelf-ready products to Walmart buyers at the company's annual Open Call events. Furner also said Walmart is introducing a concept that it calls American Lighthouses that's intended to identify and break down barriers to U.S. manufacturing. "ese Lighthouses will bring together participants from the supplier community (including manufacturers and non- governmental organizations), as well as others from academia, government and local economic development groups," Furner said. "By bringing together key regions and various stakeholders, we can make the supply chain more efficient," he said. "e aim is to bring U.S. manufacturing back in a sustainable, long-term way." According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. manufacturing gained nearly a million jobs between 2009 and 2019. But the bureau projects job losses in that sector of about 450,000 between 2019 and 2029. U.S. Census Bureau data shows the U.S. lost 91,403 manufacturing businesses between 1997 and 2018. A Walmart survey in fiscal 2018 found that more than 85% of its customers think it's important for the company to carry products made or assembled in the U.S. e retailer said those results were confirmed in another survey conducted in April 2019. See EFFORT, Page 4 Walmart plans $350B made-in-U.S. effort Get a taste of Las Vegas right in Oklahoma! From jackpots to world-class dining options, enjoy the award-winning Cherokee Casino & Hotel West Siloam Springs. Get away to endless fun, nationally recognized entertainment and some of the hottest games out there! Located just 40 minutes from Bentonville, sneak away to play thousands of your favorite games every week. With over 1,600 of the most popular reel, video reel and video poker games, there's always something to be excited about. Get in on the fun and go all out at one of our 18 table games, including Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Blackjack, Craps and Roulette, or bet it all at our off-track horse betting area! Bring winning off the casino floor and onto your plates at the new Food Hall! Fill up on mouthwatering treats in our open-concept dining space while you enjoy great views of the casino. Dig into whatever you're craving or stop by the Flint Creek Steakhouse and treat yourself to our expertly cooked steak and seafood. Win all day and play all night! Get in on the excitement and enjoy free entertainment at SEVEN Bar. Party with us every week and enjoy live music at the casino's most popular nightspot! Whether your day trip turned into a weekend getaway or you're looking for a new adventure, our seven-story hotel is perfect for every stay. Win every day when you play at Cherokee Casino & Hotel West Siloam Springs! Visit us today and Live Your Greatest Hits. SPONSOR CONTENT Cherokee Casino: Live your greatest hits

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