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Walmart's new headquar- ters in Bentonville will mean the three large multinational corporations in Northwest Arkansas are all making sig - nificant investments in their home cities. The retailer announced in September it will build a new headquarters on 350 acres on the east side of J Street between Central Avenue and Southeast 14th Street. The home office op - erations are in more than 20 buildings spread throughout the city. The company said one of the primary reasons for the project is to improve collab- oration and efficiency. Walmart intends to shift m o s t of i t s h o m e off i ce workers to the central cam- pus. Sam's Club will stay at its headquarters off Moberly Lane near Interstate 49. " We ' v e b e e n h e r e i n Northwest Arkansas for over 50 years and we're prepar- ing now to cement the roots for the next 50-plus years," spokesman Randy Hargrove said during the announce - ment. Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin, who is not seek- ing re-election, said the re- tailers' decision ends spec- ulation the company would move to a larger metropoli- tan area. "It's the single greatest economic investment in Northwest Arkansas," Mc- Caslin said. "We are talking about a deal with nine zeros on the end of it. That's pret- ty significant for Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas." The other two Fortune 500 companies, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt Transport Ser- vices, are in the midst of ma- jor expansions. J.B. HUNT J.B. Hunt completed a six-story, 133,000-square- foot office building on its campus in Lowell in No- vember. The building features a drivers wall of recognition. The Million Mile Wall lists more than 3,300 employees who drove more than 1 mil - lion safe miles since 1971. The new building has a 350-seat auditorium, a 24-hour gym, a food and beverage market area on the terrace level, along with in- door and outdoor seating for meals and meetings. Walk- ing trails will connect to the Razorback Greenway. L o w e l l M a y o r E l d o n Long said the company next plans a five-story building for information technology employees on the company campus on J.B. Hunt Corpo- rate Drive. Long said any expansion by the company is good be- cause local businesses pro- vide more goods and ser- vices to the company and its employees. Lowell receives regional and national attention be- cause of the company, Long said. "I think J.B. Hunt's name is synonymous with the t ra n s p o r t i n g o f go o d s ," Long said. "We are just glad to have their headquarters right here in Lowell." TYSON FOODS Tyson Foods in the past several years focused on re n ova t i n g b u i l d i n g s to help transform downtown Springdale. A new off ice building opened in November at 319 E. Emma Ave. on the site of the company's original head- quarters and adjacent Brown Hatchery building. The 56,106-square-foot building houses 250-300 in- formation technology work- ers. T h e b u i l d i n g h a s r e - claimed wood from the orig- inal headquarters built about 1920, which was owned and operated by company found- er John W. Tyson. The company in 2016 ren- ovated the 28,000-square- foot building at 516 E. Emma Ave. for about 100 employ- ees. It was the first terminal for Jones Truck Lines and then for decades was home to Springdale Morning News. Also last fall, the Incu- bation Technology Cen - ter opened at the corner of East Huntsville Avenue and North Monitor Road. About 35 workers are at the 75,000-square-foot center that supplies chicks to broil- er and Cornish hen plants in Northwest Arkansas. It replaced a hatchery on Ran- dall Wobbe Road in Spring- dale and one in Lincoln. Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse said city officials are appreciative when busi- nesses invest in Springdale. "Tyson is an important part of Springdale's his- tory and future, and their continued investment in our city is indicative of the strength of our community and our economy," Sprouse said. "Tyson opening their location on Emma Avenue will no doubt play a role in additional development coming to our downtown as other businesses see an established market for food and retail." Tracy M. Neal can be reached by email at tneal@nwaonline. com or Twitter @NWATracy. Headquarters expansions cement home ties to region A 350-acre tract east of J Street and between Central Avenue and Arkansas 102. A 350-acre tract east of J Street and between Central Avenue and Arkansas 102. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 102 Bentonville Bentonville Crystal Bridges museum Crystal Bridges museum S.E. 14TH ST. S.E. 14TH ST. N.E. J ST. N.E. J ST. WALTON BLVD. WALTON BLVD. CENTRAL AVE. CENTRAL AVE. Location of Walmart's new home office Location of Walmart's new home office 540 A 350-acre tract east of J Street and between Central Avenue and Arkansas 102. A 350-acre tract east of J Street and between Central Avenue and Arkansas 102. NWA Democrat-Gazette File Photo/BEN GOFF • @NWABENGOFF Heather Chilson (left), Tyson Foods director of corporate services, and Gordon Slothower, Tyson project manager, lead a tour of the new Tyson building in downtown Springdale. MAKING INVESTMENTS AT HOME TRACY NEAL NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE ∂ ∂ SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018 v 5V US-412 Siloam Springs, AR 72761 (479) 524-3166 cobb-vantress.com April -November Wednesday, Friday, Saturday Springdale to Van Buren departs 8:00am Van Buren to Winslow departs 11:00am April-November Sunday's only Springdale to Winslow departs 12:30pm GREAT EXCURSIONS FOR ALL SEASONS The Best Ride's on Us....... 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