Arkansas Poultry Company To Expand, Hire 182 Workers

A Fort Smith-based poultry company plans to hire 182 people as part of a $7 million expansion of its processing facilities.

OK Industries officials said Friday the company wants to hire 110 employees in Fort Smith and another 72 in Heavener, Okla. Company spokeswoman Donna Miller says priority in hiring will be given to those who were laid off last year.

Officials say the majority of added jobs will be in deboning plant positions, which use both mechanized and hand-cutting methods.

Miller says the jobs will pay between $8.60 and $12.50 an hour, and renovations at both locations will be completed by the beginning of June.

OK Industries employs more than 2,800 people at administrative offices, processing plants, hatcheries and feed mills in Arkansas and Oklahoma.