DE QUEEN, Ark. — Bell Lumber & Pole is expanding its manufacturing facility in De Queen, Arkansas, to accelerate the production of Southern Yellow Pine utility poles in the southern region of the United States. The expansion is expected to create 12 new jobs in De Queen over the next two years.

“We’re excited to become part of the De Queen community and to build strong local partnerships as we grow. This investment allows us to expand capacity, strengthen our regional presence, and create opportunities that support both our customers and the people who make this work possible,” said Tom Bell, President of Bell Lumber & Pole.

The facility – the company’s first in Arkansas - focuses on the peeling, conditioning, and interior storage of utility poles. Bell Lumber & Pole currently has 17 full-time employees at the De Queen facility.

“Bell Lumber & Pole’s first investment in Arkansas is a testament to our strong forestry industry, hardworking and talented workforce, and thriving economy,” said Governor Sanders. "By producing utility poles here at home, this project will strengthen domestic supply chains and infrastructure and bring new opportunity to rural Arkansas communities.”

De Queen was selected for the facility thanks to its strategic location and proximity to natural resources. With its location and resource advantages, Bell Lumber & Pole plans to increase its production capacity and efficiency, enabling faster turnaround times for manufacturing and delivery of utility poles.

At the De Queen facility, utility poles will be manufactured by a multi-step process, taking raw timber and conditioning it into a finished product. The raw timber will be peeled to ensure high-quality poles for utility infrastructure and will then be conditioned to increase durability and ability to withstand environmental stressors. The facility will also provide organized storage for the utility poles ahead of shipping for customer needs.