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Overview

El Dorado is the economic engine, educational hub, and cultural center for southern Arkansas. Visitors and residents alike are amazed at the strength, size, and philanthropic reach of the business sector for a community the size of El Dorado. El Dorado is a great place to do business!

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Economic Overview

The 2020 Census shows that El Dorado has a population of 17,756 and Union County 36,054. The median household income for Union County ($45,279) is comparable to the State of Arkansas ($47,597) which indicates that industrial employment provides a strong economy and good wages.
Union County is Arkansas’ largest county by land size measuring 1,039.21 square miles.

The economy of Union County, AR, employs 15,000 people. The economy of Union County, AR, is specialized in Management of Companies & Enterprises; Mining, Quarrying, Oil, Gas Extraction; and Utilities, which employ respectively 5.9; 3.33; and 1.68 times more people than what would be expected in a location of this size. The largest industries in Union County, AR, are Manufacturing (2,573), Healthcare & Social Assistance (2,414), and Retail trade (2,186), and the highest paying industries are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($110,625), Utilities ($47,396), and Professional, Scientific, Tech Services ($46,471).

Source: DATAUSA

Please see the demographic chart for a breakdown of the economic data for El Dorado and Union County. Please contact us at 870-863-6113, if you need further data assistance.

Interesting Facts

Source: The El Dorado, AR demographics data displayed above is derived from the 2016 United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Partnerships

The mission of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission is to lead statewide economic development, create targeted strategies which produce better paying jobs, promote communities, and support the training and growth of a 21st century skilled workforce. Visit www.arkansasedc.com/why-arkansas to find out how Arkansas can work for you!

Phone: (800) ARKANSAS or (501) 682-1121 Website: www.arkansasedc.com

The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas are private, non-profit corporations that are totally funded by dues from its members. Each organization has its own officers and its own directors, but both share headquarters and professional staff in Little Rock. The State Chamber/AIA offers its members – businesses both large and small – an effective means to improve the business climate in Arkansas. They are a network of companies working together for a lower cost of doing business, fairer taxes, fairer regulations and less regulatory paperwork. Because of this, Arkansas businesses can be sure that the elected officials are listening to what they need to survive and thrive.

Phone: (501) 372-2222 Website: www.arkansasstatechamber.com

The EDC is a private non-profit 501(c)6 organization operating under the umbrella of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce. Its board of directors consists of 11 individuals from business/industry with the Chamber president & CEO serving as the executive vice-president of the board. The mission is to market the community and be prepared to assist existing industries, assist site consultants and identify competitive assets that make El Dorado the right choice for industry. The EDC provides timely and valuable information and helps to identify potential buildings and/or sites. They also help in coordinating visits, arranging itineraries and providing creative financing options. The EDC works hand-in-hand with additional economic development partners to offer professional guidance and expertise.

Contact: Kaitlyn Rigdon – Phone: (870) 863-6113 Email: kaitlyn@goeldorado.com

The El Dorado Works Board administers the city’s one-cent sales tax dedicated to economic development and quality of life improvements.

Board Members:

  • Greg Downum (Chairman)
  • Sara Coffman (Treasurer)
  • Avo Vartenian – Commissioner
  • Craig Mobley – Commissioner
  • Mumtaz MF – Commissioner

Contact: Greg Downum via: gndownum@yahoo.com

The Golden Triangle Economic Development Council (GTEDC) is a 170 member, non-profit organization that combines the area’s resources and talents to attract new business and industry to the Golden Triangle area. This encompasses four counties (Columbia, Calhoun, Ouachita and Union) and five Arkansas Community of Excellence (ACE) communities (Camden, El Dorado, Magnolia, Hampton and Smackover). The vision of the organization is to promote the growth, vitality, and development of South Arkansas and apply the knowledge, creativity, and leadership of its members to regional opportunities.

Phone: (870) 235-4924 – Website: www.gtedc.org

Arkansas’ Business and Economic Development team offers resources that are vital to the search for a new business location or expansion – buildings and sites, workforce resources, business intelligence, state & local incentives and project management services such as Site Selection and Project Management, Research and Engineering, and Large Project Services and Contract services.

Phone: (501) 377-4434 or (888) 301-5861 Website: www.entergy-arkansas.com/economic_development/

The UCIB is a public facilities board, with five members appointed by the Union County Judge. The board works together with other regional economic development partners to assist in the economic development process. The UCIB, along with the Chamber’s other economic development partners, work together to offer local incentives to prospective businesses considering expansion or relocation to Union County, Arkansas.

Contact: Kaitlyn Rigdon – Phone: (870) 863-6113 Email: kaitlyn@goeldorado.com

Target Markets

El Dorado and Union County have identified target industries that are a good fit for this area in terms of our resources, labor force, and infrastructure. With finite resources for economic development, it is good to identify key industry sectors to target our efforts for marketing. The target industries for El Dorado and Union County include the following:

El Dorado and Union County’s diverse industrial base has a concentration of metalworking companies and support services. Some of our current companies in the metalworking industry include: WELSCO Inc., Puska’s Machine Shop, El Dorado Metals Inc., Ace Metal & Steel LLC, Spencer Iron Works, STP Machine, LLC., The Systems Group, and the SHAW Group.

With the abundance of pine timber, Union County is a “natural” for value-added, wood related industries. Some of our current companies in the wood industry include: CANFOR Southern Pine, Roseburg, Resolute, Calion Lumber, and MJB Wood Group.

Our proximity to the Gulf Coast, rail access, and abundance of water and wastewater resources (over 13 million gallons a day excess capacity) make El Dorado and Union County a good fit for the chemical industry. LSB El Dorado Chemical Plant, LanXess, Standard Lithium, Lycus, Clean Harbors and Continental Carbonic Products, Inc. are examples of this region’s chemical industry.

El Dorado is Arkansas’ original boomtown since the discovery in the 1921. Today, Union County boasts several industries that have their headquarters and manufacturing operations located here. These include Delek US- El Dorado Refinery -Lion Oil, Murphy USA, and Martin Operating Partnership.

El Dorado and Union County are perfectly tailored for manufacturing and food processing industry. The community’s water and wastewater system is sized for future development, with a whopping 13 million gallons per day excess capacity. El Dorado Development has a site ready 62 acre tract with all utilities perfect for a food processing facility.