Hybar Opens Rebar Mill; ASU Leadership Change and $4B Google Data Center Announcement in Northeast Arkansas
Hybar opened a sustainable rebar mill in Osceola, contributing to nearly $1 billion in investments in Mississippi County. The mill will produce over 700,000 tons of rebar annually, addressing approximately 7% of U.S. demand.
Concurrently, the ASU System experienced a leadership change with Kelly resigning as president effective February 12, 2025, to become president of Eastern Michigan University, while Dr. Robin Myers was appointed interim president.
Google announced a $4 billion investment in a West Memphis data center, expected to create hundreds of jobs. Meanwhile, Arkansas farmers faced severe losses due to floods and declining commodity prices, with projected losses of $1.4 billion.
Additionally, Jonesboro's $77 million Ridge Athletics Center project broke ground, featuring extensive sports facilities. U.S. Steel plans to build a direct reduced iron plant in Osceola, part of an $11 billion investment following the acquisition of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel Corporation.
