Company creating 108 new jobs
Merrill Steel, a leading steel fabrication company, has chosen Osceola, Arkansas as the location for its fourth manufacturing facility in the Midwest. The new facility, which represents an investment of more than $32 million, will create 108 new jobs over three years.
“The addition of the Osceola facility will perfectly complement our existing facilities, providing a high volume of quality fabricated and coated structural steel to our well-established client base,” said Fred Schwalbach, President of Merrill Steel. “We are overwhelmed by the support we are receiving from the State of Arkansas, the Osceola community and the local individuals associated with the steel industry.”
Founded in 1962, Merrill Steel is a leading supplier of complex structural steel and heavy plate fabrication. Merrill Steel chose Mississippi County for its next location due to state and local partnerships and access to raw steel.
“Merrill Steel’s first Arkansas facility is a huge win for Mississippi County and our entire state,” said Governor Sanders. “As the home of the top steel producing county in America, Northeast Arkansas has become an industrial powerhouse. With our low taxes, strong workforce, growing economy, and great partnerships with companies like Merrill, Arkansas is proud to drive American industry forward.”
Merrill Steel’s new facility will be located in the former Denso Manufacturing Arkansas site in Osceola. Work on the facility is scheduled to begin in Q4 of 2025.
“Merrill Steel will be putting its stamp on Arkansas with a new manufacturing facility in Osceola that will create more than 100 new jobs. Steel is a key industry for our state, and we are proud to welcome Merrill Steel to Osceola, Arkansas as it ramps up its company growth,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “With this new investment, the steel industry in Mississippi County stands to grow even bigger. The leadership in Osceola and Mississippi County has had a far-reaching vision for making this region a steel-producing hub, and this investment is the result of this vision.”
This is Merrill Steel’s first facility in Arkansas.
“We are proud to welcome Merrill Steel to Osceola and to Mississippi County, Arkansas, the fastest growing steel hub in the United States,” said Clif Chitwood, president of Mississippi County Economic Development. “Steel companies are succeeding in Mississippi County thanks to our workforce, infrastructure, and central location. We’re excited that Merrill Steel is joining our thriving region and look forward to their long-term success.”
Merrill Steel will be hiring for a range of positions in Osceola, and hiring is expected to begin in Spring of 2026. To learn more about the company and apply for roles, visit www.merrillsteel.com/employment.
About Merrill Steel
For more than 60 years, Merrill Steel has grown to meet the unique needs and ever-changing demands of the steel fabrication industry. Now in our third generation of family ownership, we are proud to be a leading supplier of complex structural steel and heavy plate fabrication. Our customers rave about our fully-integrated engineering, detailing, project management, fabrication, delivery, and erection services.
With well over one million square feet of combined fabrication and production space in the US, we stand out from competitors by building quality and efficiency into everything we do. Merrill Steel offers our customers a commitment to quality and a promise of superior performance, durability, and satisfaction. Our efficient processes and the benefit of owning our own shipping company ensure unparalleled speed to completion. It all adds up to greater efficiency, lower costs, and a final product that meets the highest standards.
About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
At AEDC, we know economic advancement doesn’t happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success. AEDC is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. To learn more, visit ArkansasEDC.com.
About The Arkansas Department of Commerce
The Arkansas Department of Commerce is the umbrella department for workforce and economic development drivers. Its divisions and regulatory boards include the Waterways Commission, Economic Development Commission, Division of Aeronautics, Workforce Connections, Reemployment, Office of Skills Development, State Bank Department, Insurance Department, Securities Department, and Development Finance Authority.
