The Land of Opportunity stays true to its name with increasing numbers of higher-paying jobs attracting back talent that once sought opportunities elsewhere.

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lowdown? What slowdown? Arkansas isn't seeing any slowdown. In fact, it landed 1,900 jobs in the first quarter of 2001 -- a near 30 percent increase over the same period in 2000. Today, unemployment stands at 4.1 percent -- lower than the national average despite layoffs and closures.
      One of its biggest wins of late was Goody's 234,000-sq.-ft. (21,739-sq.-m.) distribution center in Russellville. The center, which employs 125 workers, began operations in January serving 71 stores.
      "Russellville is an excellent geographic location for our second distribution center, which is intended to support our planned new store expansion in the southwestern and midwestern United States during the next four years," explains Robert M. Goodfriend, chairman and CEO of Goody's Family Clothing Inc.
      For an operation of this size, Russellville must offer more than good geography. Under the guidance of Chicago-based Fantus Consulting, Goody's considered a region where Little Rock acted as focal point and went out in opposite directions toward Joplin, Mo., and Texarkana, Ark.; everything west of that triangle was considered a potential site.
      "Effectively, when you boil everything else down -- because everybody's got land, everybody's got utilities, water, gas, electric, and everybody's got people -- what made Russellville the best choice for us was the quality of life in the area and the people we came in contact with while we were trying to finalize our decision," says Mike Bryant, vice president of distribution and logistics with Goody's MS LP (Mississippi Limited Partnership).