Merrill Steel announced Wednesday (Aug. 20) that it will open a steel fabrication facility in Osceola. The project will cost $32 million, will create 108 new jobs during the next three years.
It is the first facility the company has opened in Arkansas and it is the fourth in the Midwest.
“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 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 Gov. Sarah 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 site. 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.”
Merrill Steel will be hiring for a range of positions in Osceola, and hiring is expected to begin in Spring of 2026.
“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.”