by Brittany Reese
Congratulations to Green Bay Packaging, a valued long-term conference client of the Institute, on its recent $1 billion expansion at the Arkansas Kraft Pulp & Paper Mill in Morrilton!
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission said in a press release that the expansion is the largest capital investment project in Central Arkansas.
Green Bay Packaging held its groundbreaking for a multi-year project on June 3, 2025. This project will significantly upgrade the infrastructure and reinforce the company’s commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency. The company stated that the expansion includes the purchase of approximately 300 acres to support future investments and long-term growth.
Green Bay Packaging was founded in 1933 by George and Marguerite Kress, as noted on the company’s website. Construction started in 1965 for the Arkansas Kraft Division. Its first paper machine was named “Captain George” in honor of George Kress.
Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this third-generation, family-owned business has grown to include more than 40 locations across North America.
Laying the Groundwork for Industrial and Economic Growth
Arkansas Kraft Corporation’s groundbreaking on May 17, 1965. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas at Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture.
Arkansas Kraft Corporation’s groundbreaking on May 17, 1965.Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas at Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture.
In 1955, Governor Orval Faubus appointed Winthrop Rockefeller as chairman of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission (AIDC). The commission was established to stimulate industrial growth in the state by attracting businesses with incentives and offering support to companies ready to invest in Arkansas’s industrial sector.
As documented by the UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History & Culture, Rockefeller achieved the following accomplishments during his tenure at the AIDC, which lasted until April 1964:
- Over 600 new industrial plants were established, strategically distributed across the state to ensure industry reached every region of Arkansas.
- Special focus was placed on small communities and rural areas that had previously relied almost entirely on farming.
- Approximately 90,000 new jobs were created.
- These jobs contributed an additional $270 million in annual payroll.
- The average income in Arkansas nearly doubled, allowing families to have more food on the table and savings in the bank. Much of this improvement came from the expansion of industry, including food processing plants and similar facilities in rural areas.
Rockefeller also helped attract Green Bay Packaging to Morrilton, later attending the 1965 groundbreaking ceremony of the manufacturing plant. The facility contributed to the state’s industrial development when Green Bay Packaging opened its Arkansas Kraft Pulp & Paper Mill.
Rockefeller served the state from 1967 to 1971 and actively supported AIDC’s efforts to attract businesses to improve Arkansas’s economic and civic future.
