Central States NEWS: Whirlpool Appliance Plant in Fort Smith AR To Close

The Fort Smith Arkansas Whirlpool Corporation facility opened as a Norge Appliances Co. plant in 1962- becoming a Whirlpool plant in 1966.

As late as 2006- 4600 people had jobs at the plant.

At the end of 2010- the number of employees had fallen to 1120.

As reported today by The FORT SMITH (AR) TIMES-RECORD- the Whirlpool plant will be closing in mid-2012.


Production of some product lines made at the Fort Smith plant will be moved to other plants in Iowa and Ohio as well as a plant in Mexico.


No word if any of the 1120 or so unemployed plant employees will be offered jobs at the Iowa- Ohio ... or Mexico plants.