Plant expansion to add Harrison jobs

Lecheek Nutrition, which manufactures and distributes nutritional supplements, will invest $6.7 million to renovate 437,000 square feet of space in Harrison, the company announced Friday.

As part of its expansion, the company will hire 100 new employees over the next four years.

It currently employs 70 and will receive total incentives of $430,555 from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to assist with expansion.

Lecheek owner and founder Dustin LeBleu said the company has run out of space in its current location and wants to expand its product line.

In addition to manufacturing supplements, Lecheek also creates and distributes products for 200 other brands, LeBleu said.

“We’re a really young company,” said LeBleu, who founded Lecheek in 2010.

“I used to manufacture my products through a middle guy, decided to vertically integrate and brought it all in house. It took off. We manufacture for ourselves and 200 other brands as well. We do custom manufacturing.”

Renovations will take about five months.

A large portion of the total investment was about $4 million paid for the former Millbrook Distribution complex. Lecheek will receive a $315,000 Community Development Block Grant from the state to “help with getting the facility up to date,” Arkansas Economic Development Commission spokesman Scott Hardin said.

If the company meets hiring thresholds, it also will be

eligible for sales-tax refunds on building materials, taxable machinery and equipment associated with the renovation, plus income-tax credit of 1 percent of payroll for the new hires.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson was among those on hand for the announcement Friday in Harrison.

Businesses in the state have committed over the past week to more than $250 million in capital investment to create more than 600 jobs, Hardin said.

“Lecheek Nutrition’s decision to expand its operations in Harrison speaks volumes

about the confidence they have found in the workforce here,” Hutchinson said in a news release.

“Today’s expansion announcement completes a great week for Arkansas’ economy.”

LeBleu said starting pay for the new hires will range between $12 and $14 per hour.

Lecheek distributes to more than 20 countries.

Over the past year, the company has introduced five product lines and its expansion will allow Lecheek to add energy drinks to the products it manufactures.

Mayor Dan Sherrell said he was pleased to see the company maintain its commitment to Harrison.

“We have some of the best employees in the United States; they’re highly productive and Lecheek realizes that,” Sherrell said.

“It’s been a while since somebody in the city of Harrison

or in Boone County has made this type of commitment. We’re more than glad to have them. They’re a great asset to our community.”