Companies are starting to gain more confidence, and hiring rates are reflecting that.

According to the Associated Press, Windstream Corporation announced that it would be keeping its headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, and will add more than 200 new jobs.

The announcement comes as a relief to the city, since Little Rock lost a major telecommunications headquarter when Alltel Corporation was bought by Verizon, and subsequently lost hundreds of jobs.

“In the end, after careful analysis, we decided that the best course for the company was to remain in Little Rock and Arkansas,” Windstream’s Chief Executive Jeff Gardner told the news source. “Working with the state, we were able to put Windstream into a position where this makes sense.”


Windstream sells landline and broadband phone service, according to the news source. The addition of the 200 new employees will bring the company’s employee total in Arkansas to 1,360.

Governor Mike Beebe committed $5.5 million in cash incentives as the company starts to hire new workers. the governor explained that a corporate headquarter has a greater impact on the local economy than providing jobs, but that is also encourages travel and a higher city recognition.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for June dropped from 9.7% to 9.5%.