"Any one of these projects would have been the largest in our city's history. To have all three take place at the same time has been a godsend." said Mayor Tab Townsell.
Two of the projects are taking place on college campuses and the third is a private sector project in a technology park.
The University of Central Arkansas is building a new $18.5 million home for their College of Business. The building will total 75,000 sqare feet and feature a 160 seat auditorium, 8 tiered classrooms, multiple computer labs and faculty offices. The building represents the largest construction project in UCA's history.
Hendrix College is building a 71,200 square foot, $26 million Student Life and Technology Center that will become "the place where students gather to share ideas, practice leadership, master technology, and foster friendships." This will be the first LEED certified construction project on the Hendrix Campus.
The third and largest project is a $36 million, 150,000 square foot, LEED certified office building for Hewlett Packard. The building will be home to over 1,200 new jobs. The building is located in The Meadows Technology park and represents one of the largest economic development announcements in Arkansas history.
"Conway has felt like an island in the storm. We have been so fortunate to maintain growth in this climate. I think it's due to our diverse and fundamentally sound local economy." said Brad Lacy,President and CEO of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce.