SPRINGDALE (KFSM) -- The number of business permits issued for buildings in downtown Springdale has skyrocketed in the last two years of revitalization efforts.
Melissa Reeves, spokeswoman for the city of Springdale, said the city has issued eight business permits so far this year after issuing 13 permits in 2015 compared to the four permits it issued in 2014.
According to Bill Rogers, who is the vice president of communications for the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, a lot of the growth is being helped along by the employees who will be working at the new Tyson Foods buildings on Emma Avenue.
"The law of supply and demand. It's an old business," Rogers said. "As Tyson completes their second building downtown and brings even more employees, their current building employs about 75, you put another 300 downtown and those people will have consumer needs."
That includes places to eat lunch on breaks and places to go with coworkers after work.
Several businesses have opened along Emma Avenue in the last several weeks, including a Core Brewery taproom, Emma Ave. Bar & Tap and Phat Tire Bike Shop, which is taking advantage of the paved greenway that cuts right through the city's downtown.