I’ve worked for a Steel Company in that part of Arkansas before. In my experience what drove companies to move there were:

• Lax environmental regulations
• Access to the Mississippi river for raw materials
• Cheap electricity from local coal and gas plants
• Anti Union state and local governments
• Tax incentives from the state and local governments

Wages weren’t really bad from what I remember. Many jobs starting at $80k, with good production bonus incentives. Though the work was often very physical with long working hours.

Is this the same guy who wrote the Harry Potter Rationalism fan-fic and started the ai worshipping cult?

Out of curiosity, is this image from Missouri? I swear I’ve seen that exact billboard ad on both I-70 and I-55.

What a small world. I was driving south on 170 with my wife at that same time. We luckily were right before the exit to the Galleria when the hail started. We quickly ducked into their parking garage until the tornado had passed.