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.