© 2025 KUAF
NPR Affiliate since 1985
KUAF
Fresh Air
KUAF
Fresh Air
Next Up: 12:00 PM Ozarks At Large
0:00
0:00
Fresh Air
KUAF
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

USPS may not relocate distribution center out of Fayetteville

The Fayetteville processing and distribution center would move some services to Oklahoma City and downsize its operations under the new USPS proposal.
courtesy
/
PBS Newshour
The Fayetteville processing and distribution center would move some services to Oklahoma City and downsize its operations under the new USPS proposal.

The United States Postal Service announced in a press release yesterday that it may not close the Fayetteville processing and distribution center. The change is the result of a proposed strategy from USPS that is currently under review with the Postal Regulatory Commission, according to the release, and is estimated to save the postal service nearly $3 billion a year.

Last year, USPS proposed a plan to relocate some operations to Oklahoma City and downgrade the northwest Arkansas facility to a local processing center. The move would have relocated at least 13 jobs to Oklahoma, cut services and routed all local mail through the Oklahoma City center. The decision faced pushback from residents and members of the American Postal Workers Union 667 out of Fayetteville, who protested the move in May. If approved, the new strategy would also boost some services to the northwest Arkansas center thanks to a $3.3 million investment from USPS. According to the press release, those changes would include expanded package mailing and shipping, express services, bulk and permit mailing and improvements to the building.

Ozarks at Large reached out to Representative Steve Womack, who said the “proposed new strategy is a shift in the right direction and certainly better than the initial proposal. I’m encouraged to hear that there are no anticipated career layoffs or impacts on employees, and that the USPS appears to be responding to the concerns I shared with Postmaster General DeJoy.”

Ozarks at Large transcripts are created on a deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. The authoritative record of KUAF programming is the audio record.

Support KUAF and Keep Public Radio Thriving
For more than 50 years, KUAF has been your source for reliable news, enriching music and community connection. Your support allows us to bring you trustworthy journalism through programs like Morning EditionAll Things Considered and Ozarks at Large. As we build for the next 50 years, we need your support for KUAF to ensure we continue to provide the news, music, and connections you value. Your support is not just appreciated; it's essential. Make your gift today here.
Thank you for supporting KUAF!

Stay Connected
Daniel Caruth is KUAF's Morning Edition host and reporter for Ozarks at Large<i>.</i>
Matthew Moore is senior producer for Ozarks at Large.
For more than 50 years, KUAF has been your source for reliable news, enriching music and community. Your generosity allows us to bring you trustworthy journalism through programs like Morning EditionAll Things Considered and Ozarks at Large. As we build for the next 50 years, your support ensures we continue to provide the news, music and connections you value. Your contribution is not just appreciated— it's essential!
Please become a sustaining member today.
Thank you for supporting KUAF!
Related Content
  • On April 5-6, a nonprofit called Remote Area Medical will be hosting a free healthcare clinic in Fort Smith. The event will provide free quality healthcare services, like dental, vision and medical services while partnering with students from the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • SongRider is returning to northwest Arkansas beginning this weekend. The idea: Place a pair of songwriters inside a cycling group for one of their rides. The result: New songs created during the rides that will be part of this year’s FreshGrass Festival at The Momentary in May.
  • The Gathering of the Groups annual meeting is Saturday afternoon at 2:00 at the Fayetteville Public Library. Every year, book clubs across the region and interested members of the public are invited to hear from an author about their latest book. This year, native-Arkansan Eli Cranor will sit down with Ozarks at Large's Kyle Kellams to discuss his novel, “Broiler.”