MAUMELLE — Dillard's will hire more than 300 workers as it opens a distribution center in Maumelle for its website, the Little Rock-based company said Wednesday.

Gov. Mike Beebe, Maumelle Mayor Mike Watson and Dillard's President Alex Dillard spoke to a crowd of supporters Wednesday to formally announce the move.

"It appears Christmas has come a few days early in Maumelle," Watson said, standing in front of a banner that read 'Maumelle welcomes Dillard's.' "This is a win for all of central Arkansas."

The center will be equipped with advanced distribution technology, including reduced conveyor usage and energy efficient lighting, that Dillard said would help make it a model for other companies.

The facility will be housed in an 85,000-square foot building that was formerly a Target distribution center. The space is surrounded by about 100 acres of land.

Dillard’s already operates six distribution centers, including one in Mabelvale, and an Internet fulfillment center in Nashville, Tenn. This one, located at 600 Carnahan Drive, should be fully operational in 2012, Dillard said.

Dillard said several locations were considered, but that the company ultimately decided to keep it in its home state.

"I will tell you frankly Maumelle was not the initial place we considered," he said. "Actually it was Fort Worth, Tx. But the people in this room and the mayor and governor convinced us that this was, that the state of Arkansas ... was the obvious choice for this facility. We couldn't be more pleased."

Maumelle purchased the building from Target with a $42 million bond approved Monday by its City Council. The city will then lease it to Dillard's.

Beebe said afterward that the incentives also included $2 million from Quick Action Closing Funds. It's a good use of public funds, he said.

"How can you better invest taxpayer dollars than in education or in jobs," he said. "This is an indication of investing your money in jobs- a company that is Arkansas, that is known across America but whose home is in Arkansas."