Whirlpool workers in Fort Smith were treated to good news from the company on Monday, which announced their earnings for the beginning of the year were more than twice projected amounts.
The Michigan-based appliance manufacturer reported earnings of more than $164 million for the first quarter of 2010, due largely to an increase in sales from the nationwide Cash for Appliances rebate program.
Company officials also increased the amount of units they expected to ship this year, and said they anticipate continued demand for appliances after Cash for Appliances runs its course.
The nationwide appliance-replacement program gives stimulus money to states so they can offer rebates to people that buy energy-efficient appliances and get rid of older, more inefficient appliances.
On Monday, William Graham of Barling browsed through refrigerators and washing machines at the Home Depot in Fort Smith, and said he'd been waiting for just this opportunity to replace some of his appliances.
"My fridge is probably about 12 years old right now," he said. "I'm trying to get into something that I know that I can afford, and if I get some free money out of the deal then I mean that's really what's sweetening it for me."
In Arkansas, people can get $125 for refrigerators, $175 for washing machines and $200 for water heaters. Oklahomans will get slightly more when their rebate program begins because the state received a larger share of stimulus funds, but they must purchase the appliance at an authorized retailer in Oklahoma after May 5.
"It's a little bit more incentive to buy something thatÂ… while it's not broken down yet, with the extra money it's going to go ahead and help them replace it," said Evelyn Martin with Home Depot.
Once people purchase the appliances, they must also dispose of their old fridge or washer at an authorized recycling center and fill out an application for the rebate. Government workers will check to make sure the old appliance was destroyed before sending the customer any money.
For more information about Arkansas's rebate program, visit AR.State-rebate.com. For Oklahoma's rebate program, visit OKCommerce.gov/Recovery.
The Michigan-based appliance manufacturer reported earnings of more than $164 million for the first quarter of 2010, due largely to an increase in sales from the nationwide Cash for Appliances rebate program.
Company officials also increased the amount of units they expected to ship this year, and said they anticipate continued demand for appliances after Cash for Appliances runs its course.
The nationwide appliance-replacement program gives stimulus money to states so they can offer rebates to people that buy energy-efficient appliances and get rid of older, more inefficient appliances.
On Monday, William Graham of Barling browsed through refrigerators and washing machines at the Home Depot in Fort Smith, and said he'd been waiting for just this opportunity to replace some of his appliances.
"My fridge is probably about 12 years old right now," he said. "I'm trying to get into something that I know that I can afford, and if I get some free money out of the deal then I mean that's really what's sweetening it for me."
In Arkansas, people can get $125 for refrigerators, $175 for washing machines and $200 for water heaters. Oklahomans will get slightly more when their rebate program begins because the state received a larger share of stimulus funds, but they must purchase the appliance at an authorized retailer in Oklahoma after May 5.
"It's a little bit more incentive to buy something thatÂ… while it's not broken down yet, with the extra money it's going to go ahead and help them replace it," said Evelyn Martin with Home Depot.
Once people purchase the appliances, they must also dispose of their old fridge or washer at an authorized recycling center and fill out an application for the rebate. Government workers will check to make sure the old appliance was destroyed before sending the customer any money.
For more information about Arkansas's rebate program, visit AR.State-rebate.com. For Oklahoma's rebate program, visit OKCommerce.gov/Recovery.
