Ask us why major firearms and ammunitions companies are choosing to do business in Arkansas
Mike Preston
AEDC Executive Director
(501) 682-7351 / Phone
mpreston@arkansasedc.com
Steven Lamm
Project Manager
(501) 682-5355 / Phone
slamm@arkansasedc.com
It starts with a pro-Second Amendment environment and a governor who fully supports growth in the industry. Governor Hutchinson will attend the SHOT Show for his third consecutive year. At a time when many states are pushing away firearms manufacturers, Arkansas is waiting with open arms.
Under the leadership of Governor Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas has taken steps to remove many bureaucratic burdens that hinder startup, relocation and expansion processes. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission has established a “single point of contact” system to help prospects do business with ease. AEDC’s Business Development Team stays up-to-date on incentives for job creation, research and development, investment and more.
Arkansas has the third highest percentage of manufacturing employment in the South and the eighth highest in the nation.
In the past three years at the SHOT Show, industry leaders Remington Outdoor Company, SIG SAUER and Gamo Outdoor USA / Daisy all made expansion announcements; and, with the creation of over 420 jobs in firearm manufacturing in the last four years, Arkansas is leading the way in the industry.
Arkansas continues to be one of the most financially sound states in the country. Arkansas ranked 14th among states in GDP by state growth during the second quarter of 2017 at 3.5% and has seen one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state’s history this year at 3.7%. Arkansas has the nation’s seventh lowest cost of doing business.