• Workforce Development
• Business Development
• Infrastructure
  • Educational Resources
  • Arkansas Site Selection Center
  • Arkansas's Current Infrastructure
• Competitive Business Climate
  • Targeted Recruitment
  • Site Selection Factors and Top Quality of Life Considerations
  • Local Incentives
  • Economic Development Websites
• Collaborative Partnerships
  • Regionalism
• Community Development Work Areas

The Community Development Division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission can assist communities with a wide variety of economic development activities that include product development, community marketing, resource identification, and professional development. By collaborating with economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, locally elected officials, and concerned citizens, your regional Community Developer at AEDC can help you build a better community and ultimately a better Arkansas.

The Prospect Readiness Education Program (PREP) offers communities hands-on training in all aspects of the economic development prospect visit. The program provides local economic development teams with the necessary training and resources to properly prepare for, execute, and follow-up on prospect visits to their respective communities.

Arkansas' first PREP presentation, Fayetteville. Pictured above: Denisa Pennington, AEDC Community Development Division Director; Chung Tan, economic development manager for the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce; Jessica Breaux, AEDC community developer for Northwest Arkansas; and Curtis Northcutt, economic development assistant for the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.	Arkadelphia / Clark County PREP Presentation Ceremony. Pictured above: Sheryl Strother, Asst. Director, Community Education Center; Kevin Sexton; Denisa Pennington; Jimmy Bolt, Arkadelphia City Manager; Shawnie Carrier, AREDA, President & CEO; Kelly Massey, HSU - ASBTDC, Center Director; Dr. Lewis Shepherd, HSU, VP for External Programs; and Ron Daniell, Clark County Judge.
Prescott PREP Ceremony, January 17, 2012 Pictured above: Mary Godwin, Denisa Pennington, Kevin Sexton and Mayor Terry Oliver.	Jacksonville PREP Ceremony, January 26, 2012 Barbara Merrick- Entergy Arkansas, Renee Doty, Denisa Pennington,  Amy Mattison- Jacksonville Chamber, Karren Thomas - First Electric Cooperative,  Larry Biernacki - CEO/President Arkansas Federal Credit Union & Vice Chairman of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Alderman Kenny Elliott and Alderman Bill Howard. Photographer Robert Farmer, Three Rivers edition AR Democrat Gazette.

Community Development Division: Mission Statement

Guide and support community leadership in their efforts to build regional capacity for growth in a 21st century, global economy.

A main focus of the Community Development Division is implementation of the Governor's Strategic Plan for Economic Development. Released in January 2009, this plan provides a guide for any Arkansas community interested in growing its local and regional economic base. At the core of this plan, are the Five Components for Economic Development - Workforce Development, Business Development, Infrastructure, Competitive Business Climate, and Collaborative Partnerships. By focusing of these five areas, communities and regions, will position themselves to be more competitive in the marketplace for high-wage, knowledge based jobs of the future.