Arkansas to Participate in 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit

International companies and economic development organizations are set to gather at the National Harbor in early May for the largest foreign direct investment event in the United States.

On May 3-6, the U.S. Department of Commerce will host the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit at National Harbor, Maryland – with the goal of facilitating business investment around the nation. The summit provides a venue for companies, economic development organizations, and industry leaders to make connections and explore potential business opportunities.

Each year, the summit attracts thousands of participants; at the most recent summit, there were more than 5,500 participants representing 54 states and territories and 2,700 business investors representing 100+ countries. Since its inception, the SelectUSA Investment Summit has generated more than $256 billion in new U.S. investment projects, creating more than 130,000 new jobs.

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) will be participating in SelectUSA to promote the Natural State and highlight the many advantages of doing business in Arkansas. AEDC team members will join community partners from around Arkansas at SelectUSA, spotlighting the diversity of the state’s economy and geography.

International companies have made significant recent investments in Arkansas. InnovAsian announced a $105 million investment to build a new food manufacturing facility in Jonesboro, creating 200 new jobs. In Little Rock, multiple companies, like Faymonville, Welspun Tubular, and Elopak have made sizable investments to build and expand facilities in the past several years. On the western edge of the state, Japanese company Nidec is expanding its facility in Mena with a $19 million investment that will result in 35 new jobs. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, a leading Israeli defense firm, partnered with Raytheon on a joint venture called R2S that has opened a new $63 million facility that will produce the Tamir and SkyHunter missiles.

These international investments – along with many others – are injecting hundreds of millions into Arkansas’ economy and will create new opportunities for Arkansans.

At SelectUSA, the Arkansas team is aiming to foster conversations with international executives to increase awareness of the benefits of locating in the Natural State. Arkansas provides a potent mix of advantages: low costs and taxes, experienced workforce, supportive communities, and an excellent quality of life.

Make sure to drop by Booth 1334 to meet the Arkansas team and learn how your company can succeed in the Natural State. Find out more about Arkansas here.