AEDC Launches Third Round of Arkansas Site Development Program

JONESBORO, Ark. (August 25, 2026) – The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has launched the third round of the Arkansas Site Development Program, and applications are now open.

The program provides matching funding for site development improvement efforts with the goal of enhancing industrial site readiness and competitiveness for job-creating projects in Arkansas. Eligible applicants for the Arkansas Site Development Program include cities, towns, and counties in Arkansas; economic development organizations; and chambers of commerce.

First announced in June 2024, the Arkansas Site Development Program was a first-of-its-kind program in Arkansas history and was developed by AEDC under the leadership of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas General Assembly. As part of the initial round of funding, $10 million was awarded to 13 communities in December 2024.

The Arkansas General Assembly later appropriated $50 million for site development efforts over the two years. Twenty-two Arkansas communities received the first $25 million in April 2026.

“The Arkansas Site Development Program has been a success, providing needed funding to local communities to better prepare their industrial sites for job-creating projects,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “This program is making our communities and our state more competitive, and this third round will help us continue this momentum and position Arkansas for future growth.”

To qualify for the program, applicants must submit industrial sites with a minimum of 30 acres of contiguous land, and sites must be listed on the Arkansas Site Selection Database. Sites must be owned or optioned by an applicant, and optioned sites must be owned by the applicant at the time the grant agreement is executed.

Funding through the Arkansas Site Development Program can be used for a range of site development projects. Eligible projects include extension and improvement of public infrastructure to the site; right of way acquisition; easement acquisition; soil borings and analysis; construction costs for site improvements, including drainage improvements, easement, dozer or dirt work, grading, site mitigation, and site rehabilitation; due diligence study costs; and other site development-related activities deemed necessary by AEDC to improve a site’s competitiveness.

Applications will be judged on a 100-point scale with seven categories, including site conditions, utilities, transportation infrastructure, site due diligence, current marketing efforts, local match, and site certification.

Each application will be date-stamped and reviewed by an AEDC review committee and a third-party site selection consultant in the order the applications are received. Eligible applications will receive a desktop review, and select applications will receive a site visit.

Applications for the Arkansas Site Development Program open on August 25, 2026. Applicants must submit their intent to apply for program funding by September 30. The deadline to submit an application is 5pm CT on Friday, November 6, 2026.

For more information, view the FAQ sheet for the Arkansas Site Development Program.

To apply for the program, click here.

About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission

At AEDC, we know economic advancement doesn’t happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success. AEDC is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. To learn more, visit ArkansasEDC.com.