Six Arkansas Communities Selected for 2026-27 Retail Academy Program

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 6, 2026) – The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has selected six Arkansas communities to participate in the 2026-27 Retail Academy program. The participating communities include El Dorado, Hamburg, Helena-West Helena, Pocahontas, Sheridan, and Texarkana.

The Retail Academy program provides rural communities with online education, market research, and technical assistance to help them with recruiting retail opportunities to their region. The program provides local leaders with the resources and knowledge needed to recruit and support retail and restaurant businesses in their communities.

“Retail attraction is a critical component of any community development strategy that helps drive local growth,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “With the Retail Academy, AEDC is working to provide Arkansas communities with the resources and training needed to grow their retail base. This program has helped past participants grow their retail opportunities, and we expect to see positive growth from the six communities selected for this year’s cohort.”

Retail Academy was developed by Retail Strategies, a Birmingham, Ala.-based municipal consultancy firm focused on retail recruitment and downtown revitalization, and will be administered by AEDC’s Community Development Division. Specific services and resources offered during Retail Academy include customized training, peer analysis, demographic overviews, a retail marketing guide, networking opportunities, and access to online courses.

"AEDC listened when rural Arkansas communities said they wanted more grocery stores, restaurants and retail options, and the Retail Academy is the result of that commitment," said Lacy Beasley, President of Retail Strategies. "The first two cohorts have already produced nine new retail and restaurant openings and more than $1.5 million a year in new state sales tax revenue.  This year's competition was so strong that narrowing the field to six communities was genuinely difficult. We're thrilled by the engagement we're already seeing from this third cohort and look forward to a great workshop in Conway this November."

The 2025-26 Retail Academy program began September 22, 2026 and runs through September 2027.

Community Quotes

“El Dorado is honored to be one of only six communities in Arkansas selected to participate in this program,” said Steven Jones, President and CEO of the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce. “As we work to bring in new businesses, the Academy’s resources, expertise, and guidance will help us better understand and navigate the retail recruitment process. We are grateful to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Retail Strategies for selecting El Dorado as we continue to capitalize on retail opportunities, strengthen our local economy, and build even greater momentum for the Chamber’s ongoing efforts.”

“Hamburg is excited to be selected to participate in the 2026-27 Retail Academy,” said Hamburg Mayor Dr. David Streeter. “This opportunity will give our community the tools, research and expertise we need to better understand our retail market and possibly attract new businesses that our citizens want and need. We are committed to creating new opportunities for our community, strengthening our local economy and making Hamburg an even better place to live, work and visit. We appreciate AEDC’s investment in Hamburg and look forward to working with the Retail Academy team to turn these resources into real opportunities for our community.”

"Helena-West Helena has always had the assets: history, culture, the Mississippi River, and people who believe in this place,” said Drew Smith, Managing Director and Co-founder of Delta Magic. “What's new is the level of coordinated investment happening right now. We're grateful to AEDC and Retail Strategies for this opportunity, and we're ready to put the data and training to work bringing new businesses to the community."

“We are honored that Pocahontas has been selected as one of six Arkansas communities to participate in the Retail Academy program,” said Ann Savage, Executive Director of the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. “This opportunity will give us valuable tools, market research, and professional guidance to strengthen our retail recruitment efforts and better position Pocahontas for future growth. We look forward to working with AEDC and retail strategies over the coming year to identify opportunities, build relationships with prospective retailers and restaurants, and showcase why Pocahontas and Randolph County are great places to invest, do business and grow.”

“Sheridan is excited to be selected for the Retail Academy and to have the opportunity to learn from AEDC and Retail Strategies as we work to strengthen retail development in our community,” said Sheridan Mayor Cain Nattin. “One of our biggest goals is to better understand how we can position Sheridan for responsible growth, identify the opportunities that fit our community, and be more intentional in recruiting businesses our residents want and need. This program will give us valuable tools, data, and knowledge that we can put to work long after the Academy is complete. We’re grateful to AEDC for investing in communities like Sheridan and giving us the opportunity to take this next step.”

“We look forward to learning from Retail Academy and being better equipped to recruit retail businesses to Miller County,” said Hillary Cloud, Director of Business Retention & Expansion and Workforce Development for the Texarkana USA Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We believe this will be a catalyst for bringing in businesses that are here for the long run and will contribute to our local economy. Texarkana, Arkansas, has much to offer, and this is an opportunity to strategically add businesses that will benefit our local community and the region as a whole.”

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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.