Hitting the Bullseye
The Industry at a Glance
- Home to the Duck Hunting Capital of the World: Stuttgart, Arkansas
- 3rd in economic output per capita in the arms and ammunition industry (Source: National Shooting Sports Foundation)
- 3rd Most Gun-Friendly State (Source: Ammo.com)
- 3rd Largest Exporter of Firearms and Ammunitions in the U.S. (Source: Global Trade Atlas, 2023)
- 8 pro-gun bills passed into law during the 2023 legislative session
- $2.3B in economic output
INFRASTRUCTURE
- Three U.S. interstates connecting east and west coasts, and the Canada and Mexico borders
- 16,418 miles of state and U.S. Highways – 12th largest system in the U.S.
- Eight intermodal freight facilities with four riverports
- 2,542 miles of Class 1 rail systems
- #3 in the nation with 1,000 miles of inland, navigable waterways
- Approximately 100 public airports including Clinton National, Northwest Arkansas National, and close proximity to Memphis International and the Fed-Ex hub
Well-trained workforce
- 7th highest percentage of manufacturing employment (Source: Business Facilities)
- 1.36M skilled and trained workforce
- 12% of Arkansas’ workforce is employed in manufacturing
- 8,400+ people employed in the arms and ammunitions industry.
Business Climate in Arkansas
- #3 Least Expensive State for Starting a Small Business (Source: SimplifyLLC)
- #2 on the Cost of Living Index (Source: C2ER)
- 7th highest percentage of manufacturing employment (Source: Business Facilities)
EDUCATION
- 50 colleges, universities & 2-year colleges throughout Arkansas
- 2,100+ engineering degrees awarded each year
- 150k+ students enrolled at an Arkansas institution of higher learning
- Black River Technical College is 1 of only 11 accredited gunsmithing programs in the US – and the only institution connected to a law enforcement training academy.
- Ozarka College's Precision Machining program prepares students for a career in manufacturing, providing them with skills in manual machining and operation of CNC mills and lathes.
Firearms & Ammunition Industry
Executive Overview
Arkansas is Primed for Success
Home to the duck hunting capital of the world and the 3rd most gun-friendly state, Arkansas is the natural choice for firearms and ammunition companies to find success.
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ArTechJobs Connects Employers and Tech Workers to Fill Technology Jobs in Arkansas
November 06, 2017Thanks to Governor Asa Hutchinson’s Computer Science Initiative, Arkansas is the first state to have a website dedicated to connecting jobseekers with technology-driven jobs within industries across the state.
As the number of available tech jobs continues to grow, it’s increasingly important to create a pipeline of talent to fill those jobs. With a goal of creating job opportunities and growing a skilled technology workforce in the state, Governor Hutchinson recently announced the launch of ArTechJobs.com, which will showcase available high-tech jobs across Arkansas.
The website expands opportunities for employers and those seeking high-tech careers in a wide variety of industries including IT, web development and design, database administration, software development, computer network architecture, information security, healthcare and more.
Business leaders from the largest companies in the world to the smallest startups can benefit from the website. Employers and job seekers can participate at no cost. Companies can create accounts and immediately post open positions. Job seekers can create personal profiles and upload their resumes. They can narrow their job search by full time, freelance, and/or intern positions. Nearly 50 companies are already posting technology jobs on the website, including AT&T, Tyson, Windstream, J.B. Hunt, iDatafy, Tenneco, inuvo, Walmart, and the State of Arkansas.
The website is part of the Governor’s Computer Science Initiative to increase the number of Arkansans in high-tech fields. Since its creation, the number of high school students participating in computer science courses in the state has increased nearly 400 percent.
ARCodeKids, a new Little Rock-based nonprofit organization, and the Information Network of Arkansas (INA) created and developed the website at no expense to the state. ARCodeKids is a 501(c)(3) organization focused on building awareness, expanding student participation and enabling new career pathways in computer science across Arkansas. The INA assists the state in exploring and improving citizen and business access to public information and online services.
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. Here are some examples of businesses that are thriving!
Arkansas offers a range of competitive incentives for businesses looking to open, expand or relocate.
