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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Technology is Changing Education and the Workforce Landscape in Arkansas
March 09, 2018Nationwide, there were nearly 10 times as many open computing jobs as there were computer science graduates in 2017. As more and more of the economy becomes embedded with technology, coding education must become more robust to help meet the demand for workers trained in the tech industry in Arkansas.
The vast majority of software developers in the United States work outside Silicon Valley, and technology jobs in Arkansas continue to become more plentiful. To stay ahead of the curve, Arkansas became the first state to mandate coding education in high schools, and it has seen a significant increase in the number of students graduating with a computer science degree in just five years.
Arkansas has the three things most needed to foster opportunities for technology businesses: an accelerated focus on coding literacy, growth in venture capital investments, and a low cost of living.
Check out our infographic to see how innovative education reform makes Arkansas a leader to watch in the technology and coding workforce.
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!

