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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Arkansas is the Place to Call Home for Successful Tech and Startup Companies
March 13, 2018From women’s apparel online to tech hardware that can withstand incredible temperatures, technology-based businesses of all kinds are finding success in Arkansas. Gone are the days when it was unlikely to find tech hubs in the middle of the country. As more startup resources become available in smaller cities and states, the variety of new tech businesses only grows and becomes more interesting.
We sat down with several leaders in the field to learn what it takes for a technology startup to do well, and what Arkansas has to offer that may be harder to find somewhere else.
- Lauren Stokes is the co-founder of Lauren James, the fastest growing company in Arkansas and the fastest growing apparel company in America in 2017.
- Uday Akkaraju is the CEO of Bond.AI, a financial technology firm that moved its headquarters to Little Rock after completing The Venture Center’s 2017 FinTech Accelerator Program.
- Lee Watson is the Founder, President and CEO of The Venture Center, whose above-mentioned FinTech Accelerator program is the only accelerator partnered with FIS™ and their 20,000 financial institution customers across 130 countries.
- Dan Sanker is the President and CEO of CaseStack, Inc., five-time recipient of Arkansas’ Best Places to Work and leader in employing technology to disrupt the consumer packaged goods transportation and logistics industry.
- Matt Francis is the Founder, President and CEO of Ozark Integrated Circuits, Inc., which is on the cutting edge of high-heat technology for the US Air Force, NASA, and the US Department of Energy.
- Jeff Amerine is the Founding Principal, and Haley Allgood is the Executive Director of Startup Junkie, which helped client entrepreneurs, including many startups in Northwest Arkansas, raise more than $250 million in private capital over the last five years.
Watch our video to see what these industry leaders believe are the keys to their success here in Arkansas. If you’re wondering why you should move your technology firm to Little Rock, Arkansas, or beyond, you may find the inspiration you need.
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.
