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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Setting our Sights on the Firearms & Ammunition Industry | SHOT Show 2020
January 06, 2020Our team at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission is gearing up to attend the 2020 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Governor Asa Hutchinson will be leading the Arkansas delegation to the show for the fifth consecutive year. His leadership indicates how important the Firearms & Ammunition industry is to the state of Arkansas.
Arkansas is the perfect fit for manufacturers in the firearms industry. We were listed as the 2nd most gun-friendly state by Forbes. Arkansas is a top 10 state in guns per capita, and our legislature passed 15 pro-gun bills into law during the last three sessions.
Firearms & Ammunition companies in Arkansas benefit from a thriving culture of outdoor recreation in Arkansas. Ducks Unlimited ranked Arkansas as a top ten destination for hunting waterfowl. Many Arkansans and visitors take advantage of the hunting opportunities available throughout the state.
Arkansas actively pursues and welcomes expansion from growing Firearms & Ammunition companies. The map below depicts several of the Firearms & Ammunition companies thriving in the state.
A few of the recent industry expansions in Arkansas include:
- In 2019, CZ-USA announced plans to move its headquarters and production to Little Rock. This expansion will create 565 jobs with a $90 million capital investment over a six-year period.
- In 2018, Sig Sauer relocated a manufacturing facility to Jacksonville that resulted in the creation of 77 new jobs and a $22 million capital investment.
- In 2017, GAMO Outdoor USA announced an $8.1 million capital investment for a new manufacturing facility in Rogers that added 88 jobs.
- Later that year, American Marksman announced a $600,000 capital investment for a new manufacturing facility in Searcy that created 71 new jobs.
As we anticipate continued growth in the Firearms & Ammunition industry, our team is excited to share the good news about Arkansas at the 2020 SHOT Show.
CONNECT WITH ME AT THE 2020 SHOT SHOW
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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.
