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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Nineteen Arkansas Companies Make 2021 Inc. 5000 List
August 26, 2021Across Arkansas, companies are rapidly growing, showing the strength of the state’s economy and the innovation of its business leaders.
Nineteen Arkansas companies recently made Inc. Magazine’s list of the fastest-growing companies in the United States. Inc. Magazine, a national business publication, released its annual Inc. 5000 list, which ranks the fast-growing privately held companies around the country.
The rankings looked at companies’ revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To be eligible for the rankings, the privately held and for-profit companies must be based in the United States, have generated at least $100,000 in revenue in 2017, and have generated at least $2 million in revenue in 2020.
According to Inc., the 19 Arkansas companies on the list had a median growth of 206% from 2017 to 2020. In total, the companies had $441.1 million in total revenue and added 2,014 jobs to the economy.
The 19 companies and their headquarter cities are listed below, in order of appearance on the list:
- Bold Strategies (Rogers)
- Stratice (Bentonville)
- Apptegy (Little Rock)
- The Cabana Group (Fayetteville)
- Integrity Construction of Arkansas (Little Rock)
- Elite Senior Care Management Company (Manila)
- Sebastian Tech Systems (Jonesboro)
- Shine Solar (Rogers)
- Chenal Family Therapy (Little Rock)
- Avid Holdings (Fayetteville)
- MHP/Team SI (Little Rock)
- Greer and Greer Independent Insurance (Fayetteville)
- Natural State Pest Control (Lowell)
- Nuqleous (Bentonville)
- Kitestring Consulting (Bentonville)
- Slim Chickens (Fayetteville)
- Acorn Influence (Rogers)
- Greenview Lawns (Fort Smith)
- Ron Sherman Advertising (Little Rock)
Bold Strategies, an advertising and marketing firm, was named the fastest-growing company in Arkansas for 2021, coming in at #259 on the overall list. The company reported 1,781% growth from 2017 to 2020.
Stratice, an IT management company in Bentonville, had the second-highest growth in Arkansas with a 1,720% rate. The company came in at #271 on the Inc. 5000 list. The top five Arkansas companies were rounded out by Apptegy, The Cabana Group, and Integrity Construction of Arkansas, which reported growth of 668%, 524%, and 470%, respectively.
Eight of the Arkansas companies have been repeat honorees on the Inc. 5000 list. These companies include The Cabana Group, Elite Senior Care Management Company, Integrity Construction of Arkansas, Chenal Family Therapy, MHP/Team SI, Kitestring Consulting, and Slim Chickens.
The number of Arkansas companies on the Inc. 5000 list has steadily grown in recent years. In 2020, there were 14 Arkansas companies on the list – an increase of four for 2021. The 2021 results are even more dramatic compared to 2019, when 11 Arkansas companies made the list.
This list also highlights the diversity of Arkansas’ business landscape with an array of Arkansas industries represented. Arkansas’ advertising and marketing sector made a strong showing with four companies making the list, along with two IT management firms and two construction firms. Other Arkansas industries represented include consumer products and services, education, energy, financial services, food and beverage, government services, health, insurance, logistics and transportation, and software.
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!