# Arkansas Economic Development Commission

> Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce, helps businesses locate and expand in Arkansas while helping communities prepare for investment. Its work combines site selection, incentives, business finance, entrepreneurship support, manufacturing assistance and community grants.

- **Founded:** 1955
- **Headquarters:** Little Rock, United States
- **Founders:** Arkansas General Assembly (Created the predecessor Arkansas Industrial Development Commission through Act 404 of 1955)
- **Products:** Business recruitment and site selection, Arkansas Site Development Program, Competitive Communities Initiative, Business finance and incentives, Manufacturing Solutions
- **Notable:** Reported 32 announced projects in 2025, representing $6,712,870,868 in investment commitments and 3,953 projected jobs., Awarded $10 million to 13 communities in the initial site-development round in December 2024., Awarded $25 million to 22 communities for site development in April 2026.

## Products & services

- **Business recruitment and site selection** — Helps companies evaluate Arkansas properties, workforce, infrastructure and incentive options.
- **Arkansas Site Development Program** — Matching grants for eligible community industrial-site improvements and due diligence; launched in 2024.
- **Competitive Communities Initiative** — Third-party assessment of community organization, economic development funding, workforce narrative and product readiness.
- **Business finance and incentives** — Administers and monitors incentive agreements, economic development loans, grants and the Bond Guaranty Program.
- **Manufacturing Solutions** — Manufacturing assistance program established in 1995 and affiliated with the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
- **75Strong** — AEDC-funded entrepreneurship and small-business development initiative delivered with Conductor; first cohort launched in 2025.
- **International business support** — Investment recruitment and international business assistance, with public contacts in Europe, Asia and Korea.
- **Community and rural development grants** — Supports eligible public facilities and infrastructure, including through the Community Development Block Grant program.

## Achievements

- Reported 32 announced projects in 2025, representing $6,712,870,868 in investment commitments and 3,953 projected jobs.
- Awarded $10 million to 13 communities in the initial site-development round in December 2024.
- Awarded $25 million to 22 communities for site development in April 2026.
- 2025 annual report lists $17,739,119 in incentive payments disbursed; this is a program disbursement figure, not the agency’s total budget.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — AEDC publicized the opening of L3Harris’s Arsenal of Freedom solid rocket motor facility in Camden on October 20.
- **2026-08** — AEDC announced the third site-development round; intent submissions closed September 30, with full applications due November 6, 2026 at 5 p.m. Central.
- **2026-04** — Twenty-two communities received $25 million for industrial-site development.

## Links

- Website: https://www.arkansasedc.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkansasinc/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/arkansasedc
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8NHNFG0fF-AwE21YdkvVhw
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArkansasEDC

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Last updated: 2026-10-26