Metro Little Rock Offers the Big Picture for Business

Metro Little Rock is a thriving 11-county region centrally located in the U.S. with a low cost of doing business, a diverse business base, future-oriented companies, a culture of entrepreneurship, and a population that has grown 19 percent during the last 15 years.

The entrepreneurial business culture encourages and rewards continuous innovation, and a regional university system encourages the inquisitive mind. There are 15 institutions of higher education in Metro Little Rock, including University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Central Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Harding University.

Metro Little Rock’s central location offers access nationwide access through its transportation systems. Interstates 30, 40, 430, 440, 530 and 630 and U.S. Highways 64, 65, 67, 70 and 167 intersect the metropolitan area. The region is home to two River Ports, the Little Rock National Airport, a foreign trade zone, and Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway and Arkansas Midland Railroad.

Metro Little Rock offers an abundance of qualified labor in prime age categories growing faster than the U.S. average. Labor costs are 10 to 20 percent below the U.S. average. Low unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation costs add to the attraction. And legislated tax breaks and other attractive economic incentives designed to support growing industry.

The State of Arkansas’s number one export is aerospace manufactured products. The region is home to Dassault Falcon Jet and Hawker Beechcraft who anchor the region as an aerospace cluster and help attract the region’s many suppliers. Dassault Aircraft Services recently announced expansion plans for a $10 million Little Rock Service Center. It will be complete near the end of 2008. 

Metro Little Rock is also attractive to many other major industries, including automotive, bio-technical, financial services, food processing, information technology, logistics and distribution, non-profit and tourism industries. The non-profit industry specifically has seen great success with the Clinton Presidential Center, Heifer International’s World Headquarters, Winrock International’s headquarters, Lions World Services for the Blind, and the EAST (Environmental and Spatial Technology) Initiative.

Denmark based LM Glasfiber recently announced plans to open a new facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. The plant is scheduled to begin operations in first quarter 2008.  “Not only is the site ideally located to serve some of the central US demand for wind development, but Arkansas was able to accommodate our aggressive ramp up schedule and we have every confidence they will exceed our stated goals,” said LM Glasfiber CEO Roland M. Sundén.

India based tubular steel pipe maker Welspun also announced plans to build a manufacturing facility in Little Rock on a 740-acre site adjacent to the Little Rock Port Authority. “We are happy to be here at Little Rock today – which has the advantage of a talented workforce, the right to transportation opportunities, and above all, the right geographic location.”

An affordable and attractive urban, suburban and rural up-scale residential properties at competitive prices attract a professional workforce.  And the close proximity of exemplary medical facilities, the availability of educational alternatives, recreational and entertainment options and programs in the arts keep them happy at home.

For more information about Metro Little Rock, call the Metro Little Rock Alliance at 501-377-6006, send e-mail to jdean@littlerockchamber, or visit www.metrolittlerockalliance.com.