Economic Development

Economic Development recruits new businesses and developments to North Little Rock and guides entrepreneurs through the process of establishing a business in the city. Economic Development also assists businesses expanding their existing operations in North Little Rock. 

The city of North Little Rock is home to some of the most well know companies in the country.  Union Pacific, Caterpillar, Ben E. Keith, L’Oreal, Tyson Foods, First Orion, and many more all have operations here. North Little Rock is a thriving community of almost 70,000 in the middle of a transportation hub.  We sit at the nexus of I-40/I-30, we have river access on the Arkansas River, close to the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, and rail access in multiple areas of the city.

We are a member of the Metro Little Rock Alliance, home to almost 1 million people, Metro Little Rock pulses with burgeoning innovation, untapped industrial potential and breathtaking natural beauty. L’Oreal USA, Tyson Foods, Dillard’s, Acxiom and Dassault Falcon Jet are just a few of the big names already thriving here.

The region’s robust interstate infrastructure and strategic location make it ideal for distribution throughout the southeast and beyond. Twenty institutions of higher education are fueling Metro Little Rock’s innovation ecosystem and employment base.

Residents revel in a diverse range of housing and education options, and a variety of perks, including some of the south’s finest trails and lakes and a stunning natural landscape at the heart of “The Natural State.”

North Little Rock offers the quality of life of a small town with all the amenities of a large city.  Click on the links below to get a feel for what you can expect in North Little Rock!

North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce
Metro Little Rock Alliance
Small Business Administration
Residential Life
Quality of Life
Education
Economic Development
Healthcare
Census Data


Incentives

The North Little Rock Office of Economic Development (OED) assists businesses with obtaining and using any federal, state, and local incentives that the business is eligible to use.  The EDC also assists with arranging below market financing for qualified businesses.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q.  What incentives are available for my business?
A.  Incentives are established to encourage and promote growth for certain categories of businesses.  The OED can help a business determine eligibility and, if eligible, provide advice and assistance in obtaining them. 

Q.  What grants are available for businesses?
A.  Unfortunately, direct grants, per se, for businesses are not usually available.  However, sometimes in periods of severe economic distress, direct grants may be available.  Grants for public infrastructure assistance are difficult to obtain, but available.

Q.  Can the OED help with obtaining a loan for my business?
A.  Yes.  The OED can assist qualified businesses with loans and bonds for working capital, building construction, and equipment acquisition.

Contact

Colleen Bailey
Director of Economic Development
City of North Little Rock
Phone: 501-247-1852
Email: cbailey@nlr.ar.gov