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Inward Investment Guides
United States Inward Investing Guide

United States Inward Investing Guide

Location USA is a guide for international companies looking to invest or establish operations within the United States. Location USA provides practical advice and guidance about facilities deployment, labor force skills, taxes and incentives, and more. For specific information on all 50 states, utilize the State Resources links.


Arkansas Is a Growing Gateway to World Trade
Area Development Online Research Desk (Location USA 2012)
 
Global recruitment and trade are key elements of Governor Mike Beebe's strategic plan for economic development. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) is committed to attracting and retaining the best companies and the most advanced industries from around the world.

Arkansas recognizes the strong, long-term economic opportunities originating from Europe and Asia. Together, European and Asian countries account for 12 of Arkansas's top 20 trading partners. AEDC now has an international team with two in-house project managers to focus on those regions, along with foreign offices in China and Japan.

Two key reasons many foreign companies (more than 100 and counting) locate and expand in Arkansas are its work force and superb location. Saint-Gobain, Unilever, Hino, Welspun, Nordex, Nestlé, and LM Wind Power all chose Arkansas because location was critical and a skilled work force is available. The state's central location puts any business in excellent position for transporting goods to both domestic and international markets.

The fact is, Arkansas is the nation's logistical capital and is a mid-point for North American trade. Its excellent transportation infrastructure and its ability to provide the work force a company needs to sustain itself make Arkansas the ideal location for all companies to consider when deciding where to locate.

Arkansas has a significant amount of international business activity, and its international presence continues to grow.
• Approximately 33,300 workers are employed by foreign-owned firms.
• More than half of the jobs created by foreign-owned entities are in manufacturing, mainly industrial machinery, primary and fabricated metals, rubber, and plastics.
• Foreign direct investment in Arkansas is responsible for 3.3 percent of the state's total private-industry employment.

The AEDC works very closely with both the Arkansas World Trade Center and the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Little Rock on export promotion, trade missions, and lead development. With exports totaling more than $585 million in 2010, the aircraft/aerospace industry represents Arkansas's top value-added export. More than 9,000 people are employed in aerospace occupations including aircraft parts and components, rocketry, air transportation services, aircraft repair and maintenance, and aircraft refurbishing. Other top exports include machinery, cereals, organic chemicals, electrical machinery, meat, plastic, and iron and steel.

Arkansas is home to people with a strong work ethic and available training for whatever the need. There are 11 four-year public universities, 22 two-year public colleges, 12 independent colleges and universities, and three technical universities/vocational-technical schools located in the state. But more importantly, what you will find when you are ready to begin hiring is that the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), working with other state agencies, offers a Career Readiness Certificate to potential employees. This helps make certain that the people you interview are qualified and those you hire have the skills - or can be trained in the skills - that you need. This greatly increases your return on your training dollars and efforts.

Find out how your company can find success in Arkansas.

Location Profile
ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Connect

Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Joe Bailey, Director of Business Development
900 West Capitol, Suite 400
Little Rock, AR 72201
1-800-ARKANSAS or 501-682-1121
Fax: 501-682-7499

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United States Inward Investment Location Profiles
ARIZONA
Arizona - A Great Place For Business

Arizona is one of the fastest-growing, most dynamic economies in the United States. Both Fortune 500 and start-up technology companies call Arizona home, reaping the advantages of a competitive business climate and tax structure; a skilled, knowledge based work force; and world-class innovation, cultural, and scenic resources.

ARKANSAS
Your Success Story Starts In Arkansas

Arkansas's transportation network and central U.S. location define the state as a strategic distribution center. Midway between Mexico City and Montreal, Arkansas offers a valuable distribution advantage.

Little Rock, Arkansas: A Globally Recognized Brand

For two years in a row, the Little Rock region has been named "America's Fourth Strongest Economy" by the Brookings Institution's MetroMonitor. The Wall Street Journal calls it the nation's "Sixth Best Real Estate Market," while Forbes says it is America's "Seventh Best Place for Jobs."

KANSAS
Wichita, Kansas USA - Site of Choice for Advanced Manufacturing Enterprises

Wichita, better known as the Air Capital of the World, has also been ranked #1 U.S. metro for aviation manufacturing. Wichita has the highest concentration of aircraft and aircraft parts manufacturing employment (skills) in the United States.

KENTUCKY
Kentucky Is a Global Business Center

Kentucky remains a leader in attracting foreign direct investment, with nearly 35 percent of announced new investment in 2012 due to FDI activity. Today, about 420 foreign-owned firms from 30 nations employ nearly 80,000 people in the state.

NEW YORK
Think New York for Business Opportunity

When you hear "New York" you probably think of tall buildings and Wall Street — not cows, pastures, and a state whose leading industry is agriculture. In fact, we have both, and the world is taking notice of the abundant milk supply, sophisticated transportation system, and oneday access to almost 100,000,000 consumers.

OHIO
The Columbus Region Grows Increasingly Global Each Year

The Columbus Region is a thriving 11-county area located in Central Ohio. Home to 15 Fortune 1000 headquarters, with two million people and a population growth rate of 1.3 percent annually, the Columbus Region is one of the fastestgrowing major metropolitan areas in the Midwest, and is growing more and more global each year.

The New Ohio — A Leader in New Job Creation

Profitable. Diverse. Motivated. Strategic. Global. These are the words that describe the new Ohio and make us a leader in new job creation in the U.S.

OKLAHOMA
Tulsa - Where Business Grows

Home to more than 950,000, Tulsa, Oklahoma, perfectly balances convenience and affordability with the advantages of a highly skilled work force, a central location, a pro-business atmosphere, and an excellent quality of life. It is a dynamic, growing region that offers the fifth-lowest cost for doing business in the nation and is home to some of the nation's largest companies. These assets combine to make an ideal home for progressive companies competing in a global economy.

TENNESSEE
Select Tennessee for Your Next Investment

Tennessee's ideal location, strong transportation infrastructure, low costs of doing business, and high quality work force provide an attractive setting for investments from around the globe. With most major U.S. markets within a day's drive, Tennessee provides immediate access to eight interstate highways, an extensive network of railways and waterways, and the world's second-busiest freight airport in Memphis.

WEST VIRGINIA
Plastics - West Virginia's Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

Offering one of the highest concentrations of hightech, specialty, and engineering polymer production in the world; an abundance of necessary raw materials; a knowledgeable, highly trained and productive work force; and established transportation systems; it is no wonder West Virginia is home to a vibrant and growing plastics industry.