Categories:

Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO), Defense (D), Business Jets and Interior Completions (BJ/IC), Avionics, Electronics and Photonics (A/E/P), FBOs and Airports (FBO/A), Manufacturing (M), General Aviation Services and Maintenance (GA), Specialized (S)

ABOUT ARKANSAS

Location

Halfway between Canada and Mexico, the Carolinas and California, Arkansas is only a tank of gas away from one-third of the nation’s population. The state’s comprehensive transportation system can easily move bulk commodities and consumer goods. Many of Arkansas’s port locations have railway connections that provide a smooth transition for various modes of transportation and quick delivery.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. Arkansas’s intermodal transportation network of highways, railways, air routes, waterways and pipelines is ideally suited to meet the needs of business. These facilities provide easy access to U.S. markets and the world.

Economy

• 1st in Cost of Doing Business
  • Source: CNBC, Cost of Doing Business State Rankings 2018
     
• 3rd on the Cost of Living Index (annual 2018, source: c2er)
  • 7th in Quality of Life
  • 6th in Quality Rating for State-Run Pre-K
  • 16th in College Costs, Tuition and Fees
  • 16th Lowest College Debt at Graduation
    • Source: U.S. News and World Report,  Best States Rankings Report
       
• 8th Top Manufacturing State by percentage of workforce, third in the south
  • (source: bls employment & earnings, annual 2018)
    • Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA ranked second; Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO MSA ranked sixth in Food Processing Leaders.
    • Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO MSA ranks seventh in job growth among mid-sized metros.
    • Conway ranks second and Jonesboro ranks eighth in lowest cost of living among American metros
      • Source: Business Facilities Magazine 2018, 14th Annual Metros Ranking Report
         
• 11th lowest 2017 Mean Average Commute to Work at 21.6 minutes
  • 68% of Arkansas workers spend less than 25 minutes commuting to work
    • Source: U.S. Census
       
• 40% of the U.S. population is within a day’s drive (550 miles/880 kilometers)
• 159 Foreign Tech Companies
• Some of the lowest Union membership rates in the U.S.
• $113.95 billion - 2017 Real Gross Domestic Product for Arkansas

Quality of Life

Education

• 45 colleges, universities & 2-year colleges throughout Arkansas
• 6 educational institutions offer certification in Aviation Maintenance Technology including both Powerplant and Airframe mechanic career education
• 26 colleges, universities, 2-year colleges, high schools and other organizations offer coursework, instruction or degrees in cybersecurity.
• Over 1,600 engineering-related certificates and degrees awarded annually.

Climate

The weather in Arkansas is mild and typically pleasant. No matter what time of year you plan on visiting Arkansas, you’ll find The Natural State offering beautiful scenic views and plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure. With four distinct, yet temperate, seasons, Arkansas is the perfect year-round vacation destination. Spring and fall are particularly mild with the most extreme temperatures occurring in late summer when days are hot and humid and during winter months when temperatures occasionally dip into the teens or below.

Weather in Arkansas often changes dramatically due to surrounding weather influences. When two or more weather systems merge, clouds form, temperature changes and precipitation often follows. Arkansas’s central location allows weather systems from all directions to influence its climate.

Why Others Choose Arkansas for Relocation

From the Delta to the Ozark Mountains, Arkansas is an incredible place to live. Some are enchanted by the stunning scenery, others enjoy the four distinct seasons and still others are fond of the convenience the state provides and the fact that Arkansas is one of the most affordable states to live in. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that a love of Arkansas runs deep in the hearts of those who call it home.

Cost of Living in Arkansas

Moving from Another State and Considering Arkansas Employment?

Use the chart below to compare property taxes, median household income, median home cost and overall cost of living in Little Rock, Arkansas, with other popular U.S. cities.

Note - Property Tax Rate: The rate per $1,000 of home value. If the tax rate is $14, and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14 x ($250,000/1,000), or $3,500. Source: Sperling’s Best Places (www.bestplaces.net), accessed 2015 May 18.

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE WORKFORCE TRAINING IN ARKANSAS

Arkansas leads the South in aerospace education, offering a wide variety of certification programs and degrees. Students can participate in career training programs focused on aerospace technology and manufacturing, aviation maintenance, become professional pilots, obtain 4-year degrees in aviation and engineering and even earn their Masters or Ph.D.