History & Experience
The North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation is a not-for-profit 501-C-6 private corporation established in 1990 by a group of volunteers from the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and North Little Rock city government. Throughout its existence, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation has promoted economic development for the City of North Little Rock and its citizens. Soon after its incorporation, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation entered into annual contracts with the city government to promote and foster economic development and to conduct pertinent activities associated with that endeavor.
For more than a quarter of a century, this cooperative economic development partnership has been very productive. The North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation and city government were partners in successfully receiving the city’s first economic development grants from both federal and state economic development agencies. The first U.S. Economic Development Administration grant assisted with the development of the 250 acre I-440 Industrial Park. The first Arkansas Economic Development Commission grant helped fund infrastructure improvements for the Deluxe Video Services facility that subsequently became home to Caterpillar’s state of the art motor grader assembly facility. Another federal grant, financed the expansion and renovation of the Pulaski Tech College Aerospace Technology Center and the North Little Rock Airport. The North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation prepared and submitted approved federal and state grants critical to the retention and expansion of the Ben E. Keith MidSouth Headquarters and Distribution Complex.
In addition to recruiting Caterpillar, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation was instrumental in bringing Timex, Glazer’s Distribution, Ben E. Keith Foods (including recent retention and expansion), Diamond Bear Brewery, Flyway Brewery, Southern Famers Association, United Way Headquarters, U.S. Foodservice, Alliance Parts Warehouse, UTC Aerospace Systems, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, Care Link Headquarters and the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub to North Little Rock. Also, the Economic Development Corporation has worked on business incentive packages and below market financing for numerous North Little Rock businesses.
The North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation was and is a leader among economic development organizations in emphasizing “quality of life” as an integral component of urban economic development. As a result, it has been actively involved with downtown revitalization. It played critically important roles in the development of both Verizon Arena and the Dickey-Stephens baseball stadium and was instrumental in relocating the Chamber of Commerce to downtown North Little Rock.
Recently, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation was a contributor to efforts to finance commercial revitalization plans for the Park Hill, Levy and Baring Cross neighborhoods.
The Levy and Park Hill neighborhoods were selected to be among five central Arkansas neighborhoods to participate in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development/Metroplan “JumpStart” program.
Additionally, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation was a leader in understanding and promoting the linkage of education and economic development. Since its inception in 1990, Economic Development Corporation By-Laws established that the North Little Rock School District Superintendent and the Pulaski Technical College President serve on its Board of Directors. The North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation has had a long time commitment to Pulaski Technical College.
For more than a decade, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation has managed the City’s North Buckeye warehouses, offices and rail yard facility. The North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation provided technical assistance and advice to the City on the property donation from the Archer Daniel Midland Corporation and the subsequent redevelopment as a warehouse/transload facility. It has a history of high occupancy rates.
Presently, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation is working on several quality of life projects that could be transformative for the future of the city. Among them are a riverfront mixed use development and a Lodge with ancillary entertainment/recreation components adjacent to the 1,500 acre Burns Park.
For more than a quarter of a century, this cooperative economic development partnership has been very productive. The North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation and city government were partners in successfully receiving the city’s first economic development grants from both federal and state economic development agencies. The first U.S. Economic Development Administration grant assisted with the development of the 250 acre I-440 Industrial Park. The first Arkansas Economic Development Commission grant helped fund infrastructure improvements for the Deluxe Video Services facility that subsequently became home to Caterpillar’s state of the art motor grader assembly facility. Another federal grant, financed the expansion and renovation of the Pulaski Tech College Aerospace Technology Center and the North Little Rock Airport. The North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation prepared and submitted approved federal and state grants critical to the retention and expansion of the Ben E. Keith MidSouth Headquarters and Distribution Complex.
In addition to recruiting Caterpillar, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation was instrumental in bringing Timex, Glazer’s Distribution, Ben E. Keith Foods (including recent retention and expansion), Diamond Bear Brewery, Flyway Brewery, Southern Famers Association, United Way Headquarters, U.S. Foodservice, Alliance Parts Warehouse, UTC Aerospace Systems, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, Care Link Headquarters and the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub to North Little Rock. Also, the Economic Development Corporation has worked on business incentive packages and below market financing for numerous North Little Rock businesses.
The North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation was and is a leader among economic development organizations in emphasizing “quality of life” as an integral component of urban economic development. As a result, it has been actively involved with downtown revitalization. It played critically important roles in the development of both Verizon Arena and the Dickey-Stephens baseball stadium and was instrumental in relocating the Chamber of Commerce to downtown North Little Rock.
Recently, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation was a contributor to efforts to finance commercial revitalization plans for the Park Hill, Levy and Baring Cross neighborhoods.
The Levy and Park Hill neighborhoods were selected to be among five central Arkansas neighborhoods to participate in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development/Metroplan “JumpStart” program.
Additionally, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation was a leader in understanding and promoting the linkage of education and economic development. Since its inception in 1990, Economic Development Corporation By-Laws established that the North Little Rock School District Superintendent and the Pulaski Technical College President serve on its Board of Directors. The North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation has had a long time commitment to Pulaski Technical College.
For more than a decade, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation has managed the City’s North Buckeye warehouses, offices and rail yard facility. The North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation provided technical assistance and advice to the City on the property donation from the Archer Daniel Midland Corporation and the subsequent redevelopment as a warehouse/transload facility. It has a history of high occupancy rates.
Presently, the North Little Rock Economic Development Corporation is working on several quality of life projects that could be transformative for the future of the city. Among them are a riverfront mixed use development and a Lodge with ancillary entertainment/recreation components adjacent to the 1,500 acre Burns Park.
