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Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives (AEDCE), an affiliate of the State Chamber/AIA, stands as the premier statewide association dedicated to representing economic developers and chamber professionals in Arkansas. Its core mission is to advance the professional development of its membership while passionately advocating for community and economic development to benefit the people of Arkansas. AEDCE is devoted to enhancing the effectiveness of economic developers and chamber professionals across the state by fostering collaboration, networking opportunities, and providing tailored professional development training.

The Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence (AIPE) is an affiliate of the State Chamber/AIA that provides training, assessment, recognition and coaching to all types of Arkansas organizations. This program uses the national Baldrige Excellence Framework to help organizations identify strategies to improve in areas such as leadership, strategy, customers, workforce and operations. Since 1994, AIPE has provided in-depth, low- cost assessments to more than 470 organizations in manufacturing, healthcare, government, nonprofit, and education. Participating companies will often use AIPE’s personalized in-depth feedback reports to create new internal training models for their organizations, and many go on to win recognition through the Governor’s Quality Award Program for organizational excellence.

Be Pro Be Proud, an affiliate of the Associated Industries of Arkansas Foundation, aims to instill a new sense of pride, progress, and professionalism in America’s skilled workforce. As today’s skilled professionals retire, there is a growing demand for new talent. Be Pro Be Proud addresses this challenge by engaging key audiences such as high school and nontraditional students, current skilled professionals, legislators, parents, teachers, career coaches, and employers. Its goals include dispelling myths about skilled trade professions, showcasing the genuine vocational pride of current professionals, highlighting the abundant career opportunities within these trades, and providing essential resources and training to those interested.

Leadership Arkansas is a State Chamber/AIA program designed to develop emerging and established business, civic, and community leaders who have the desire and potential to create a better Arkansas. In this program, participants will learn about essential statewide issues, enhance their leadership skills, and gain a strong foundation to create future opportunities within their communities. By examining regional issues through a statewide lens, participants develop a deep understanding of the intricacies of state and local communities, uniquely equipping them to contribute as future leaders.

The National Civics Bee Arkansas, a program of the State Chamber/AIA, is aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Organized in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, middle-school students from across Arkansas participate in the competition to demonstrate their civics knowledge and discuss how they would solve a problem facing their community.

The Arkansas State Chamber/AIA Annual Meeting is a tradition that spans over 90 years. Each fall, business and community leaders from across the state convene for our premier membership event of the year. Attendees have the opportunity to hear from nationally recognized speakers, celebrate our Arkansas’ business community, and honor state legislators who advocate for business. This event also allows members to connect with leaders from business, government, academia, and non-profits, providing a platform for people to learn about and discuss the issues that most heavily impact their bottom line.

For nearly 70 years, the State Chamber/AIA has hosted its annual Washington Fly-In and Congressional Reception. This prestigious three-day event, held in Washington, D.C., provides participants with a valuable opportunity to network with Arkansas’ federal delegation alongside public officials and business leaders from across the state. The event serves as a platform for members to foster connections between participants and federal decision-makers, making it a cornerstone for business advocacy and engagement at the national level.

The State Chamber/AIA Legislative Reception offers chamber members a unique opportunity to interact with the members of the Arkansas General Assembly, Arkansas Constitutional Officers, and key decision-makers at the state and local levels. Each year the State Chamber/AIA invites members, public officials, candidates and community leaders to enjoy food and beverages while networking and engaging one-on-one with each other at our annual Legislative Reception. The reception, which is scheduled near the beginning of each fiscal and regular session of the General Assembly, underscores our commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration between business leaders and policy makers, making it a cornerstone event for advancing Arkansas’ economic and legislative agenda.

The State Chamber/AIA regularly hosts candidate forums, offering attendees the opportunity to hear directly from candidates running for open seats. These events allow participants to listen as candidates discuss their districts, share their positions on key issues, and respond to questions from the audience. It’s a valuable chance to engage with potential leaders and make informed decisions that impact the future of Arkansas’ business community.

The State Chamber/AIA has partnered with the Arkansas Economic Development Institute to bring you ArkanStats, an online resource designed to keep you and your business informed about economic trends throughout the state. ArkanStats provides comprehensive information, analysis, and data for those interested in the economic development of Arkansas. With its interactive visualization tools, users can explore in-depth data on the state’s economy, infrastructure, education and human capital, quality of life, and demographics. This initiative ensures that Arkansas businesses have access to the critical insights needed to thrive and make informed decisions.

Each year, the State Chamber/AIA partners with Arkansas Business Publishing Group to highlight the top manufacturers in our state and their most interesting products through the annual Coolest Thing Made in Arkansas competition.

Through the Together Arkansas initiative, the State Chamber/AIA provides employers with a comprehensive toolkit of free resources to help them prepare, prevent, and respond to the opioid crisis. The online course consists of five modules, each lasting 13 to 16 minutes, covering critical topics such as legal and operational issues, best practices for drug testing, developing policies and procedures, responding to an employee’s misuse of harmful drugs, referring employees for help, and providing options for an employee to return to work. This initiative underscores our commitment to supporting Arkansas businesses in tackling opioid use disorders and fostering a healthier workforce.