ICYMI: The next decade will define Arkansas’s economic future

The next decade will define Arkansas’s economic future

By: Randy Zook, President & CEO, Arkansas State Chamber/AIA

It’s easy to forget just how much Arkansas has changed over the past decade. Not all of it has been obvious day to day, but taken together, the progress has been significant.

We’ve strengthened our business climate, expanded infrastructure, and created new opportunities for growth across the state. The results are clear. Employment has grown by nearly 14%, and real personal income has increased by more than 50%, well above the rate of inflation.

Taken together, those trends point to something bigger: Arkansas is increasingly a place where people can find opportunity, build careers, and put down roots.

While that progress is worth recognizing, it also sets the stage for what comes next. Arkansas has a real opportunity over the next decade. The question is whether we’re prepared to take full advantage of it.

The reality is that every state is competing every day for the same jobs, the same workers, and the same investment. And the rules of that competition are changing. Advances in artificial intelligence, shifts in global supply chains, and rising demands on energy and infrastructure are redefining what it takes to compete.

To stay competitive, Arkansas has to be intentional about what comes next. That is the focus of the Arkansas State Chamber’s Arkansas Advantage 2035, a long-term playbook to guide the state’s economic growth over the next decade.

At the center of that effort is one simple idea: when Arkansas works, Arkansas wins.

First, we have to strengthen our workforce pipeline. Employers across the state continue to say the same thing: they need workers with the right skills. And that starts early. Reading proficiency by third grade remains one of the strongest predictors of long-term success, and it has direct implications for our future workforce. At the same time, we must expand technical training, align education with industry needs, and ensure students are prepared for careers in a rapidly changing economy, including exposure to AI and data literacy.

Second, we must continue improving our business climate. That means keeping taxes competitive, simplifying regulations, and ensuring Arkansas remains an affordable place to operate and grow a business. It also means modernizing policies to support innovation, manufacturing, and emerging industries that are driving economic growth nationwide.

Third, infrastructure has become a deciding factor in economic development. Reliable and affordable energy, broadband access, transportation systems, and available housing are no longer secondary considerations, they are requirements. Power generation and transmission, in particular, are quickly becoming constraints on growth if not addressed.

Finally, we must strengthen the way we compete for jobs and investment. That includes better coordination across regions, stronger marketing of Arkansas’ strengths, and ensuring we have the tools in place to attract and support new and expanding businesses.

One of those tools will be before voters this November. Issue 3 would give communities across Arkansas more flexibility to invest in infrastructure, support housing, and compete for economic development opportunities, all without raising taxes. Getting that right will be important to expanding growth in every region of the state.

At the same time, Arkansas is approaching another critical moment: the 2030 Census. A complete and accurate count will determine how billions of federal dollars are allocated for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and housing. It will also shape our ability to plan for growth over the next decade.

Put simply, if Arkansas is undercounted, Arkansas loses.

The next decade will not take care of itself. It will be shaped by the decisions we make now.

If we stay focused, aligned, and willing to act, Arkansas is well positioned not just to compete, but to win.