LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 17, 2024) – The Metro Little Rock Alliance – a regional marketing coalition made up of communities across central Arkansas – hosted five of the nation’s top site location consultants for a three-day tour of Little Rock and surrounding communities. The event was designed to position the metro Little Rock region as an attractive and nationally competitive location for business investment.
The group toured sites for economic development prospects, met with area business leaders and privately with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and area workforce experts. The event concluded with a panel discussion at the Robinson Still Ballroom in downtown Little Rock.
Participating in a panel discussion were five of the nation’s top location advisors and site location consultants:
Robert Boehringer - Managing Director of Global Location and Expansion Services, KPMG
Darin Buelow - Global Leader for Location Strategy, Deloitte
Bob Hess - Vice Chairman of Global Strategy, Newmark
Kim Moore - Executive Managing Director, Newmark
Mark Williams - Founder and President of Strategic Development Group
Jack Thomas, the Little Rock Regional Chamber’s Vice President of Economic Development, moderated the discussion. The panel discussion provided specific feedback and high-level recommendations on ways Little Rock can be more competitive for business investment and provided education to the community stakeholders on how business location decisions are made and what other leading economic development organizations are doing to attract investment.
The site selection consultants highlighted Metro Little Rock's strong regional collaboration as a key asset. "You have an authentic relationship with your regional partners that is not just visible—it’s palpable," said Moore. This collaborative approach positions the region as an appealing destination for business investment.
The consultants stressed the importance of increasing the number of "shovel-ready" sites—locations fully prepped for immediate business development. Doing so would reduce uncertainty for potential investors and strengthen the region’s competitive edge.
The panelists noted that corporate projects are expanding in size, with growing demands for energy capacity and renewable resources. Neighboring states are aggressively replenishing their inventory of shovel-ready sites, highlighting the need for Arkansas to do the same.
Boehringer emphasized that site selection involves assessing infrastructure, utilities, and workforce while building confidence in local teams. Reducing risk and ensuring timely project completion are crucial to winning investments.
For more information on the Metro Little Rock Alliance, visit metrolittlerockalliance.com.
About Little Rock Regional Chamber
The Little Rock Regional Chamber is the principal business-driven leadership organization responsible for fostering the economic growth and development of the Little Rock region to ensure that business and industry may operate profitably and enhance the earning opportunities and quality of life for every citizen.
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