Arkana Laboratories to Expand Little Rock Operations, Create 74 New Jobs

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 7, 2022) – Arkana Laboratories, a global leader in diagnostic pathological services, today announced plans to expand its Little Rock operations, creating 74 new positions within the next five years. As part of the expansion, Arkana will invest more than $30 million and add 10,000 square feet to its existing 90,000-square-foot building to improve and transform the space into a cutting-edge education, research, and healthcare facility.

Arkana Laboratories is renowned for emphasizing a culture of learning in the workplace and developing talent.  While committed to improving the lives of thousands of patients, Arkana credits its people as the driving force behind its success in the field of pathology. Competitive wages, an impressive benefits package and an in-house hospitality staff are just a few of the ways it continues to prioritize employee experience while navigating the changing demands of the workforce landscape. Among the 74 new jobs that Arkana will create are positions for laboratory technicians, pathologists and administrative professionals, which will bring total employment to approximately 220 people.

“These jobs are a win for Arkansas as we further our efforts to bring more technology and healthcare jobs to the state,” said Governor Asa Hutchinson. “Arkana aggressively recruits top talent from across the globe, and this talent will find an unparalleled quality of life here filled with opportunities once they discover the many benefits of living in Arkansas.”  

"The rapid growth of Arkana Laboratories for the last 20 years has been fueled by successful execution on our mission of improving patient care by advancing our understanding of disease and providing world-class diagnostics. The planned job growth, infrastructure investment, and R&D efforts are all focused on pressing even more into this mission and we anticipate continued steady growth for years to come," said CEO Chris Larsen.

“Arkana Laboratories provides invaluable services for its clients, not to mention the educational opportunities they provide for their employees and the value they add to the research, science, and healthcare economies within Central Arkansas,” said Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston. “We are pleased that such a respected member of our state’s business community has confidence in Little Rock’s business climate and has chosen to expand in Little Rock.”

“The announcement of Arkana Laboratories to invest $30 million and create 74 new, high-paying jobs solidifies Little Rock as a healthcare leader across the south,” said Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. “These highly-technical positions will bring people from across the globe to our state’s capital city and we welcome them to Little Rock.”

The company’s culture of recruiting and fostering talent has led Arkana to become the largest renal pathology lab in the country and the only one to provide final results through same-day service for its clients. In addition to renal pathology, Arkana Laboratories also provides expertise and rapid turnaround in neuropathology services, as well as a robust service offering in its contract research division.

“Arkana Laboratories is a nationwide leader that has captured the attention of the top talent in the healthcare industry,” said Jim Cargill, 2022 Chairman of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. “Their ability to attract physicians from across the country speaks volumes about the quality of life available in Central Arkansas.”

Arkana Laboratories expects to complete the expansion of the facility by 2024.  For more information on the company, visit https://www.arkanalabs.com/.

About Arkana Laboratories
Arkana Laboratories is a center for esoteric pathology focused on one thing: improving care for patients. As the largest renal pathology lab in the United States, Arkana is dedicated to providing rapid testing and results for all of our patients. It is a learning, teaching, innovating practice, with a mission to advance understanding of disease and provide world class diagnostics that aids in its work toward research breakthroughs.

About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce, seeks to create economic opportunity by attracting higher-paying jobs, expanding, and diversifying local economies in the state, increasing incomes and investment, and generating growth throughout The Natural State. Arkansas is a pro-business environment operating leaner, faster and more focused through a streamlined state government designed to act on corporate interests quickly and decisively. For more information, visit www.ArkansasEDC.com. The Arkansas Department of Commerce is the umbrella department for workforce and economic development drivers. Its divisions and regulatory boards include Division of Aeronautics, Waterways Commission, Wine Producers Council, Division of Workforce Services, Office of Skills Development, State Bank Department, Insurance Department, Securities Department, Economic Development Commission and Development Finance Authority. It was established July 2019 as part of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s wide-sweeping efficiency and transformation efforts to reduce 42 cabinet agencies to 15 while maintaining services for all Arkansans.

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. For more information, visit littlerockchamber.com.