Arkansas has an abundance of resources to help food processing companies succeed. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission works directly with food processing companies looking to start-up, expand or relocate. In addition, we assist companies with finding the best incentives so companies are able to make money quickly and efficiently.

There were 522 food and beverage companies in Arkansas at the end of 2022. These companies employed 55,130 people. Arkansas is home to Tyson Foods and numerous other food processing facilities, including Nestle, JBS USA, Kraft Heinz, Mars Inc., Cargill Inc., Hormel Foods Corp, Riceland Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, ConAgra Brands Inc., Land O’ Frost and Frito-Lay, Inc.

Arkansas has the 5th largest percentage of food processing workers in the United States. The growth rate of the food and beverage industry from 2017 to 2022 was 6 percent in Arkansas.

The food processing industry is booming in Arkansas and continues to grow exponentially. Eight of the top 10 food and beverage companies by revenue in the world have manufacturing facilities in the state.

Arkansas is meeting the workforce needs for food processing companies. The state now has the second-largest number of food processing workers in the US and Arkansas has responded to industry growth by modernizing the workforce.

Professional Development Programs Expand Skilled Workforce in Arkansas

September 20, 2017

There are many opportunities for professional development in Arkansas. In an ever-changing global marketplace, the one factor any state can count on is the skill level of its emerging and existing workforce. Here in Arkansas, we are teaching a generation of workers to meet the needs of businesses by equipping students with workforce training opportunities statewide.

The state’s diverse industrial base provides an ample supply of experienced manufacturing workers. The manufacturing sector accounts for 13 percent of the state’s jobs. Throughout the years the sector has shifted from agriculture-based to light manufacturing to more sophisticated processes and products such as advanced food packaging, transportation equipment, and primary and fabricated metals.

Business and Industry Training Program

The Business and Industry Training Program (BITP) is a flexible program designed for new and expanding businesses and industries. BITP has three emphases: recruiting workers, pre-employment training and on-the-job training.

Eligible Businesses:

• Biotechnology Companies

• Distribution Centers

• Intermodal Facilities

• Knowledge-based Companies

• Manufacturing Operations

• National & Regional Corporate Headquarters

• Office Sector Businesses

• Scientific & Technical Services

The BITP provides financial assistance to recruit workforce required for new and expanding businesses and industries in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) offers a pre-employment training program for new and expanding companies, customizing the number of hours and content of the training to fit the specific needs of each company.

Following pre-employment training, if the company hires the trainee, AEDC helps pay the instructional costs to train the new employee. Hours of instruction and the number of instructors depend on the types of work that require on-the-job training.

Career Readiness

Six sister agencies, brought together by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, provide the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), a portable credential based upon the WorkKeys® assessments that demonstrates to employers that an individual possesses the basic workplace skills required for 21st century jobs. There have been more than 65,000 Career Readiness Certificate awarded to date, and the number continues to grow.