Boeing. Lockheed Martin. Textron Aviation. These are just three of the major aerospace industry players who have chosen to run testing operations at the rapidly expanding Arkansas Aeroplex in Blytheville. Located on approximately 14.17 sq. km. in the heart of Mississippi County, the site has been undergoing a transformation since the former military base was redeveloped for commercial use.
Today, 40 commercial businesses from a wide range of sectors, including distribution, manufacturing and aviation, call the complex home.
“As we continue to attract more companies and invest in infrastructure improvements, the Arkansas Aeroplex stands ready to play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and creating new opportunities for the community and state. Our vision for the Aeroplex is ambitious, but with continued support and investment, it is entirely achievable,” said Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority President Barrett Harrison.
Why invest in the Aeroplex?
“We’ve got exciting things going on here,” Harrison said, highlighting the features that make the Arkansas Aeroplex an attractive investment destination, among them expansive facilities, unrestricted airspace and thousands of acres available for customizable development.
“Our runway is almost two miles long and, thanks to unrestricted flying, the airport can accommodate anybody at any time. You can land and take off whenever you’re ready,” said Harrison.
He added that the Aeroplex has nearly 454,515 sq. m. of ramp space that can accommodate aircrafts of any size. The complex also has a distribution facility fitted with 22 loading docks for trucks, aviation maintenance and repair technology, and capacity for additional hangar space to accommodate almost any size and need.
The Arkansas Aeroplex’s strategic location is one of its main selling points. Located just around 8 km from the Mississippi River off Interstate 55, and situated in the middle of the United States, the Aeroplex is close to every mode of transportation. Half of the United States is reachable from the Aeroplex in under 12 hours, making the site a tremendous asset for distribution operations.
Additionally, with aerospace and defense products being Arkansas’ top exports, valued at nearly $1.5 billion annually, there are over 10,000 Arkansans who work in the sector and are less than a five-hour drive from the Aeroplex.
Unrivaled economic impact
In addition to the aerospace industry, Mississippi County is the top steel-producing county in America. Since 2003, the easternmost county in the state has seen more than $9 billion in capital investment from companies who have chosen to locate there, bringing with them the creation of more than 9,000 jobs.
Arkansas Northeastern College leads the region in workforce training and has emphasized the creation of customizable curricula for local employers. It offers aviation maintenance classes and can build workforce training to suit the needs of companies that invest in Mississippi County.
To further incentivize employees to Mississippi County, the county launched “Work Here. Live Here,” an innovative housing initiative that offsets as much as $50,000 toward the purchase of a new home in Mississippi County. Over the past 20 months, the program has helped 100 residents, many of them first-time homeowners, purchase a new home.
With much room to grow, local companies willing to invest in the community, and its eager and capable workforce, Mississippi County and the Arkansas Aeroplex are poised for significant future expansion. Today, the Arkansas Aeroplex’s economic impact on the state economy is valued at $16.3 million.
Data from the Arkansas Aeronautics Commission shows that the Aeroplex is generating roughly three times the average amount compared to general aviation airports in the state — and the potential continues to expand.
“The Arkansas Aeroplex is the next piece of the puzzle. We believe it is poised to become a significant economic driver for the region. With our ongoing efforts to recruit companies in the aerospace industry, we are not only looking to boost the local economy but also position the Aeroplex as a hub of innovation and growth, similar to what we’ve done with the steel industry,” Harrison said.
