Midway between Montreal and Mexico is Metro Little Rock, a Central Arkansas region buzzing with major transportation and logistics operations. Three major interstates – I-40, I-30 and I-55 – and reliable rail and multimodal options allow companies to move products with ease and efficiency from Metro Little Rock. The Port of Little Rock is designated as Foreign Trade Zone 14, and is home to major operations of Hormel Foods, Welspun and Ryerson. Union Pacific Railroad (UP), Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Genesee Wyoming serve the Little Rock area with freight rail services. The Port of Pine Bluff-Jefferson County serves as a hub for manufacturing and distribution of goods, and offers rail service through UP and BNSF. Available industrial sites surrounding the ports beckon to companies with competitive costs and reliable utilities. Beyond the region’s ports, companies find distribution success in cities throughout Metro Little Rock. Wal-Mart maintains a major distribution facility in Searcy, while Dillard’s maintains a prominent internet fulfillment center in Maumelle.
International heavyweights L’Oréal USA and Dassault Falcon Jet maintain their largest U.S. manufacturing operations in Metro Little Rock.
The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport offers 16 direct flights to locations across the United States, serving over 2 million passengers annually. The airport is served by Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Southwest, United and Via Air. There are more than 120 flights into and out of Little Rock every day.
Logistics & Distribution Establishments
561
Percentage of the U.S. population within a day’s drive
40%
Foreign Trade Zone
1
Ports
2
Major Interstates
3
Railroads
6
Arkansas-based Walmart Inc. has one of the largest private distribution networks in the world, with one of the most efficient transportation and logistics systems around. The Wal-Mart distribution center in Searcy is energized by a workforce that has been recognized by OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program for exemplary health and safety. In Searcy, Walmart benefits from Metro Little Rock’s robust interstate infrastructure to distribute billions of cases of merchandise annually.