Garland County – the only single county MSA in the MLRA – is located just Southwest of Little Rock on the edge of the Ouachita Mountains .  The Hot Springs MSA designation was grated to the County in 2003.

Hot Springs is the county seat and offers residents everything from Resort Status to High Tech Business Appeal.   Hot Springs is surrounded by beautiful lakes and forests in the heart of the nation, Hot Springs ’ exquisite natural beauty, historical, cultural, recreational and family attractions make it a favorite vacation destination all year long.

Employment in Hot Springs has recovered well from the 2001 recession, growing at a solid annual rate of 2.5 percent since March 2002.  Hot Springs has outperformed its neighbors, thanks to especially solid job increases in professional and business services (27 percent) and leisure and hospitality (25 percent).

Hot Springs was recently, for the first time, ranked on the Milken Institute’s Best Performing Cities Index as the No. 69 best performing small city, based on economic performance and the ability to create, as well as, keep the greatest number of jobs in the nation.  Kiplinger’s Letter recently spotlighted Hot Springs as being one of nine American cities that offer an “attractive pool of young talent for employers looking for college graduates to hire.”  The article states, “Young adults are shunning metropolitan areas for quieter towns and cities that offer cheaper housing, easier commutes, good pay and less crime.”  Bizjournals.com ranked Hot Springs as the “3^rd Hottest Small City Job Market in the United States .”  The Hot Springs MSA was also ranked as the 14^th fastest growing MSA in the United States based on new job growth over a year.  These are just some of the recent national accolades that spotlight the strong economic engine that exists in the Hot Springs Metro Area.  

Economic development is strong in Hot Springs .  Companies such as Stanley Associates, ACCENT Marketing, Xerox, Weyerhaeuser, Alcoa, Martin Marietta, Mountain Valley Spring, Alliance Rubber,  and the Triumph Group all have strong presences in the community.  More than $100 million in tourism, manufacturing and technology projects have been announced in the past three years.

The advantages of doing business in Hot Springs go far beyond the city's reputation for scenic beauty and world-class amenities. Designated an Arkansas Community of Excellence by the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, Hot Springs offers a bustling business environment with a strong foundation of support services for all types of companies. The Garland County Economic Development Corporation, Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Administration of Hot Springs, and the Arkansas Small Business Development Center are all on hand to provide their expertise to potential business owners.

An affordable answer for business and industry, the city's lower cost of living also means lower operational costs for businesses.  Hot Springs offers a sizeable and growing work force and a highly developed infrastructure.  The community is known for its solid, progressive leadership and crystal clear vision for the future.

Hot Springs offers a thriving business environment with a strong foundation of support services.  To discuss your potential business expansion of location to the area, please contact:

Garland County Economic Development Corporation
Dave Byerly, CEcD, President/CEO
501-624-6807