Newport Economic Development Commission

What Newport Economic Development Commission does

Newport Economic Development Commission (NEDC) is a public economic development commission established in 2002 by a citizen vote to promote business growth and job creation in Newport and Jackson County, Arkansas. The commission is funded by a voter-approved 1/2% economic development sales tax collected within Newport city limits and operates from 209 Hazel Street. NEDC's core service offering is the administration of economic development programs rather than the sale of technology products: it runs a ReNewport Grant Program (50% matching grants up to $2,500 for small-business exterior improvements against a $25,000 annual pool), Local Job Creation Incentives (forgivable loans tied to job creation, wages, and capital investment), and site selection assistance for relocating or expanding businesses. Its differentiated infrastructure assets are Tech Depot and DTech Park, a $3.1 million IT apprenticeship training facility and a downtown technology park built around Ritter Communications fiber, developed jointly with ASU-Newport and the Arkansas Center for Data Sciences.

NEDC serves three primary segments: manufacturing and industrial businesses (the priority target for job creation incentives and forgivable loans), retail and small businesses (eligible for ReNewport grants and Business Starter Kit resources), and technology companies (attracted to Tech Depot, DTech Park, and the ACT Work Ready Community-certified workforce pipeline). The organization operates under a direct-to-consumer and event-driven go-to-market model: one-on-one consultation with prospects at headquarters, participation in ribbon cuttings, Chamber luncheons, business expos, and community festivals, and content marketing via its website and weekly events email. All programs are delivered free of charge to qualifying businesses and residents.

Revenue mechanics are public-sector: NEDC collects no fees from program recipients, and its operating budget is sourced from the dedicated sales tax plus occasional state grants (including $335,700 from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission in December 2024). The commission is governed by an appointed board (Chair Dean Sides, Vice-Chair Jim Gowen Sr., Treasurer Mike Turner, and six commissioners) and led by Executive Director Jon Chadwell. Notable strategic relationships include partnerships with the Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation, the Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond Board, ASU-Newport, Ritter Communications, and the University of Central Arkansas Aviation Academy for the Pilot Pipeline Program with Gen 4 Jets.

Name

Newport Economic Development Commission

Legal name

Newport Economic Development Commission

Website

https://newportarcity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Newport Economic Development Commission (NEDC) is a public, voter-approved economic development commission in Newport, Arkansas that administers job creation incentives, small-business grants, site selection assistance, and the Tech Depot IT workforce training facility to attract, retain, and expand businesses in Jackson County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of General Economic Programs (92611)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business incentive programs
• Workforce development training
• Job creation incentives
• Municipal economic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Economic Development Sales Tax: The NEDC is funded through a voter-approved 1/2% economic development sales tax collected within Newport city limits. This dedicated funding source was approved by citizens in 2002 and is guided by the Economic Development Commission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Newport Economic Development Commission (NEDC) is a public economic development organization that promotes business growth and job creation in Newport and Jackson County, Arkansas. It provides business attraction, retention, and expansion services including site selection assistance, incentive negotiations, workforce training programs, and financial grant programs. NEDC operates the Tech Depot IT training facility, DTech Park technology park, the ReNewport Grant program for small business improvements, and Local Job Creation Incentives for qualifying manufacturers and industrial businesses.

Product overview

The Newport Economic Development Commission (NEDC) is an economic development organization, not a technology product company. Its services consist of economic development programs and initiatives including: Tech Depot and DTech Park (IT training facility and technology park for workforce development), the ReNewport Grant Program (matching grants for small business improvements), Local Job Creation Incentives (forgivable loans for job creation), Business Starter Kit (entrepreneurship guide), and the Pilot Pipeline Program (aviation workforce partnership). These programs work together to attract new businesses, support existing businesses, develop the local workforce, and create jobs in Newport and Jackson County, Arkansas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tech Depot

Quantifiable outcome

• Jackson County achieved ACT Work Ready Community certification with 59 employers signed up
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• American Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 August 2026NEDC partners with American Red Cross to host community blood drives at the Newport Tech Depot NEDC Classroom location. Blood drives support local hospitals and regional emergency preparedness.
• University of Central Arkansas Aviation AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Partnership through Gen 4 Jets to establish pilot pipeline program. UCA Aviation Academy provides certified pilot training, with graduates receiving guaranteed interview opportunities with Gen 4 Jets.
• Central Flying AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Little Rock-based flight training provider partnering through Gen 4 Jets pilot pipeline program. Provides comprehensive pilot training from private pilot certification through ATP, with focus on student success and professional development.
• Arkansas Center for Data SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner in developing Tech Depot and DTech Park. Partnered with NEDC and ASU-Newport to create innovative IT training facility and downtown technology park for workforce development.
• ASU-NewportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey educational partner providing workforce training programs. ASU-Newport offers IT training through Tech Depot and serves as an educational hub for the region. The university added softball and basketball programs to its 2023-2024 calendar.
• Arkansas APEX AcceleratorcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNationwide network of APEX Accelerators helping small businesses compete for government contracts. Northeast Arkansas office opened in NEDC Building at 209 Hazel Street with office hours 8am to 4:30pm.
• ASU Small Business and Technology Development CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides professional assistance to start-up and existing businesses including training on start-up requirements, tax issues, marketing, loan assistance, and E-commerce. Has satellite office at Newport Business Resource Center open on second and fourth Fridays.
• Jackson County Industrial Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate economic development group dedicated to economic development projects in Jackson County. Frequently partners with other local economic development groups on cooperative projects including downtown sidewalk, commerce boulevard, road and rail spur projects.
• Downtown Revitalization and Improvement Volunteer Effort (D.R.I.V.E.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit dedicated to revitalization of 14-block downtown improvement district. Coordinates efforts to stimulate downtown growth through projects including Front Street Entertainment Park, Jackson County Veterans Memorial, Monster Nights, Depot Days, and Delta Arts Festival.
• Newport-Jackson County Industrial Development Bond BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private economic development group with authority to authorize bonds for economic development projects. Maintains available industrial sites and properties used by NEDC for recruitment of new industries or expansion of existing industries.
• Newport Airport CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirport Commission has been working with Gen 4 Jets for months to build a program allowing company and airport to grow together. Commission Chair James McLarty leads efforts to develop economic growth and opportunity at Newport Municipal Airport.
• Ritter CommunicationscoreTechnology or IntegrationFiber service provider backbone for DTech Park downtown Newport, capable of providing any speed required for IT companies. Critical infrastructure partner enabling technology business development.
• Moving Jackson County ForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate for-profit economic development group with $500/year membership contributions. Board selects projects outside scope of other local groups including economic development sales tax extension, branch outreach center, and ag tech programs.
• Newport Industrial Development AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate economic development group dedicated to economic development projects in Newport. Partners with other local groups on cooperative projects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber and economic development organization serving Independence County in north-central Arkansas. Comparable small-city EDC running workforce, retention, and attraction programs similar in scope to NEDC's portfolio.
• Conway Development Corporation: Economic development arm for Conway, Arkansas — a comparable small-city EDC running a similar incentive and workforce development playbook in a different region of the state. Useful benchmark for how a similarly-sized Arkansas EDC structures programs.
• Little Rock Regional Chamber: Central Arkansas chamber of commerce and economic development organization. Operates the same business attraction and retention playbook as NEDC but serves a larger, more urbanized market with a different industry mix and competitor set.

Direct peers

• Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber and economic development organization in northeast Arkansas, serving a similar target market of manufacturing, retail, and small business prospects. Closest geographic direct competitor for the same employer recruitment pipeline in the Arkansas Delta region.
• Mississippi County Economic Development: Northeast Arkansas county-level economic development organization with an overlapping Delta labor market and similar industrial recruitment focus. Competes for the same manufacturing and logistics prospects in the same geographic region as Newport.
• West Memphis Economic Development: City-level economic development function for West Memphis, Arkansas — a peer Delta city that competes directly with Newport for logistics, distribution, and manufacturing prospects given shared Mississippi River corridor positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Arkansas Economic Development Commission: The state-level economic development agency for Arkansas. Operates the same incentive, workforce, and business attraction mandate as NEDC but at a statewide scale, serving as the natural umbrella body and frequent co-funder for Newport's local deals.
• Greater Memphis Chamber: Regional chamber and economic development body for the Memphis metro, which NEDC explicitly identifies as a key nearby market given Newport's proximity. Competes for logistics and distribution prospects but with substantially larger incentive capacity and brand reach.

Others

• Northeast Arkansas Regional Planning Commission: Regional planning and economic development coordinating body covering multiple northeast Arkansas counties including Jackson County. Functions as a peer in the regional economic development ecosystem and as a planning resource NEDC coordinates with on infrastructure and workforce initiatives.
• Arkansas APEX Accelerator: Federal/state-funded small business assistance network that operates an office inside NEDC's building. Functions as a co-located peer for government contracting support services, comparable in service model though not in geographic remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NEDCNewport
• Facebookfacebook.com/NEDCNewport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Newport Economic Development Commission