However, despite our history of business successes, past natural catastrophes and pandemics have harmed hardworking Arkansans and the small businesses who employ them.

We salute the Arkansas-based businesses and entrepreneurs who make innovative changes to their work focus in order to protect their fellow Arkansans during emergencies and to weather the economic downturn inflicted upon them through no fault of their own.

Repair, Renew, Restore

As Republicans, we believe it is our responsibility to empower our citizens to repair, renew, and restore—in an expeditious and safe manner— our dynamic economy rooted in free enterprise, economic freedom, and personal liberty.

Our primary belief for a strong economy for our state is this:

PEOPLE CREATE BUSINESSES; BUSINESSES CREATE JOBS; GOVERNMENT DOES NOT!

Arkansas’s small businesses are the drivers of our economy. All levels of government must do all they can to understand and meet the needs of small businesses during our recovery.

We adamantly believe a strong and dynamic economy should span the width and breadth of our state.

In order to continue moving forward in our economic growth, businesses in Arkansas need to operate freely from overly burdensome regulation and over-taxation.

We support government development of programs that facilitate the creation of new business and encourage growth in economically distressed areas.

Individual Responsibility

Our state’s response to the global pandemic illustrates our strong belief in being individually responsible for our place in society and our compassion by helping our neighbors obtain and secure the rewards of hard work to provide for themselves, their families and those unable to care for themselves.

We strongly support the use of economic development investments to help establish domestic businesses in Arkansas so that our citizens do not have to rely on sources beyond our borders that affect our security or our independence.

As part of our responsibility to strengthen our state’s economic footing and to overcome circumstances where an individual may not earn a living wage, we continue to support programs and incentives that enable people to seek employment with the goal of becoming self-sufficient.

Our responsibility for economic growth requires us to promote Arkansas, its products, and its produce in the national and global marketplaces.

While we favor free and fair trade, we oppose sacrificing Arkansas-based jobs to other countries in the pursuit of trade agreements, and we similarly oppose trade policies or agreements that encumber the ability of Arkansans to export their products.

Right to Use Our Land As We See Fit

Our farmers are excellent stewards of their land, and they provide the world with safe and wholesome food and natural resources. We support Arkansans’ rights to use their land in the way they see fit, including the use of diverse production methods and technologies free from burdensome federal regulations.

Our state’s farm production holds a preeminent place on the world stage, and we support efforts to open new international markets to our products. Additionally, we support policies that will increase the ability of our farmers and producers to sell directly to our citizens.

We support recycling to reduce waste, energy conservation, and the use of cost-effective renewable energy. We believe economic prosperity can be advanced through market-based initiatives that maintain air and water quality, conserve our world-renowned wetlands and natural beauty, and clean and redevelop waste sites without additional overreaching intervention from government or international agreements.

We further believe our nation should continue to move away from dependence on foreign sources of energy by utilizing domestic resources—especially those located within our state’s borders—while protecting our environment. We also support efforts that would allow energy resources developed in Arkansas to be further utilized domestically and exported globally.

While our state has many blessings for which to be thankful, our most valuable economic resource is the hardworking people that epitomize the Land of Opportunity.

Right to Work

Recognizing the importance of all Arkansans possessing the opportunity to be able to put a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and food on our tables, Arkansas Republicans strongly believe in our right to work in any job free from compulsory group membership with associated mandatory or suggested fees.

We support Arkansas workers in their right to collectively bargain if they so choose.

Furthermore, we believe every Arkansas worker has the right to be fully informed by both sides in any organizing effort. We strongly believe a worker’s right to a secure ballot to be guaranteed.