Manufacturers

Authority Resources for Manufacturers

Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions (AMS)

The Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions provides on-site consultation by project managers. AMS is charged with providing technical and management assistance to manufacturers in Arkansas. By helping individual manufacturers, AMS assists the surrounding communities and the entire state.

AMS is a partner in the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). MEP is a nationwide network of non-profit centers in over 400 locations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. This makes it possible for even small manufacturers to tap into the expertise of knowledgeable manufacturing and business specialists all over the United States.

Technology Transfer Assistance Grant Program

The Authority's Technology Transfer Assistance Grant Program provides limited financial support for the transfer and deployment of innovative technology. The Authority will fund up to $3,750 of costs associated with transferring new or existing technology from a qualified applicant -- such as a public or private enterprise, laboratory, college or university -- to an enterprise based in Arkansas. Up to $5,000 of total project costs will be considered, with the first $2,500 funded by the Authority; the remaining $2,500 is cost-shared equally (50:50) between the Authority and the enterprise. Each enterprise is eligible to receive assistance for two technology transfer projects per year. Projects are evaluated on a competitive basis.

Centers for Applied Technology

The Arkansas Science & Technology Authority's Centers for Applied Technology Program is a competitive effort to support applied technology in areas of advanced materials and manufacturing systems; agriculture, food and environmental sciences; biotechnology, bioengineering and life sciences; and, information technology. The benefits of establishing a center is that an income tax credit equal to 33% of qualified research expenditures may be allowed to an Arkansas taxpayer who invests in an active project under research and development programs offered by the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority.

R & D Tax Incentives

Tax credits are intended to provide incentives for university-based research, in-house research of several kinds, and research and development in start-up, technology-based enterprises. It is important for the applicant to understand the different incentives and to select the most appropriate for the eligible research and development activity.