ALICE in Arkansas — Nearly one out of two households — 46 percent of Arkansans — are either below the federal poverty level or have incomes that cause families to struggle to afford housing, childcare, food, transportation, and healthcare. ALICE in Arkansas is a groundbreaking study sponsored by Entergy Arkansas and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation that reveals the scope of financial hardship in Arkansas. ALICE in Arkansas was released in March 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic. Download Full Report Download Report Summary
The Business Case for Economic Equity in Arkansas — If Arkansas households earned at least the ALICE survival budget, Arkansas would benefit from $8.4 billion more in taxable wages and $6.9 billion more in consumer spending, resulting in a $2.2 billion net gain for the state budget. The Business Case for Economic Equity in Arkansas is a research brief completed by nonprofit research firm Altarum that demonstrates the economic benefits of eliminating inequities experienced by Arkansas's workforce. Download Full Report
Capital Access Report —While entrepreneurship is clear and necessary pathway to economic growth, Black- and LatinX-owned businesses in Arkansas received less than two percent of the $1 billion loan awarded between 2015 to 2019. The Captial Access Report is a comprehensive survey of women and minority-owned businesses in Arkansas that documents the factors and barriers to capital access. Download Full Report Download the 2020 Update