Incentives/Advantages
There are many reasons to do business in Searcy County. We not only continue to experience local growth, but we enjoy one of the lowest median property tax rates in America. 1,686,348 recreation visits to the Buffalo National River in 2024! The 2nd highest total in Buffalo National River history! Marshall is the Largest Town in the Buffalo River Watershed! Our target industries are Industrial Manufacturing, Distribution, Outdoor Products, Assembly, Agriculture, Wood Products, Government, Cycling, Garment Industry, Food Industry, Gun Industry, and Aviation.
Here are advantages to conducting business in Searcy County:
Searcy County is the ONLY rural county in Arkansas that had net positive migration for both the 2010-2019 and 2020-2021 time frames, according to Communities Unlimited! Meaning more people moved into Searcy County during those time periods than moved out! Come find out why people want to live in Searcy County!
The chamber of commerce is working with Marshall High School and other partners to certify Searcy County as an ACT Work Ready Community! Marshall High School is offering the ACT Work Keys that produces a Career Readiness Certificate for the completing student. The Career Readiness Certificate helps employers find workers with the right skills, reduces turnover rate, and helps workers get matched the jobs that fit their skills!
Searcy County ranks Top 3%, #80 of 2,766 counties in America with lowest cost of living and #12 in Arkansas! Searcy County ranks Top 11%, #288 of 2,751 in America in best counties for retirees, #13 in Arkansas, according to the 2024 Niche rankings!
Available commercial and retail properties here: Available Sites | Searcy County Chamber of Commerce (searcycountyarkansas.org) Tier Four County with Best Arkansas Incentives!
Lots of water availability from the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority that supplies water from Bull Shoals Lake!
The 2023 Average Daily Traffic Count Estimate for Searcy County showed 9,000 in the City of Marshall along US Highway 65!
Excellent Healthcare from multiple clinics to include the Administrative Headquarters of regional provider Boston Mountain Rural Health Center, Inc. Boston Mountain Rural Health Center | Comprehensive Medical Care (bmrhc.net)
Climate matters! See chart below. A Northcentral Arkansas city came in with the coolest average temperature in Arkansas for 2024! (National Weather Service) Make Searcy County and Northcentral Arkansas the locations to Live, and to do business! Locate your business here! https://www.weather.gov/lzk/2024.htm
The Buffalo National River is named as one of the "Best Scenic River Kayaking in USA!" Searcy County is the Heart of the Buffalo National River! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A4AEKsNn5/
- North Arkansas College has introduced a new "Education Without Walls" effort and is partnering with a trio of school districts to bring college courses to their schools, starting this fall. The cities of Clinton, Jasper and Marshall have the students and buildings — “and we’ve got the teachers.”“I want to use local talent if I can. Anyone who wants to be part of this as an instructor” or as a partner — from other colleges to business and industry — is invited to reach out to the college, Massengale said. “We’re servants of the people, and we want to do what’s best for kids,” he said. “By taking education to these communities, the communities can keep their talent there,” as opposed to students moving away for their education and never returning to their hometowns. https://ao.pressreader.com/article/281754159377300
Gilbert/Marshall/St. Joe was voted a Top 10 Arkansas Adventure Town by Arkansas Outside Magazine! Top Ten Arkansas Adventure Towns | Arkansas Outside
Growing area! Searcy County has had a 21% increase in 911 addresses from March 2015 of 5,830 to 7,052 as of 31 March 2025! These include listings for residential, vacation homes, businesses, and agriculture.
Our employees rank high in many businesses. In Marshall, Arkansas our Sonic is a Five-time National Top 12 finalist of approximately 3,000 Sonics nationwide! Top 12 Finalist again in 2023! Top-level leadership and the ability to source and train great employees locally!
Marshall High School EAST is one of only 28 schools in Arkansas to achieve Level One Program of Influence distinction! Outstanding! There are more than 200 EAST Labs in Arkansas. The Environmental and Spatial Technologies (EAST) Initiative offers students and teachers professional technology and software for use in a loosely-structured, self-driven environment.
Marshall High School and St. Joe School middle schools both scored Top 8% in Arkansas in the latest US News & World Report Rankings! Marshall was 46th and St. Joe 47th out of 617 Arkansas Middle Schools! Marshall Elementary School also scored Top 12% in Arkansas in the US News & World Report rankings of Arkansas Elementary Schools! Marshall ranked 84 of 728 elementary schools in Arkansas! Super school! 2024 ranking by SchoolDigger had Marshall High School-Home of the Bobcats being ranked Top 15% of High Schools in Arkansas, 44 of 305, by SchoolDigger! The school is part of the Searcy County School District, which is ranked 57 out of 252 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. Marshall High School has consistently ranked among the top high schools in Arkansas over the past decade, with a peak ranking of 2nd out of 267 schools in the 2014-2015 school year. Marshall High School's academic performance is exceptional, with consistently higher proficiency rates than the state average in subjects like English Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Algebra, Geometry, Science, and Biology. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (36.2%) and Reading (38.3%) for all grades are significantly higher than the state averages of 33.8% and 34.1%, respectively. The school's proficiency rates in Algebra (40.3%) and Biology (49.1%) for all grades are also notably higher than the state averages of 26.8% and 36.4%, respectively. Additionally, Marshall High School has a very low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 6.4 to 8.2 over the past three school years, which is significantly lower than the state average. https://www.schooldigger.com/.../0948000693/school.aspx
Marshall High School is an Arkansas School of Innovation! https://s3.amazonaws.com/scschoolfiles/517/mhs_designated_as_a_school_of_innovation_soi.pdf Marshall High School-Home of the Bobcats also offers Civil Air Patrol for students! Students pay $60 which includes uniform, test flights, STEM activities, and much more!
Great airfield serving Marshall! Searcy County “Buffalo River” Airport-4A5, a 4000x75 ft lighted runway, 24hr self-serve fuel, tie-downs, very nice pilot lounge, courtesy car, and overnight hangar space as available. https://www.facebook.com/groups/476351403301956
Attention Film Industry! Not only is Searcy County full of gorgeous Ozarks' scenery, quaint towns, and historic buildings, it also has a special Tax Incentive due to its economic status! This can help your production stay "on budget!" Our last movie production was Papaw Land Movie. Call the chamber of commerce for more information: 8704482557. Law boosting incentives for Arkansas film industry goes into effect today - Arkansas Times (arktimes.com)
- The Greater Searcy County Chamber of Commerce believes that close to half the Searcy County workforce commutes outside the county to work, some at a considerable distance. We desire to employ more of them IN the county!
- Arkansas Named #2 Most Affordable State to Live in U.S. (arkansasedc.com)
Ample local trucking! Also supported by Fed Ex Freight and Fed Ex Ground!
Very fast business and residential internet available from Kinetic Windstream, Petit Jean Fiber, and Ritter Communications! Much of the county has fiber-to-the-home!
Local contract work is available to the industry! Special Services Learning Center of Marshall is a wonderful program for adults with developmental disabilities! Each center includes a workshop performing various contract work. In order to provide pre-vocational training for their consumers, they procure contract work from a variety of businesses and individuals. Jobs completed to the contractor's specifications and on the contractor's timeline. Special Services' staff conducts time studies in order to determine a piece rate for each task involved in order to provide a fair price for contracted work. They also have trucks available for transporting materials and products. The benefit to their consumers is immense, giving them an opportunity to learn new job skills and a means to contribute! Please call 870-448-2046.
Excellent highway system! US Highway 65 runs through Searcy County as part of 966 miles from Louisiana to Minnesota!
Major travel route to Branson, Missouri! Two hours and 40 minutes to Wal-Mart Headquarters!
The City of Leslie was named an Arkansas Business Trendsetter City! Leslie won Honorable Mention in the Education/Workforce Development category for the Leslie Cyber Center! Leslie was also awarded the Municipal League's highest award, the Don A Zimmerman Pinnacle Award! The Forge Institute began teaching a 7-week IT/Cyber Fundamentals course in 2022! The grant also funds a 14-week Cyber Training Bootcamp - free to qualified applicants from Searcy County!
The North Arkansas Transportation Service (NATS) is a rural non-profit transportation company that can set up transportation for employees of Searcy County businesses!
The North Central Career Center in Leslie offers career training in Construction Technology, Certified Nursing Assistant, Automotive Service Technology, and Emergency Medical Technician! Building tomorrow's workforce today in Searcy County! Career Center in Leslie: https://www.scsd.info/9985
Very streamlined, low-cost, and easy construction permit process!
Searcy County is home to almost 48 miles of the Buffalo National River. In 2022, the Buffalo National River contributed over $78.4 million dollars in economic output. The annual peer-reviewed report shows that visitors in 2022 contributed over $64.9 million in spending to local gateway regions. This supported 864 jobs. Marshall is the largest town in the Buffalo River Watershed. 1,549,467 recreation visits to the Buffalo National River in 2023! The Most Floated Section of the Buffalo National River is in Searcy County!
Searcy County is a wonderful Ozark Mountain place to live!
Powerful chamber of commerce, 34th largest in Arkansas, that helps chamber members and the local economy!
