Arkansas Business Leaders Pledge Support for U.S. Chamber's Campaign for Free Enterprise

Join Discussion on Creating more than 107,216 Jobs to Revive State's Economy

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas (AIA) today announced their support for the U.S. Chamber's American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. campaign and efforts to strengthen the free enterprise system. This announcement comes in conjunction with an Extreme Entrepreneurship event being held today at Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas in De Queen, AR.

Nationwide, it is estimated that more than 20 million jobs are needed in the next ten years to revive the nation's economy, with more than 107,000 of those jobs needed in Arkansas alone. Recognizing the essential role free enterprise plays in stimulating and strengthening the economy at state and national levels, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and AIA pledged their support for the campaign to demonstrate their commitment to reviving the Arkansas economy.

"We are honored to join forces with this campaign to promote the critical role our free enterprise system plays in creating jobs and economic growth," said Randy Zook, President and CEO of the Arkansas Chamber and AIA. "The free enterprise system has the ability to revive our economy by creating an environment that supports competition and innovation as a means to fuel job growth. Arkansas business leaders and entrepreneurs are already working to identify innovative ways to put more Americans to work and will continue to do so in the coming years."

Today's university event is part of the campaign's "Enterprise & Education Month," to engage and inspire the young entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow through events and discussions across the country on the crucial role of education in job creation.

"The potency of our economic recovery will be largely affected by current and future young entrepreneurs," said Stan Anderson, managing director of the U.S. Chamber's Campaign for Free Enterprise. "And they can learn a lot from Arkansas's business community. Business leaders are working with their local and state chambers to support public policy platforms based on free enterprise principles—the very principles that have helped our nation bounce back from the tough economic times of the past. We thank our friends in Arkansas for this endorsement and look forward to working with them in the coming months to further the dialogue."

Similar events are taking place across the country in the coming weeks and months to announce state-by-state job growth goals and to cultivate discussions with students, mayors, governors, and academics about how to meet the 20 Million Job Challenge. In addition, the campaign's I Am Free Enterprise video contest, which invited all aspiring and established entrepreneurs to share their story of free enterprise, will soon determine the finalists who stand to win $100,000 in cash prizes. The public can vote for the winning submission beginning May 10.

American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's comprehensive, multiyear campaign to support free enterprise through national advertising; grassroots advocacy; citizen, community, and youth engagement; and research and ideas leadership.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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