Three Arkansas communities will be represented at the 2026 Select USA Investment Summit

Representatives from Howard, Sevier, and Hempstead counties have been selected to participate in a national initiative that will give them the opportunity to attend the Select USA Investment Summit.
They will join peers from 32 communities and economic development organizations across the country.
Through the “Invest in Rural America” program, the three counties will receive complimentary registration to the summit, along with access to specialized data and marketing tools, preparatory programming, and invitations to exclusive investor networking opportunities. In addition, Howard, Sevier, and Hempstead counties will earn the Rural Economic Development Organization (EDO)
Designation from Select USA.

The Select USA Investment Summit is the nation’s premier event focused on foreign direct investment.
Each year, it attracts more than 5,500 participants and has helped generate over $135 billion in new U.S. investment projects, supporting more than 105,000 jobs nationwide and in U.S. territories.
Participation in the summit will give local representatives a platform to promote their regions to international companies and engage directly with business investors through one-on-one meetings.
Vanessa Weeks, executive director of Developing Howard County, said the opportunity will allow her to showcase the county’s workforce, site readiness, and the economic momentum building across Southwest Arkansas.