The North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday that it has established an advisory committee to ensure the continued operation and future growth of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub.
In November, the North Little Rock Public Library System announced that it would no longer operate the Hub as of 2026. Since opening in 2014, the Innovation Hub has played a critical role in advancing creativity, supporting entrepreneurs and driving economic development throughout the region, the Chamber posted on Facebook.
The advisory committee is composed of community leaders from the arts, business, technology, education and nonprofit sectors. The goal is to preserve the Hub’s staff, programs and creative environment while expanding educational and business-focused offerings that meet the needs of a modern workforce and entrepreneurial economy.
Enhanced programming planned for the Hub will include hands-on maker and arts programs, STEM and digital literacy initiatives, entrepreneurship and small business development support and workforce development.
“The Innovation Hub has long been an engine for talent development and creative entrepreneurship in central Arkansas, which will connect perfectly with the North Little Rock Chamber business community,” said Derrell Hartwick, president & CEO of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. “Our commitment is to strengthen that engine by expanding pathways for innovation, workforce skills and economic growth.”
In light of the library system’s decision, the advisory committee has formally requested that the library board transfer all equipment, tools and educational resources to the community-led relaunch effort.
“These assets were funded and built for public benefit,” Hartwick said. “Transferring them ensures uninterrupted access for the thousands of students, creators and entrepreneurs who depend on the Hub’s resources.”
Former Hub director Errin Stanger, founder and CEO of Providence Park, penned a letter to the editor that was published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub has been a cornerstone of downtown North Little Rock for more than a decade, serving as a place where creativity, entrepreneurship, and community have flourished. Now, with the recent decision by the William F. Laman Public Library to exit as partner–leading to the Hub’s closure on Dec. 31–we face the potential loss of a vital community asset.
I invite the community to join together–to protect, preserve, and support a relaunch effort. The Hub is not simply a building or a program. It is where artists of all ages, makers, and entrepreneurs have discovered their talents, their meaning, and often their calling. Its role as a beacon of creativity and innovation is too important to let fade. Its story should not end here; with collective will, it can begin a new chapter.
What makes the Hub truly special is not the tools or the equipment–it is the people inside. The staff who welcome every guest with care, the members who share their skills and passions, and the countless visitors who bring curiosity and creativity through the doors. It is this human spirit that has always animated the Hub and made it more than just a space–it has been a community.
I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Laman Library for its partnership over the past year, which allowed the Hub to continue serving the community during a critical time, and that commitment deserves recognition and appreciation. I also want to thank Winrock International, the owner of the Hub’s building, for their stewardship and support. Their commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Arkansas has been an important part of the Hub’s story.
The Hub has never stood alone. The city of North Little Rock, countless funders, and community partners have rallied behind its mission, recognizing that innovation is not a luxury–it is a vital ingredient for a thriving, resilient community. Together, we have built a downtown anchor that has inspired hope, fostered collaboration, and sparked opportunity.
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