The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub Inc

THE INNOVATION HUB IS A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ARKANSANS BY INSPIRING INNOVATION AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES. WE SEE AN ARKANSAS WHERE, REGARDLESS OF DEMOGRAPHIC IDENTIFIERS OR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, ARKANSANS ARE GENERATING AND INSPIRING INNOVATION IN CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS, AND CREATIVE FIELDS. THE INNOVATION HUB USES TOOLS, SKILLS, AND EXPERTISE TO INSPIRE INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS WHO EXPAND THE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES, FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES, IN OUR STATE AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

MANUFACTURING/PRODUCTION - THE INNOVATION HUB HELPS INVENTORS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND MANUFACTURERS TO DESIGN, PROTOTYPE, BUILD, TEST, AND DELIVER NEW PRODUCTS. WE HAVE WORKED WITH A VARIETY OF COMPANIES AND INVENTORS TO DELIVER SUCCESSFUL PROTOTYPES AND PROJECTS, AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH SOME OF ARKANSAS'S BEST DESIGNERS AND ENGINEERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS. MANUFACTURING USES SMART TOOLS LIKE 3D PRINTERS, CNC MILLS, INJECTION MOLDERS, AND LASER CUTTERS TO AUTOMATE AND MULTIPLY THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. MASS MANUFACTURING IS DESIGNED TO CREATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF A PRODUCT. BUT, WHAT IF YOU ONLY NEED A HUNDRED OR SO ITEMS TO LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESS? THAT'S MICROMANUFACTURING - A PROCESS WHICH USES MANY OF THE SAME AUTOMATED TOOLS AS A BIG INDUSTRY ON A SMALLER SCALE. MUCH OF THE WORK TRADITIONALLY HANDLED BY MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT CAN NOW BE PERFORMED BY 3D PRINTERS. THE MICROMANUFACTURING PROCESS IS MORE EFFICIENT, USING FEWER RESOURCES AND ALLOWING YOU TO DECIDE JUST HOW MUCH PRODUCT YOU NEED AND WHEN YOU NEED IT. IT'S A COMBINATION OF OLD WORLD CRAFTSMANSHIP AND 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES. OUR PRODUCTION TEAM OFFERS 2D & 3D DESIGN SERVICES, AND FABRICATION SERVICES USING STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY.

STEM - OUR FIELD TRIPS, SUMMER CAMPS, AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS HELP INTRODUCE CHILDREN ACROSS THE ECONOMIC SPECTRUM TO THE ARTS AND TO CUTTING-EDGE STEM TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION. CLASSES DEVOTED TO ROBOTICS, ENGINEERING, CODING, PROGRAMMING AND VIDEO GAME DESIGN ENHANCE STUDENT'S STEM PATHWAYS. TO MAKE THESE PROGRAMS MORE ACCESSIBLE, WE PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS, BOTH ON GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL STUDENT LEVELS. FOR ADULTS AND OLDER TEENS, OUR CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND EQUIPMENT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND SELF-EMPLOYMENT AS ARTISTS, MAKERS, OR CRAFTSPEOPLE, SUCH AS WELDERS.

ART - WE HAVE CREATED A DESIGNATED STREET-FRONT GALLERY SPACE FOR SOLO AND GROUP ARTIST EXHIBITIONS, CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE AS AN ANCHOR ORGANIZATION IN OUR LOCAL 3RD FRIDAY ART WALK, AND PARTNERED WITH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SHOWCASE SEVERAL TYPES OF ARTWORK. WE ALSO LAUNCHED ENTREPRENEURIAL WORKSHOPS FOR ARTISTS ON E-COMMERCE THROUGH ETSY AND ASSISTED ARTISTS IN ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS THROUGH FREE 1-ON-1 CONSULTATION SERVICES. WE EXPANDED OUR ART AFTER SCHOOL OFFERINGS TO INCLUDE PRINTMAKING, WATERCOLOR, TIE DYE, LASER CUTTING, 3D PRINTING, WOODWORKING, AND MULTI-MEDIA. WE LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM, SHE THRIVES, FOR FEMALE AND NON-BINARY INDIVIDUAL AGES K-12 WHICH FOCUSES ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT STEAM PROJECTS. WE CONTINUE TO OFFER ART FIELD TRIPS IN CERAMICS, SCREEN PRINTING, PRINTMAKING, 3D PRINTING, AND LASER CUTTING. WE ALSO TOOK ART ON THE ROAD TO RURAL ARKANSAS SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES WITH THE MOBILE MAKERSPACE, TEACHING CERAMICS, SCREEN PRINTING, LASER CUTTING, 3D PRINTING, PRINTMAKING. AS AN EXTENSION OF THE MOBILE MAKERSPACE, WE ALSO PROVIDED DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING TO STUDENTS, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE TECHNOLOGY DURING THE PANDEMIC.