The 200 block of North Pruett Street in downtown Paragould had for many years sat largely vacant, with little activity and few businesses. Today, that same street is buzzing with energy and opportunity thanks to the GIN Center, a 20,000-square-foot workforce and innovation hub that opened in 2024. The two-phase project has brought together economic development and education, fueling momentum for a northeast Arkansas city on the rise.
Operated by the Economic Development Corporation of Paragould, the GIN Center, short for Generating Innovative Networks, was designed to breathe new life into the city’s core while addressing two critical needs. “It’s a culmination of workforce development and entrepreneurship services in our downtown,” said Allison Hestand, the city’s director of economic development and CEO of the Paragould Chamber of Commerce. “We needed a place where people could come and get connected.”
The first phase of the GIN Center focused on workforce development. Through partnerships with Black River Technical College and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, the facility offers training programs that prepare individuals for careers in high-demand fields. One of the cornerstone initiatives is the Green County Skills Pipeline, a six-week program designed to equip participants with soft skills like financial literacy and resume writing, as well as hands-on experience in trades likes like welding and construction. Each class includes about 15 individuals, and upon completion, graduates receive a certificate that signals to employers they are ready for the workforce.
“The retention rate on this employee is going to be better than someone they hire off the street because they’ve already made it through six weeks.” Hestand, who grew up in Paragould, said.
Originally funded by a grant from the Delta Regional Authority, the program has been so successful that the Economic Development Corporation plans to continue it even after the grant expires.
In December, the GIN Center completed Phase Two with the opening of The Hub at the GIN, a small business incubator designed to help entrepreneurs test their ideas without the heavy financial burden of a traditional storefront. “If you were to go and have this conceptual idea and meet with a real estate agent, you’d have to pay a first-month deposit plus rent, utilities and more,” Hestand (left) said. “You can come into our space for one year, meet with mentors, develop a business plan, and test your idea without getting in over your head financially.”
The incubator offers reduced rent, shared overhead and access to resources like business planning assistance and lender connections. Entrepreneurs must commit to working with the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and participate in mentorship programs, ensuring they have the support needed to succeed.
This once-vacant block is now a thriving hub of activity, Hestand said. “On any given day, you might see students from Black River Technical College attending classes, entrepreneurs creating pottery to sell at the farmers market, and remote workers using the co-working space. There’s kind of some excitement that they build off each other.”
The GIN Center’s impact extends beyond its walls, she said. “Since we’ve been down here, Black River Technical College has moved into a space across the street for their adult education center, and there have been a couple of new businesses pop up because of the increased traffic.”
