For a decade, the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub served as a cornerstone of innovation, creativity, and economic development in North Little Rock's Argenta Arts District. More than 130,000 people walked through its doors to learn new skills, launch businesses, and build community. When the Hub closed on December 31, 2025, Argenta lost more than a makerspace, it lost a vital economic engine.

Now we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring it back.

Fire Station No. 1 at 8th and Maple Streets will soon be vacated when the North Little Rock Fire Department moves to its new $12 million Central Fire Station. Rather than let this building sit empty, we're asking the City of North Little Rock to work with us to transform it into the new home of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub.

The reimagined Hub will provide:

Hands-on maker education in woodworking, metalworking, 3D printing, electronics, and more
STEAM and entrepreneurship programming for youth and adults
Affordable workspace and equipment access for small businesses and startups
A gathering place that strengthens the creative economy in Argenta
The addition of LEARN act classes & classes focused on gardening and home improvement

A coalition of over 200 former Hub members, all four previous Executive Directors, the City of North Little Rock, the Chamber of Commerce, and Congressman French Hill's office have expressed support for relaunching the Hub. Our volunteer teams are already hard at work planning programs, evaluating equipment, designing a sustainable membership structure, and researching best practices from successful makerspaces across the country.

The building is about to become available. The community is ready.

We respectfully ask the North Little Rock City Council and city leaders to partner with us in making Fire Station No. 1 the new home of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub.

Sign this petition to show your support and help bring the Hub back to Argenta.

Vince Insalco

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