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nGage Labs Cuts 15 Jobs in Little Rock, But Still Open for Business

2 min read

nGage Labs, which opened an analytics center in Little Rock in 2013, has laid off workers but remains open, a company spokesman said.

Matt Ball, the spokesman, told Arkansas Business that the company laid off 15 employees a month ago, leaving four people in the Heritage East Building on East Markham. But he said the tech firm remains open for business in Arkansas.

Ball said the move was based on “sales in the market.”

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, nGage provides mobile data management, advanced analytics and automated consumer targeting. It opened an analytics center in Little Rock in 2013 under the leadership of then-interim CEO Rod Ford of Little Rock and received a $1 million incentive package from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission for doing so.

That investment came with strings attached related to jobs, and it’s possible the company might have to repay some of the money later this year if it doesn’t meet employment obligations.

nGage had aimed to hire 35 workers at an average salary of “above $100,000.” Ford said the company “seriously considered” putting the lab in Scottsdale, but AEDC support and the company’s desire to partner with local universities “made Little Rock an attractive option.”

AEDC spokesman Scott Hardin said the agency will conduct a review of the company’s job and payroll totals in September. If nGage fails to meet the totals agreed upon with the state, Hardin said the company will have to pay back a portion or even all the funds it received from AEDC.

Ball acknowledged that fact, and called it a “part of the cost of doing business.”

“We’ve been in contact with the state and made them aware of what our plans are,” Ball said. “It’s possible we might have to pay some of the incentive money back, but it’s not a big negative for us. We’ve planned for that. We’re still in business, and we’ll meet our obligations.” 

Ford, who earlier this year launched XCelerate Capital in Little Rock, is the former CognitiveData CEO who was hired by the nGage board of directors on a contract basis for one year to rebrand and restructure the business. Kurt DeMarais of Denver now serves as nGage CEO.

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