Walmart hosted a prep day Tuesday for participants for this year’s Open Call event, to be held today at its corporate headquarters in Bentonville. More than 500 businesses from across the globe are in Northwest Arkansas this week trying to get their products on Walmart shelves.

This is the sixth year Walmart has held the Open Call as part of its 10-year commitment to source $250 billion in additional goods made in the U.S. — an effort to grow manufacturing jobs in America. The pledge was made in 2013 and Walmart continues to push closer to its goal.

“There’s nothing quite like Open Call and the buzz in the building when our halls are filled with entrepreneurs aspiring to take their business to the next level,” said Cindi Marsiglio, Walmart vice president for Merchandising Services and U.S. Manufacturing.      MORE