- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

ASBTDC Launches Arkansas Business Navigator Project to Help Entrepreneurs from Underrepresented and Underserved Communities

John Hill — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 13:15:56 +0000

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), based at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, has launched a new program to help entrepreneurs and small business owners in minority, rural, and other underserved communities across Arkansas.�� The helps small businesses address and overcome some of the systemic challenges that face entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. ASBTDC expects to provide training and technical assistance to more than 5,000 new and existing small businesses owners during the two-year project. This support includes access to capital, business development, contracting and procurement, marketing, operations, and exporting. Led by Associate State Director Michael Singleton, the Arkansas Business Navigator team also includes Diego Morales Ibarra, project manager; Angela Gardner, Tania Martinez Chavez, and Adriana Fuentes Archila, navigator specialists; Harrison Hudson, market researcher and content specialist; and Javier Hernandez, navigator eFellow. “The goal of the Arkansas Business Navigator Project is to ensure that entrepreneurs from underrepresented and underserved communities have full access to broad services to help them start or grow their own businesses,” Singleton said. “With this program, we are democratizing entrepreneurship by giving the people the tools and resources to take control of their own futures.” Under the community navigator approach, trusted community partners act as “spokes” who will reach into specific sectors of the state’s entrepreneurial community. ASBTDC will provide centralized support and structure for all the spokes, develop and share tools for the spokes, and provide market research and specialized expertise for businesses. The spokes include the Arkansas Human Development Corporation, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, Central Arkansas Library System, East Arkansas Enterprise Community, Phoenix Youth and Family Services, and University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. One of the critical goals of the project is to increase the capacity to serve Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs in the state. ASBTDC has partnered with Martinez Agency, a creative and branding agency in Rogers, to create a marketing accelerator program for Spanish-speaking business owners. “Our goal by the end of the project is to develop, communicate, and create a situation where Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs have access to all the resources and tools they need to start a business,” Singleton said. About 35 Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs are participating in the accelerator program. They are learning about topics such as the importance of having a business website, how to sell products on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and how to use digital tools to reach their customers. “We wanted to create this marketing program because we knew it will help to support the Latino community and Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs and business owners,” Morales Ibarra said. “I like to be in direct contact with small business owners about what we can do to cover their needs. We want to help entrepreneurs cover all the ground they need to be successful.” The Navigator team is working with the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and Conexión de Negocios Latinos to provide 15 workshop and training events for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs across the state. A calendar of events is . The Arkansas Business Navigator Project is also recruiting students for paid positions in its . The opportunity is open to juniors, seniors, and postgraduate students with at least a 3.0 GPA from any higher education institution within the University of Arkansas System. Bilingual and multilingual students are especially encouraged to apply . They will work with expert business consultants as they advise and develop entrepreneurs from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities including women, minority, Spanish-speaking, rural, veteran, LGBTQ+, and disabled entrepreneurs. The eFellows assess the needs of small business owners and match them with resources in the Arkansas Business Navigator network as well as assist with training programs and outreach efforts. The project is funded by a ASBTDC received through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s . Part of the American Rescue Plan initiative, the program is designed to reduce barriers that all small businesses, including those from underrepresented and underserved groups, often face in accessing critical support. ASBTDC is one of 51 organizations that will receive a combined total of $100 million in funding through the Community Navigator Pilot Program. The organizations will work with hundreds of local groups to connect America’s entrepreneurs to government resources so they can recover and thrive. Cossatot Community College in De Queen is also a member of the Community Navigator Pilot Program.

4 States Collaborate on National Science Foundation SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab Virtual Accelerator

John Hill — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 17:23:47 +0000

Arkansas is part of the new Four-State FAST Collaborative formed to help small companies compete for National Science Foundation seed funding for innovative technologies. In the effort, the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, based at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, joins three other recipients of Federal and State Technology Partnership Program grants:

Montana Innovation Partnership powered by Montana State University TechLink Center
Arrowhead Center’s NM FAST at New Mexico State University
Wyoming Small Business Development Center

Together, the partners are offering the SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab – NSF, an intensive four-week virtual accelerator, starting March 29. The Proposal Lab will show companies from the four states how to prepare winning proposals for NSF’s Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer program. The timing of the accelerator precedes the agency’s June application deadline. “Early-stage and established Arkansas companies with ideas for products and services that are new to the market and align with one or more of NSF’s technology topic areas are encouraged to apply for the Proposal Lab,” said ASBTDC’s Innovation Specialist Rebecca Todd. Participation in the accelerator is free, but spots are limited. Arkansas companies may apply online through Feb. 28 at��. With NSF, Project Pitch Comes First The NSF requires applicants to have an approved Project Pitch prior to submitting an SBIR/STTR proposal. Only companies with agency-approved pitches can participate in the Proposal Lab. The Four-State FAST Collaborative will host a Project Pitch webinar on Feb. 10. Register for the free webinar at . NSF is one of 11 federal agencies that participate in SBIR and one of five STTR agencies. Considered “America’s Seed Fund,” SBIR/STTR provides $4 billion in competitive grants and contracts to small companies annually. ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine expects the four-state partnership to build on the success of the center’s Lab2Launch SBIR/STTR accelerator program. “The last two years, we’ve had a great response to the virtual Lab2Launch format. The companies learn a great deal from each other, so having the chance to engage with participants and leaders from other states will enrich the experience even more,” she said. With funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the members of the Four-State FAST Collaborative all support small businesses developing advanced technologies and seek to improve SBIR/STTR outcomes for women-owned, rural-based and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses.��For more information, contact Todd at��rctodd@ualr.edu��or 501-916-6721.

U.S. Small Business Administration Awards ASBTDC $2.5 Million Grant for Community Navigator Pilot Program

John Hill — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:23:06 +0000

The at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a $2.5 million grant to engage in targeted outreach to small businesses in underserved communities. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) awarded the competitive funding under the Community Navigator Pilot Program administered by the SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurship Education. Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced recipients Oct. 28. “The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is pleased to be one of the programs selected to participate in SBA’s Community Navigator Pilot Program,” said Michael Singleton, associate state director of ASBTDC and principal investigator for the project. “We know that not all groups and individuals have had the resources and capital needed to start or grow their businesses. We are excited about the opportunity to utilize this program to ensure all Arkansas entrepreneurs and small business owners have the tools and resources to succeed.” The , part of the American Rescue Plan initiative, is designed to reduce barriers that all small businesses, including those from underrepresented and underserved groups, often face in accessing critical support. “The Biden-Harris Administration has prioritized building our small business ecosystems back better so that all of our entrepreneurs have a fair shot at achieving the American dream of business ownership,” said Guzman. “We need to meet businesses where they are with resources to start, grow and be resilient, and the Community Navigator Pilot Program will power a trusted network of community partners to connect America’s entrepreneurs with the SBA. The program’s Community Navigators will develop strong relationships with deeply trusted community-based organizations that will tap into one-on-one, targeted support from programs designed to help them create jobs and drive innovation.” Under the community navigator approach, trusted community partners act as “spokes.” Each spoke will reach into specific sectors of the state’s entrepreneurial community. As the “hub,” ASBTDC will provide centralized support and structure for the spokes.

Michael Singleton

Arkansas Community Navigator spokes include:

Arkansas Human Development Corporation
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
Central Arkansas Library System
East Arkansas Enterprise Community
Phoenix Youth and Family Services
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service

ASBTDC will also develop and share tools for the spokes and provide market research and specialized expertise for businesses. The Arkansas Community Navigator project seeks to assist businesses with access to capital, business development, contracting and procurement, marketing, operations, and exporting. This project will allow ASBTDC and partners to help small businesses address and overcome some of the systemic challenges that face entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. “These organizations will meet nascent and existing entrepreneurs at any level, provide a clear path toward achieving their small business goals, and equip them with knowledge, tools, and access,” said Singleton. By leveraging and empowering existing community-engaged and culturally knowledgeable organizations and programs, the Navigator project will provide the platform for equipping small businesses and entrepreneurs in minority, rural, and other underserved communities across the state. “We want all Arkansas small businesses to have access to relevant, comprehensive, wrap-around services needed for persisting through the COVID-19 pandemic and aftermath,” Singleton said. Earlier SBA pandemic relief programs for small businesses included the Paycheck Protection Program and COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan. Arkansas has nearly 250,000 small businesses, and less than a quarter of them received PPP funding in 2020. An analysis of the PPP and EIDL funds distributed in 2020 found that not all communities benefited equally from the programs. This disparity was underscored by the recent studies conducted by the and Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. ASBTDC is one of 51 organizations that will receive a combined total of $100 million in funding through the Community Navigator Pilot Program. The organizations will work with hundreds of local groups to connect America’s entrepreneurs to government resources so they can recover and thrive. “The Arkansas Human Development Corporation has partnered with the ASBTDC on numerous endeavors since the mid 1980s, and we are honored to be a part of the Community Navigator initiative that will expand the menu of high-quality business and technical assistance services to rural communities and isolated populations,” said Clevon Young, AHDC executive director. ASBTDC expects to provide training and technical assistance to more than 5,000 new and existing small business owners during the two-year project.

ASBTDC Receives $125,000 Grant to Assist High-Tech Entrepreneurs

John Hill — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 15:47:36 +0000

The (ASBTDC) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has received a $125,000 grant to assist companies pursuing federal Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) grants and contracts. The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded the grant under the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership program. FAST seeks to improve outcomes in the SBIR/STTR programs for underserved communities by increasing participation from women-owned, rural-based, and socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses. “The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is pleased to be among the awardees of the SBA’s FAST grant,” said Laura Fine, state director of ASBTDC. “Innovation and entrepreneurship are important to growing Arkansas’s economy, and this funding enables ASBTDC to continue our work helping emerging tech companies compete for and win SBIR and STTR awards.” ASBTDC is one of 32 grant awardees who received up to $125,000 from SBA for specialized training, mentoring, and technical assistance for research and development (R&D)-focused small businesses under the FAST program. “As President Biden often says, great ideas come from anywhere and everywhere,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman. ”Supporting all our nation’s innovative startups and increasing equitable access to federal research funding is a priority for the SBA, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it will build a stronger future for all of us.” This year’s recipients include state and local economic development organizations, Small Business and Technology Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, incubators, accelerators, colleges, and universities. All organizations will provide support to small businesses developing advanced technologies. “Programs such as our annual accelHERate events, agency specific training, and Lab2Launch Accelerators are held virtually to make programs more accessible across the state,” Fine said. “We are very fortunate to have Rebecca Todd leading our FAST project. She is Arkansas’s leading expert on SBIR and STTR funding, and her clients praise the assistance she provides. Her knowledge of the programs is extensive, and she has good relationships with federal program managers at multiple agencies.” Todd, the innovation specialist at ASBTDC, said she is looking forward to continuing to help research-based companies explore federal funding opportunities to commercialize their innovations. “We help entrepreneurs and established companies by providing tools that set them up for success in writing their SBIR and STTR federal proposals as well as ones for state-level technology commercialization funding,” Todd said. “Through our Lab2Launch Accelerator, we provide focused, strategic guidance for statewide cohorts of researchers who are new to the SBIR/STTR program and seeking to prepare new Phase I applications for the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. This program is a great way for participants to learn from each other and follow a curriculum-style approach to preparing competitive SBIR/STTR applications.” For more information or assistance, contact Rebecca Todd at rctodd@ualr.edu or 501-916-6721.

ASBTDC’s Support Worth Millions to State’s Small Businesses

John Hill — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 21:09:36 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock-based Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center’s assistance helped businesses add millions of dollars in sales revenues and capital investment, according to a new study of the program’s economic impact.

Sales growth was 67.1 percent higher for client businesses compared to the average business in the state, the study found.

Clients with established businesses had total sales of $374.9 million and an average increase of almost $1.2 million for the year, while clients who started businesses recorded total sales of $22 million and average sales of $68,495.

Client businesses also secured $183 million in loans and other capital financing with the center’s help last year.

The study by Dr. James Chrisman calculated changes in client businesses’ sales and employment data from the year they received assistance to the following year, then compared the results with the average changes for all Arkansas businesses during the same time period.

Clients who received five or more hours of consulting in 2018 were asked about sales and employment changes in 2019, financing obtained, and their opinion of ASBTDC services. According to Chrisman’s analysis, the businesses produced $80.66 in new capital for every dollar expended on the ASBTDC. Clients generated a return of $12.82 for every dollar invested in the ASBTDC program, the study concluded. Prospective and current business owners receive consulting and access to a range of resources at no cost through the center’s statewide network of offices. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and six other state universities fund the program, in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Thanks to our team of professionals across the state, we are able to ensure that the investment provided by our funding partners continues to generate strong economic impact for the state of Arkansas,” said Laura Fine, state director. Client businesses also excelled in another important economic measure: jobs. Employment growth among ASBTDC clients was 39 percent, compared to 0.8 percent for the average Arkansas business last year. Businesses said they added 3,147 jobs and retained another 3,588 existing jobs, thanks to the center’s assistance. The study also found that the center helped businesses generate $19.3 million in state tax revenues and $5.4 million in federal tax revenues in 2019. While the study period was pre-pandemic, Fine says the results are relevant because they demonstrate the value of the center’s in-depth consulting services to individual businesses as well as to local communities and the state. The university-based program has consulted with more than 2,800 prospective and current business owners in 2020. “This year marks ASBTDC’s 40th year of service to Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses. As we celebrate this milestone, I am proud of our past accomplishments and our work this year helping small businesses through the pandemic,” she said. “Our sights are set on helping the next generation of entrepreneurs and small businesses achieve their dreams, which will in turn strengthen and grow our local and state economies.” Unique among the state’s economic development organizations, ASBTDC services are available to businesses from any county in Arkansas, in any industry sector, at any stage of development. Due to the pandemic, service delivery is fully virtual. To learn more, visit��. Chrisman, the study’s author, is an independent consultant based in Starkville, Mississippi.

ASBTDC offers small business webinars

John Hill — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 13:36:56 +0000

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center has several free webinars for business owners regarding tips and ideas on how to process the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Four webinars that round out September address building trust in the workplace, using YouTube to grow your business, protecting your company legacy through employee ownership, and preparing to seek a business loan. The upcoming webinars include:

– 2 p.m. Sept. 22

The culture of trust is constantly evolving for organizations, businesses, and their employees. This webinar will share proven behavior that builds trust in teams as well as examines the most common actions that cause trust to deteriorate. What happens when trust is broken? We will show that along with how to rebuild it.

Speakers: Becky Parkerson and Lisa Carver, RampUp

– 10 a.m. Sept. 24

Who knows how to set up a YouTube channel to grow your business? We do. A Google expert joins us to share how to create your own channel and use it to encourage potential customers to try your products or services. We will teach you how to create and upload your own videos and measure the results once you do. Join us for an innovative way to stay relevant.

Speaker: Pamela Starr, Professional Trainer, Grow with Google

– 2 p.m. Sept. 29

Uncertainty in the business market may alter your business succession plans. We offer information and solutions on how to encourage employee buyouts and how this option benefits both the existing and new owners. In addition, we will discuss how your decision impacts the local community as well as your company legacy. We want you to learn how to get out yet still be proud of the company you built even years later.

Speaker: Jason Eby, Project Equity

– 10 a.m. Sept. 30

Learn everything you need to know to apply for a business loan. We will cover documentation that lenders require, what you will need to qualify for a loan, reasons to seek financing, and what you should know about credit.

Speaker: Brandon Horvath, ASBTDC Capital Access Specialist

To learn more about these webinars, visit the .

ASBTDC offers advice for Arkansas small businesses to cope with COVID-19

John Hill — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 17:08:18 +0000

With COVID-19 impacting small businesses in the state, the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) has stepped forward to guide small business owners in Arkansas who need assistance during the pandemic.�� ASBTDC is a university-based economic development program funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and six other universities to assist the state’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. The lead center is based at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Q. What are the biggest obstacles facing small businesses at this time? Small businesses are facing a number of challenges and obstacles, from loss of revenue to layoffs. The coronavirus crisis created an immediate cash flow crunch for many businesses.�� Now, business owners are sorting through the large volume of information about employment rules and funding programs to determine the best path forward. They are concerned about protecting their livelihoods and safeguarding the health and well-being of their customers and employees. Q. What should businesses be doing to make it through the pandemic? Our general recommendations to businesses to survive the pandemic include:

Adapt your business model as best you can to meet the current needs of customers, such as adding delivery or curbside services.
Conserve cash.
Apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from SBA, the Paycheck Protection Program or other funding programs. ASBTDC can help you with your applications.
Stay calm and focus on the fundamentals.

Q. What kind of services can the ASBTDC provide to help businesses cope with the COVID-19 pandemic? Our statewide network serves businesses from any county in Arkansas, in any industry sector, at any stage of development. Our no-cost, confidential, one-on-one consulting continues, but by phone, email, and videoconference to maintain social distancing. Consulting services include cutting-edge market research and are available to current as well as prospective Arkansas small business owners. Our consultants are helping businesses rapidly assess and re-tool operations and apply for special COVID-19 funding. To request consulting, go to or call 800-862-2040.�� ASBTDC is offering a series of no-cost webinars to help business owners respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Schedule and registration are available at .�� Businesses are worried about their survival and hungry for timely help and information. We encourage small businesses to participate in our webinars, review the COVID-19 Resources page () on our website, and reach out to us for assistance. Q. Since the pandemic began, what are the most common questions that business owners have for the ASBTDC? Most of the questions we are getting are about money or employees. Small businesses feeling the cash crunch want to know how to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans and the new Paycheck Protection Program or conserve their cash. Larger businesses are also asking about ways to avoid layoffs and the best way to take care of employees. Q. Are there any other resources you would recommend to business owners? Funding opportunities are popping up to support businesses affected by COVID-19. April 1, the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas announced the launch of a new grant fund to support women-owned small businesses in the state. Also on April 1, Delta Dental of Arkansas announced $6.5 million in emergency financial assistance for its in-network dental providers. While many legitimate resource providers are working to assist small businesses, we want to caution businesses about scams. Scammers are using the SBA or IRS name to con businesses during the COVID-19 crisis or asking for payment for services that are actually free. Beware of unsolicited phone calls, emails, text messages, and letters. Do not release any private information or banking information in response to an unsolicited communication. ��Q. What can regular citizens do to help support local businesses during the pandemic?

Do everything you can to stop the spread of the virus and keep people healthy.
Continue to shop local whenever possible. Visit the Facebook pages or websites for your local small businesses. Many small businesses have online purchasing options.
If you have concerns about shopping at a local business during the pandemic, call the business to explain your issue with shopping in person and ask if they offer a way to help. For example, “I want to purchase from you, but I don’t want to get out of my car for social distancing reasons, so do you offer a way I can buy from you where I don’t have to get out of my car?”
Follow local businesses on social media, share their posts, and encourage your friends to patronize the small businesses you love.

ASBTDC has created a webpage with . If you would like to contact ASBTDC for more information or to request consulting, visit or call 800-862-2040.

ASBTDC helps small business clients get $90 million in capital funding in 2018

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 14:12:58 +0000

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, continues to be an economic driver for the state. ASBTDC helped clients secure more than��$90 million��in capital funding and create��891 jobs��in 2018.�� Current and prospective small business owners who worked with ASBTDC obtained loans and other capital investment totaling $90,513,828,��a record��for the program. In addition, ASBTDC helped clients increase sales by��$60.9 million, retain��944 existing jobs, and start��132 businesses��last year. “We take pride in serving Arkansas entrepreneurs and small business owners, helping them start and grow businesses that in turn strengthen and sustain the state’s economy and communities,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. “Over the last five years, with our help, our clients have created more than 3,400 jobs and acquired $355 million to invest in their businesses.”

ASBTDC receives $200k to help Arkansas small businesses

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 13:08:53 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock-based center recently received $200,000 to support innovative small businesses.�� The (ASBTDC), based at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, is one of only five small business technology development centers in the country to receive the grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Arkansas has many gifted, creative entrepreneurs and university researchers,” ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine said. “We look forward to helping these Arkansas innovators explore and develop the commercial potential of their research and ideas.” The funding from the Small Business Administration’s Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program is designed to stimulate economic development with outreach and technical assistance to science- and technology-driven small businesses. The program emphasizes fostering participation from women-owned and socially and economically disadvantaged firms, helping them to compete in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. “FAST partners fill an important role on the state level, providing training, financial and technical assistance for small, advanced technology businesses, by helping them navigate federally-funded innovation and R&D programs,” said Linda McMahon, administrator of the Small Business Administration. With the grant, the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will continue providing one-on-one mentoring to university researchers and small tech companies looking to apply for SBIR/STTR grants and contracts. The center also plans to hold 16 educational events designed to increase the number of SBIR/STTR applicants from Arkansas. Participants will learn about commercial strategy development, market research, and grant proposal writing.

Small Business Administration awards ��Vlog��ý Little Rock $1 million for record-setting ASBTDC program

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 14:27:12 +0000

The ��based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock helped clients obtain nearly $70 million in capital funding and open 141 businesses in 2016, both all-time bests for the organization.�� Current and prospective small business owners who worked with the center in 2016 obtained loans and other capital investment totaling $69,855,843. The previous record was $65.3 million in 2015. The small business center’s services also contributed to the creation of 627 jobs. In the last decade, the center has helped Arkansas small businesses create and retain more than 10,000 jobs. “The economic impact of small businesses is not small at all. Cities and towns across the state depend on the dollars and jobs generated by the small-business sector,” said state Director Laura Fine. “As demand for our services continues to increase, we are proud to support small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with assistance that helps grow the economy in communities throughout Arkansas.” The U.S. Small Business Administration recently awarded a $1 million federal grant to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to continue the center’s work in 2017. Adriana Menchaca-Gendron, associate administrator for SBA’s Office of Small Business Development Centers in Washington, D.C., announced the $1,003,882 award Feb. 1. Each year, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and six partner universities match the federal grant to host the network of small business and technology development offices across the state. In addition to the lead center in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business, regional offices are at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, and University of Arkansas campuses at Fayetteville and Monticello. Through the Small Business Administration, Congress funds the nationwide network of Small Business Development Centers to provide management assistance to current and prospective business owners. Unique among Arkansas economic development organizations, the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center serves businesses from any county in Arkansas in any industry sector at any stage of business development. “One of the hallmarks of ASBTDC is we assist all types of Arkansas-based, for-profit ventures,” Fine said. “The local businesses in your neighborhood and town are our clients and potential clients, from the Main Street mom-and-pop places to the tech startups.”

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock