- University News Archive - 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock /news-archive/tag/small-business-development/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:03:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 ASBTDC plans week of activities to encourage entrepreneurship /news-archive/2018/11/01/global-entrepreneurship-week/ Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:03:02 +0000 /news/?p=72531 ... ASBTDC plans week of activities to encourage entrepreneurship]]> Anyone at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock interested in exploring entrepreneurship can turn to the on-campus experts at the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center. Part of the College of Business, ASBTDC offers no-cost consulting and market research to budding entrepreneurs, along with a variety of educational events. During Global Entrepreneurship Week聽Nov. 12-18, the center will host a slate of free entrepreneurship-focused activities, including Small Talk, an event for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students. is set for 5-7 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Reynolds Business Center atrium. Students are invited to network and have a bite to eat ,then hear from three young entrepreneurs: Mario Settles of Trukplease, Liz Sniegocki of Haven Massage Therapy, and Matthew Young of ListingVillage. The trio will share their startup stories through TED-style talks. The event is a joint effort of ASBTDC and the College of Business. Additional GEW events include:
  • – Nov. 13, The Centre in University Park. 鈥淪tartup in a Day鈥 combines three of the center鈥檚 most popular seminars, 鈥淪tarting a Business in Arkansas,鈥 鈥淲riting a Business Plan,鈥 and 鈥淔inancing Options.鈥
  • – Nov. 14, Little Rock Technology Park. The Business Innovations Clinic at the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law will share ways to safeguard inventions, written material, apps, symbols, names, images and other types of intellectual property.
  • (webinar) – Nov. 14
ASBTDC will kick off its new 鈥淏oost Business in Your Community鈥 online series for mayors, county judges, and other local elected officials. The webinar will discuss what communities can do to assist new and potential business owners. All the events are free of charge. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center assists entrepreneurs at every stage of business development and growth. Learn more at . Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world鈥檚 largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups. Through local, national and global activities, GEW inspires people everywhere to take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey. Last year, events took place in 167 countries.]]> Center Helps Arkansas Small Businesses Ring Up More Than $300 Million in Sales Last Year /news-archive/2018/10/02/asbtdc-business-impact/ Tue, 02 Oct 2018 17:53:54 +0000 /news/?p=72067 ... Center Helps Arkansas Small Businesses Ring Up More Than $300 Million in Sales Last Year]]> Small businesses are ringing up sales and growing with help from the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock-based (ASBTDC).
Businesses served by the ASBTDC network said the counseling they received led to $305.8 million in sales revenue last year, according to a recently released independent analysis of the program鈥檚 economic impact. The study analyzed sales and employment changes, financing obtained, and tax revenues generated by clients who received five or more hours of assistance in the 2016 calendar year. A one-year snapshot, the study focused on how the businesses performed in 2017. Sales growth was 14.3 percent higher for client businesses compared to the average Arkansas business. Clients with established businesses saw an average sales increase of $114,093, while clients who started businesses recorded average sales of $355,456. The center鈥檚 assistance also led to job growth. Client businesses created 1,542 jobs, increasing employment 5.8 percent more than other businesses. The study also found that assistance from the center helped businesses
  • Retain 1,228 existing jobs
  • Generate $8.3 million in state tax revenues and $3.8 million in federal tax revenues
  • Secure $131.7 million in capital financing
鈥淎s this study shows, ASBTDC small business clients are growing their companies, creating and retaining jobs, and accessing capital,鈥 said Laura Fine, ASBTDC state director. 鈥淭hese small businesses are making an impact on Arkansas鈥 rural and urban communities, leading to a stronger state economy.鈥 For every dollar invested in the ASBTDC program, clients generated a return on investment of $4.56, the study concluded. Dr. James J. Chrisman, an independent consultant, conducted the annual analysis. Chrisman calculated changes in clients’ employment and sales 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. Unique among the state鈥檚 economic development organizations, ASBTDC services are available to businesses from any county in Arkansas, in any industry sector, at any stage of development. The program is funded by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and six other state universities in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
]]> National Small Business Innovation Road Tour Coming to Little Rock to Promote $2.5B in Early-Stage Funding /news-archive/2018/03/22/sbir-road-tour/ Thu, 22 Mar 2018 13:42:34 +0000 /news/?p=69841 ... National Small Business Innovation Road Tour Coming to Little Rock to Promote $2.5B in Early-Stage Funding]]> Through SBIR and its sister program, Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), federal agencies award $2.5 billion annually to small companies developing groundbreaking technologies. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will host the Road Tour stop at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. 鈥淲e are dedicated to supporting America鈥檚 entrepreneurs wherever they are. American innovation is not restricted by geographic or cultural boundaries,鈥 said SBA Administrator Linda McMahon. 鈥淭his tour reflects our commitment to ensuring that these innovators are aware of the resources that can help them turn a big idea into another great American innovation story.鈥 Program managers from nine federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation, will meet one-on-one with attendees and share insights into how their agencies make funding decisions. The SBIR/STTR programs award more than 4,000 new grants and contracts per year. The funding has helped U.S. innovators advance new technologies and create thousands of jobs, according to SBA. The agencies fund a wide variety of innovations in health, cybersecurity, advanced materials, unmanned systems and more. The Road Tour looks to increase SBIR and STTR participation by women, small companies in underrepresented states like Arkansas and individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Small technology firms, entrepreneurs, scientists and researchers are encouraged to attend. Participants can also learn about state-specific resources for innovation-based ventures during the afternoon session. Lunch will be provided. There is no charge to attend, but pre-registration is required and available online. To learn more, visit or contact the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at 501-683-7700.]]> Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center receives national accreditation /news-archive/2017/03/07/arkansas-small-business-and-technology-development-center-accreditation/ Tue, 07 Mar 2017 21:01:30 +0000 /news/?p=66517 ... Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center receives national accreditation]]> network, based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been reaccredited with no conditions by its national association. 聽 Beth Melnik, chair of the America鈥檚 Small Business Development Centers Accreditation Committee, announced the news Feb. 24. 鈥淭he review encompassed both the general accreditation standards and technology accreditation standards developed and deployed in cooperation with our federal funding partner, the U.S. Small Business Administration,鈥 Melnik said. America鈥檚 Small Business Development Centers, the national accrediting body for small business development center programs, reviews each state or regional network every five years. Mandated by Congress, the accreditation review process ensures that small business development center programs operate efficiently and effectively. Accreditation is also a requirement to receive federal funding. Committee members Katie Sewell of Idaho and Jill Kline of Wyoming visited Arkansas Nov. 6-11, 2016, for the on-site portion of the review. The committee voted Feb. 3 to award full accreditation without conditions and included six commendations highlighting best practices in its final report. 鈥淲e set the bar high for ourselves, and this report illustrates the caliber of our services and staff,鈥 Director Laura Fine said. 鈥淭hroughout our program’s history, we have never had a condition with an accreditation review, which further demonstrates our commitment to excellence.鈥 The mission of the nationwide network of small business development centers is to help new entrepreneurs realize the dream of business ownership and to assist existing businesses so they can remain competitive in the complex marketplace of an ever-changing global economy. Hosted by leading universities, colleges, and state economic development agencies, and funded in part by the Small Business Administration, the network includes nearly 1,000 service centers that provide no-cost business consulting and low-cost training. In Arkansas, the lead center is located in the University of Arkansas at 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. The centers have assisted Arkansas small businesses with obtaining nearly a half billion dollars in capital investment ($493,827,933) over the last decade, including an all-time best $69.9 million in 2016. Over that same timespan, the Arkansas small business center network has helped its clients create and retain more than 10,000 jobs. For more information, contact Communications Coordinator Gwen Green at 501.683.7700 or gagreen@ualr.edu.]]>