This new initiative is designed to help accelerate and build technology-based businesses in Little Rock and Central Arkansas by recruiting international entrepreneurs, providing cap-exempt H-1B visas to locate here, and provide talent development and support services to enhance success. AR Tech Launch is modeled after successful entrepreneurship programs in New York and Boston.

AR Tech Launch addresses three issues critical for the state鈥檚 economic growth: the difficulty of attracting qualified international entrepreneurs to the United States because of limited commercial H-1B visa availability; the desire to attract these tech entrepreneurs to relocate and build new potential high-growth, start-ups in the Little Rock region; and the ability to add proven technology innovators to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 faculty to help educate and train the next generation of start-up founders.

The Venture Center will work with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty to help select international entrepreneurs through a competitive curation process, similar to its award-winning work in fintech accelerators. Once selected, the entrepreneurs will work with the university to qualify for cap-exempt H-1B visas and then, upon receipt, relocate to Little Rock and begin collaborative academically-focused work with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock while launching their technology-based business.

The Venture Center and Little Rock Regional Chamber will provide these entrepreneurs with additional mentor and operational support services to help them scale, grow, and provide high-wage employment opportunities for Arkansans.

AR Tech Launch will finalize the application process in early 2024. More information and application documents will be provided on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and Venture Center websites.

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“We are delighted to have Matthew join the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock family,鈥� said Kindle Holderby, assistant vice chancellor of enrollment management at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淢atthew’s experience and expertise in the corporate world will be an asset as we endeavor to build corporate partnerships in Central Arkansas and throughout the state.”

In his new position as corporate partnership coordinator, Bellew, a native of El Dorado who grew up in Little Rock, will establish partnerships with corporations that help their employees go to college.

鈥淢y primary goal is to establish partnerships with corporate partners to streamline access to higher education,鈥� Bellew said. 鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees that prepare students to be responsible leaders in their fields.鈥�

Businesses with such partnerships experience many benefits like retaining and promoting top talent, closing the skills gap, increasing employee satisfaction, and becoming an employer of choice.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is expanding access to education for people in Arkansas and the capital city through innovative partnerships with business and industry leaders. In 2022, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock became the first university in Arkansas to be named an Amazon Career Choice Partner. The partnership helps Amazon employees achieve career success by providing access to comprehensive college programs. In addition, a new hospital partnership provides full-time employees at Saline Memorial and CHI St. Vincent with a 10 percent scholarship towards tuition and fees at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

“糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock continues to expand access to higher education for adult learners in Arkansas and beyond,” said Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. “The corporate partnership program highlights 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock’s commitment to engaging with the business community and responding to the workforce development needs of Arkansans.”

Prior to joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Bellew served as the director of existing industry at the Little Rock Regional Chamber. He previously worked as director of development and outreach at Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters in Little Rock and as a workforce development and program development manager at Goodwill Industries of Arkansas.

Bellew graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration specializing in management and entrepreneurship from Louisiana Tech University. He started his career with Starbucks Coffee Co., working in several sales and operations positions in Seattle and Pensacola, Florida. Bellew and his wife Shelby are the proud parents of two sons.

鈥淚 am so excited to join 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with the opportunity to really create something new,鈥� Bellew said. 鈥淚 went to Louisiana Tech as a nontraditional student, so I feel a personal connection to other working adults who want a college degree. I love helping people through business, and understand the value of higher education. I鈥檓 happy to be in a position where I can focus on how the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 team and industry representatives can work together to drive and build the community for the better.鈥�

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