Arkansas has several groups able to help entrepreneurs, small business owners

Editor’s note: Michelle Stockman works with Little Rock-based Arkansas Capital Corp. to promote entrepreneurship development around the state. Stockman earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University-Chicago in communications and fine arts, and earned a master’s in entrepreneurship from Western Carolina University. Her thoughts on business success appear each week on The City Wire.

January brings the start of a new year with high hopes of resolutions and improvement of self, family or business. However, many businesses are unaware of the resources that are available to help them through a wide range of issues and opportunities to, at least, address the desired goals for one’s business. From education to business coaching, businesses are not alone in their efforts if they choose to seek the help that is available to them.

While there are far greater resources than there is room to share in this column, the following list is a tool kit for small, growing or medium-sized businesses:

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC)
The center is part of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith’s business outreach effort. Started in 2007, the IEC is a community support center for entrepreneurship that serves the Fort Smith region. The IEC focuses on business education workshops, entrepreneurship one-on-one coaching and working with entrepreneurs on business planning and identifying possible capital sources. More information about the IEC can be found at its Web site, or calling the office at 788-7755.

Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
This is the state’s primary business assistance organization focused on assisting start-up, growing and technology focused businesses through out the state. The SBTDC offers education programs from the basics of starting a business to more complicated training programs on intellectual property protection, tax planning and venture financing. In Northwest Arkansas, the SBTDC has an office located at the University of Arkansas’ Sam M. Walton College of Business. This local office of the SBTDC offers workshops, business counseling/consulting and market research services for low or no fees. To contact the Fayetteville office, call (479) 575-5148 or visit their Web site.

Innovate Arkansas
This organization is a technology-focused business assistance organization that grew out of a state-wide effort to boost knowledge-based creative economy companies within Arkansas. Innovate Arkansas will work with new technology-based entrepreneurs as they move new inventions and high-tech service concepts toward viable commercial enterprises. Innovate Arkansas will team you up to a business coach/advisor who will consult with a company through a wide variety of technology and business related start-up and growth related needs. Innovate Arkansas has a local office on the University of Arkansas’ Research Center campus. For additional information about Innovate Arkansas’ business services, contact (501) 280-3025 or visit their Web site.

Arkansas Capital Corporation Group
The ACCG is a group of affiliate companies focused on small business finance through the Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture lending programs as well as entrepreneurship education. ACCG also hosts Connect Arkansas, a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on broadband access and education. For more information about ACCG, call (501) 374-9247 or visit their Web site.

Additional business resources include:
BioVentures in Little Rock;
the Green Valley network;
Minority Business Development (8a) Program;
Small and Minority Business Unit of AEDC;
Arkansas Science & Technology Authority; and
Fund for Arkansas’ Future.

Feedback
Stockman can be reached at [email protected]