Little Rock chamber hires director for small business programming

The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce has hired Miguel Lopez as its first director of entrepreneurship and small business programming, the organization announced in a press release on Thursday (April 27).

Lopez will be tasked with looking at existing programs for potential changes as well as developing new programs, in order to provide “much-needed resources to startup businesses,” according to the chamber.

Small businesses constitute 80% of the chamber’s membership, according to the press release. About 72% of active chamber members have 20 employees or fewer, 61% have fewer than 10 and 48% have fewer than five, according to an emailed newsletter from Chief Operating Officer Graham Cobb.

Lopez is finishing his master’s in public administration, with a certificate in nonprofit management, at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he previously earned his bachelor’s degree in political science, according to the chamber. As an undergraduate, Lopez was a Ronald E. McNair scholar and presented research on economics and global affairs at local and national conferences.

As a first-generation Hispanic-American, Lopez hopes to reach out to Hispanic-owned businesses and ensure resources are provided to that population.

“The chamber is a proven builder of relationships between businesses that can help each other,” Lopez said, according to the press release. “I hope to serve as a bridge between the Hispanic and the Anglo business communities which will lead to economic advancement for both.”

In the press release, the chamber said: “In dedicating a full-time employee to develop and oversee programming addressing new challenges and opportunities facing business owners, the Little Rock Regional Chamber continues its commitment (to) the creation and execution of educational events and resources not traditionally associated with chambers of commerce. At its core, this role serves as a conduit between the chamber, its existing members, startup entrepreneurs and the region’s growing culture of innovation that is being incubated and accelerated at the Little Rock Tech Park and the Venture Center.”

The Little Rock Technology Park celebrated its grand opening  on Monday (April 24).