ASBTDC partners with Latino business group

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center announced a new partnership with Conexion de Negocios Latinos, a Springdale-based non-profit organization that focuses on supporting Latino businesses in Arkansas.

Through this partnership, ASBTDC’s Arkansas Business Navigator program will work alongside Conexion de Negocios Latinos to provide no-cost specialized services and resources for Arkansas’ Latino entrepreneurs.

“We are thrilled to partner with ASBTDC’s Arkansas Business Navigator program to support Latino-owned small businesses in Arkansas,” said Irma Chavez, founder and CEO of Conexion de Negocios Latinos. “We know that Latino entrepreneurs face unique challenges and barriers, and this partnership will help us provide the resources and support they need to succeed.”

Latino-owned small businesses are one of the fastest growing segments of the Arkansas economy, but they often face significant challenges, including limited access to capital, language barriers, and cultural differences. The partnership between CNL and ASBTDC’s Arkansas Business Navigator will help to address these challenges.

“ASBTDC is committed to supporting Latino entrepreneurs across the state of Arkansas, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Conexion de Negocios Latinos,” said Michael Singleton, ASBTDC associate state director. “Through this partnership, we hope to connect more Latino entrepreneurs with the resources and networks they need to start and grow successful businesses in Arkansas.”

Conexion de Negocios Latinos is the seventh partner organization – and the only one exclusively serving the Latino community – to join the Arkansas Business Navigator project. The program unites trusted community partners that reach into specific sectors of the state’s entrepreneurial community. As the “hub,” ASBTDC provides centralized support and structure for the partners.

The two organizations will provide much-needed resources and support to help the state’s Latino entrepreneurs including:

Access to bilingual business advisors who can provide one-on-one assistance in Spanish and English at no charge;
Specialized training and workshops focused on the unique needs and challenges of Latino entrepreneurs;
Assistance with accessing financing options and other critical business resources; and
Access to a network of Latino business owners and entrepreneurs across Arkansas.

Arkansas Business Navigator is a program of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center hosted by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is funded in part through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

A comprehensive resource, the program provides one-on-one assistance and expert advice to Arkansas entrepreneurs, as well as access to critical business resources, including financing options, market research, and business planning tools.

Conexion de Negocios Latinos is a non-profit organization that provides support and advocacy for Latino businesses and entrepreneurs in Arkansas, with a particular focus on connecting them with resources and networks that can help them succeed.