ASBTDC receives $2 million grant to work with ‘underserved and very small businesses’

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock announced Thursday (March 7) that the U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative has awarded $2 million to the center to assist small businesses applying for the SSBCI Capital Program and other small business funding.

Through the SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program, Treasury allocated $200 million for states, territories, the District of Columbia, and Tribal governments. The funds are being dispersed based on a formula.

Reauthorized and expanded by the American Rescue Plan, SSBCI is a nearly $10 billion program to support small businesses and entrepreneurship in communities across the U.S. by providing capital and technical assistance to promote small business stability, growth, and success.

The initiative directs states to designate a technical assistance provider to help “very small businesses” and “underserved” small businesses apply for the SSBCI Capital Program and other small business funding programs. The Arkansas Development Finance Authority is responsible for implementing the SSBCI Capital Program in Arkansas.

“The ASBTDC is the perfect organization to lead the technical assistance piece of the SSBCI program in Arkansas,” said ADFA President Mark Conine. “The ASBTDC’s commitment and track record of supporting businesses across Arkansas in various sectors and stages of development is outstanding.”

Very small businesses, or VSBs, are defined as businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Independent contractors and sole proprietors are considered VSBs.

Underserved businesses include those in historically underserved communities, plus socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs who may have lacked the support needed to pursue their business goals.

“ASBTDC has 44 years of experience providing comprehensive support to small businesses,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. “SSBCI technical assistance funding allows us to continue giving personalized guidance and free training to empower underserved and very small businesses, ensuring they have the tools and access to capital needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.”

Consultants based at the ASBTDC Lead Center at UA Little Rock will work one-on-one with businesses who want to apply for SSBCI funding, loans or other financing. The center will hold in-person and online training events. Consulting services and training are both offered free of charge.

Fine said ASBTDC expects to train 750 small businesses over five years and provide individual consulting to 875 business owners, resulting in at least 230 applications to the state’s SSBCI capital programs.

Training will cover legal, accounting and financial topics such as business bookkeeping, legal structures and the capital acquisition process. These events will help the ASBTDC identify borrowers who need one-on-one guidance before submitting their application to a lender.

The first training event is set for 12 p.m. March 28 when ASBTDC Business Consultant Wendy Orvis leads the live webinar, “Funding Your Business: Loans, Grants and Other Options.” Businesses may register at asbtdc.org/asbtdc-events/.

To request consulting, businesses can go to asbtdc.ecenterdirect.com/signup, email [email protected] or call (800) 862-2040.