The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center wants to help local elected officials build their communities’ small business base.
Mayors, county judges, and other local elected officials are invited to participate in “Boost Business in Your Community,” a new webinar series the center is hosting for community leaders.
Starting in November, ASBTDC will offer a free “Boost” program online every other month. Each 30-minute session will focus on a different small business topic and end with a question-and-answer period.
- Nov. 14 – Helping First-Time Business Owners Start Smart
- Jan. 23 – Using Market Research Tools to Make Better Business Decisions
- March 20 – Encouraging Existing Businesses and Helping Them Grow
- May 22 – Turning Innovative Ideas into Tech Companies
All the webinars begin at 11 a.m.
“Small businesses are vital for economic development in communities of every size,” said Laura Fine, ASBTDC state director. “Some areas of the state are looking for ways to encourage new businesses to open, while in other places, local businesses are thriving and you want to keep the momentum going. Through these webinars, we hope more community leaders will learn how ASBTDC can support their local small businesses.”
Through a network of seven offices, ASBTDC services are available statewide. Current or prospective business owners can get one-on-one consulting plus cutting-edge market research at no cost.
The center wants to work with communities all over Arkansas, says Fine.
“I would love to get a call from a mayor wanting to schedule a day for ASBTDC to come to town to visit with a handful of small businesses or to come present a startup workshop. These local partnerships are so important to making sure small businesses across the state are getting the assistance they need,” she said.
Unique among Arkansas economic development organizations, ASBTDC serves businesses from any county, in any industry sector, at any stage of development. The center works with all types of for-profit businesses, from home-based to high-tech.