It’s Minority Enterprise Development Week, and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center applauds our state’s minority entrepreneurs for starting and growing small businesses across the Natural State.
In the past three years, ASBTDC has provided more than 11,900 counseling hours to 2,105 minority clients.
We have assisted minority entrepreneurs in starting 86 new businesses and accessing $37.9 million in capital. Clients have reported $13 million in revenue growth and the creation of 458 jobs.
Our consultants offer personalized, practical guidance, based on each client’s unique goals and needs.
For Braylen Mack, that meant advice on topics from food product labeling to business planning as he launched Mack’s Barbecue Paint. For Maria de Monservat Aguilar of Moontlali, our focus was marketing, e-commerce, and research on the business’ target market.
I can point to many other examples:
- Advised Alton Phillips, a firefighter and father of three, through the startup of Integrity Packing, a business he hopes to pass on to his children someday.
- Alerted LaQuita Rainey, owner of Elder House Adult Daycare, to the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas’ Woman-Owned grant fund, enabling her to win a grant to help her continue to pay employees during COVID-19.
- Worked with Integro Photography owner Rolando Ochoa on business and financial planning.
- Helped doctors Caryn Pendleton and Lillian West with market research, business planning, and budgeting to start a medical practice, Bear Fruit Direct Primary Care.
- Guided twin brothers Darian and Darius Jarrett through the startup of Capital City Cleaning, helping them fulfill their childhood dream of owning a business.
- Used market and industry research to help Tori and Leon Jones acquire financing to start Eden Salt Studio.
- Assisted U.S. veteran Leon Sabbs and son Gabriel Sabbs with business planning and financial projections to obtain a microloan and start Faithful Cuts Lawn Care Etc. LLC.
- Prepared Mercedes and Consuelo Jaimes to launch their Tren al Sur food truck through training and consulting delivered in their first language, Spanish.
We salute these and all of Arkansas’ minority-owned businesses. Owning and operating a small business is challenging during ordinary times, and even more so amid the coronavirus pandemic.
ASBTDC is always here to support you. Call on us if we can help you start or grow your business.
