Senator Mark Pryor Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor along with Representative Mike Ross (AR-04) announced today that the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will receive a $99,994 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration to spark economic development in seven counties in Southwest Arkansas over the next year.

The center will use the grant to offer training and other services for small businesses in Clark, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Nevada, Ouachita and Pike counties. The region is struggling with increasing poverty and unemployment after the loss of several major employers. The poverty rate for the seven-county area is 19.7 percent, or 2.5 percent above the Arkansas rate and 7.4 percent above the national average.

“Small businesses can help revitalize local and regional economies,” said Janet Roderick, ASBTDC state director. “We intend to help grow existing small businesses and support businesses adversely affected by the economic conditions in their area.”

ASBTDC regional offices at Henderson State University and Southern Arkansas University and the lead center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will work together on the project. Using state-of-the-art mobile computer labs, the ASBTDC will provide free hands-on training in multiple locations. Seminars will include “Making Your Business Thrive During an Economic Downturn,” “Keeping Your Books with QuickBooks” and “QuickBooks Point of Sale.” QuickBooks is a popular accounting software package from Intuit.

Small businesses in the area can also get help with Web and multimedia marketing and communication. The ASBTDC will teach businesses how to develop and optimize their Web sites to rank higher in search engine results and attract more customer traffic. ASBTDC will also offer technical assistance to businesses that want to produce short video clips for their Web sites or to post on YouTube.

“Small businesses drive our local economy, and I’m pleased to see the federal government award these funds to Arkansas,” said Lincoln. “Not only will this grant provide valuable training and support for small business owners, it will also promote economic development in Southwest Arkansas. I remain committed to ensuring that Arkansas’s small business owners and entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need be successful and achieve their goals.”

“During these tough economic times, small businesses need new tools and training in order to stay afloat and prosper,” Pryor said. “This investment will help local entrepreneurs strengthen and streamline their current operations through better accounting and communication practices.”

“Small businesses are the engines of our local economies, and this investment is an investment in Arkansas’s future,” said Ross. “As we enter the 21st century, computer, technical and Web skills are crucial to the success of any company. These services will help provide our small business owners with the skills they need to successfully manage their own businesses and compete in an ever-expanding marketplace.”

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center program, a partnership of the SBA and the UALR College of Business, serves new and existing small businesses through a statewide network of seven offices. In addition to the lead center at UALR and offices at HSU and SAU, other regional offices are located at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology in McGehee.

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		December 1, 2008 Press Release SBA awards grant to Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center to strengthen small businesses in Southwest Arkansas WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor along with Representative Mike Ross (AR-04) announced today that the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will receive a $99,994 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration to spark economic development in seven counties in Southwest Arkansas over the next year. The center will use the grant to offer training and other services for small businesses in Clark, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Nevada, Ouachita and Pike counties. The region is struggling with increasing poverty and unemployment after the loss of several major employers. The poverty rate for the seven-county area is 19.7 percent, or 2.5 percent above the Arkansas rate and 7.4 percent above the national average. “Small businesses can help revitalize local and regional economies,” said Janet Roderick, ASBTDC state director. “We intend to help grow existing small businesses and support businesses adversely affected by the economic conditions in their area.” ASBTDC regional offices at Henderson State University and Southern Arkansas University and the lead center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will work together on the project. Using state-of-the-art mobile computer labs, the ASBTDC will provide free hands-on training in multiple locations. Seminars will include “Making Your Business Thrive During an Economic Downturn,” “Keeping Your Books with QuickBooks” and “QuickBooks Point of Sale.” QuickBooks is a popular accounting software package from Intuit. Small businesses in the area can also get help with Web and multimedia marketing and communication. The ASBTDC will teach businesses how to develop and optimize their Web sites to rank higher in search engine results and attract more customer traffic. ASBTDC will also offer technical assistance to businesses that want to produce short video clips for their Web sites or to post on YouTube. “Small businesses drive our local economy, and I’m pleased to see the federal government award these funds to Arkansas,” said Lincoln. “Not only will this grant provide valuable training and support for small business owners, it will also promote economic development in Southwest Arkansas. I remain committed to ensuring that Arkansas’s small business owners and entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need be successful and achieve their goals.” “During these tough economic times, small businesses need new tools and training in order to stay afloat and prosper,” Pryor said. “This investment will help local entrepreneurs strengthen and streamline their current operations through better accounting and communication practices.” “Small businesses are the engines of our local economies, and this investment is an investment in Arkansas’s future,” said Ross. “As we enter the 21st century, computer, technical and Web skills are crucial to the success of any company. These services will help provide our small business owners with the skills they need to successfully manage their own businesses and compete in an ever-expanding marketplace.” The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center program, a partnership of the SBA and the UALR College of Business, serves new and existing small businesses through a statewide network of seven offices. In addition to the lead center at UALR and offices at HSU and SAU, other regional offices are located at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology in McGehee. ###