The Arkansas Economic Development Commission on Tuesday announced the development of 75Strong, a new statewide program designed to train economic developers and community leaders on entrepreneurship and small business development.
The program will also provide direct technical support for small businesses throughout Arkansas, AEDC said in a news release. Emphasis will be placed on connecting rural and underserved areas with entrepreneurial support.
Key outcomes for the program include selecting 30 to 50 economic developers to pursue and receive the Entrepreneurial Development Professional (EDP) certification from the International Economic Development Council; selecting 20 communities to conduct assessments designed to map and build business ecosystems; creating and launching strategic entrepreneurship plans for 10 or more communities; and launching entrepreneurial support teams for five or more communities.
The program will be managed by Startup Junkie of Fayetteville and Conductor of Conway, in partnership with AEDC’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division.
“At AEDC, supporting the growth of small businesses and entrepreneurs is one of our major areas of focus, and the 75Strong program will play an important role in helping these businesses succeed in Arkansas,” Clint O’Neal, executive director of AEDC, said in a statement. “This new program will provide the tools, resources, and training to help community leaders across the state grow their small business and entrepreneurial ecosystems – which will lead to more jobs and investment in the years to come.”
Participants will each recruit two to three companies meeting pre-determined criteria that will participate in a 12-month business-building curriculum. Those companies will complete customized strategic growth plans with an expectation of increasing revenue and creating jobs.
”Equipping our economic developers, chamber executives, and community leaders with a strong foundation for growing small businesses and entrepreneurs in their communities is a must for our entrepreneurial development strategy,” Esperanza Massana Crane, director of AEDC’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division, said in the release. “The 75Strong program will provide communities in Arkansas – especially rural communities – with the tools to help these businesses succeed and create more economic opportunities in their regions.”
Sign up for Daily E-news
