Southern Bancorp Picks 30 Entrepreneurs for Minority Business Empowerment Program

Members of the 2024 MBEP summer cohort (Photo provided by Southern Bancorp Community Partners)

Southern Bancorp Community Partners, a community development financial institution and partner of Southern Bancorp Inc., announced in a press release Tuesday the 30 business owners who will take part in its Minority Business Empowerment Program.

The entrepreneurs, the first of two cohorts in 2024, now begin a 12-week program that provides technical assistance and funding readiness for small businesses. The program will focus around seven business disciplines: sales and operations, financial management and accounting, human resources, marketing and communications, management and leadership, business growth strategies and digital technology integration. 

The participants for the 2024 summer cohort are:

• Alysha Johnson, Luxe the Salon Suites LLC of North Little Rock
• Ammoria Daniels, ArkLaMiss Logistics Inc. of Maumelle
• Angela McGhee, Definitive Formulations LLC of Conway
• Arnetta Bradford, HeBrews 11:1 of Hope
• Brian Clay & Kari Watson, AlmsTravel LLC of Cabot
• Cassandra Carey, Ascend Clean of Benton
• Dameake Harvey, Dameake Right Choice Tax Services of Little Rock
• Dr. Melanie Desmuke-Battles, Scholars for the Soul: An Education Solutions Firm of Little Rock
• Edward Garland, APEX Senior Care & Consulting LLC of Little Rock
• Erin McMurrian, Empact Realty Group of El Dorado
• Felicia Bailey, C&C Lawn Service Care LLC of Little Rock
• Jerald Mitchell, TV Mounting Pro LLC of Little Rock
• Keisha Walker, Dawn Realty & Associates of Little Rock
• Kelly Hollis, EcoPump LLC of Little Rock
• Krystle Rucker, KRB Hair Studio of Bryant
• Latasha Robinson, Yoni Steam and Detox of Newport
• Lydia Page, LLI Development LLC of Little Rock
• Lynn Walls, Heaven Sent Adult Daycare Center of Sherwood
• Monica Hale, Plush Homes Company-Realtors of Little Rock
• Patrick Oliver, Say It Loud! Readers and Writers of Dallas
• Raysha Clark, The Collective of Little Rock
• Robert Alexander, KustomMade Properties LLC of Little Rock
• Robert Henderson, Sims Mortuary of El Dorado
• Rodney Livingston, Silver Back Expedited Shipping LLC of Bryant
• Roland Gosey, Williams Funeral Home of Arkadelphia
• Sara Hurst, Bella’s Kitchen & Wellness of Little Rock
• Shannon Smith, SSD Realty Group of Little Rock
• Tandra Jordan, Ms. Tan’s OCD Cleaning Service, LLC of Little Rock
• Tina Gilbert, Next Level Training Solution Group of Springdale
• Toshua Shelton-Wiggins, Always Promoting Independence of North Little Rock

The program supports Southern Bancorp’s mission to narrow funding gaps in the business world, which are particularly prevalent in rural, minority and underserved communities. According to the release, if existing minority-owned businesses reached the same average revenue as their industry counterparts, it would result in an estimated $190 billion in gross domestic product growth nationwide.

The free program was first established in 2021. It’s supported by Simmons Bank, which in May announced a 10-year, $1 million equity equivalent investment and a $250,000 grant to cover technical assistance costs for participating businesses.

Southern Bancorp Inc. contributed an additional $1 million to the program.

 “We’re excited to welcome these businesses into our Minority Business Empowerment Program,” Kenya Davenport, interim president of Southern Bancorp Community Partners, said in the release. “With the support of this impactful program, more local entrepreneurs will have access to the building blocks needed to succeed, scale and create additional jobs and opportunities in our communities.”