The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) at Henderson State University has been named the Arkansas Small Business Development Center of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The award was presented May 10 at the Arkansas Small Business Awards luncheon hosted by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.
“Henderson State’s ASBTDC continues to do a remarkable job in assisting entrepreneurs in every aspect of business creation, management, and operations,” said Edward Haddock, U.S. Small Business Administration Arkansas district director. “We are proud of the growth they have attained and it was our honor to have presented them this year’s Arkansas Small Business Development Center of the Year Award.”
Henderson has been a part of the ASBTDC network from its beginning. As a division of Henderson’s School of Business, the center serves 10 counties in southwest and south central Arkansas and has grown from a one-person office to a staff of four.
“We appreciate the SBA for acknowledging Henderson’s ASBTDC for this award. It is an honor to work with SBA and Henderson State University, our funding partners,” said Leah Hasley, Henderson ASBTDC center director. “The tremendous support we receive from our Lead Center, financial institutions, and community partners allows us to provide comprehensive small business services to Arkansas entrepreneurs. We value our relationships and greatly appreciate this recognition.”
“The team at Henderson State University ASBTDC exemplifies high performance and innovation in their service to small businesses,” said Laura Fine, state director of the ASBTDC. “They are creative and collaborative in their approach.
“The office excels at cultivating collaborative relationships with lending institutions, economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, and municipalities that lead to new events and opportunities for prospective and current small business owners.”
Henderson’s ASBTDC provides one-on-one confidential guidance that can be specifically tailored to a business venture. Through the consulting service, the ASBTDC also provides customized market research to help small business owners better understand their market. Consultations are free of charge to Arkansas entrepreneurs.
Primary areas of assistance include:
- Business planning
- Financial analysis
- Market research
- Loan packaging
- Online and traditional marketing
- Growth and expansion
- Management
- Profitability
Contact Henderson’s ASBTDC at 870-230-5184. To view upcoming training events, go to asbtdc.org/training/arkadelphia-events/.