The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) is making significant changes to its programs to support small businesses and entrepreneurship in the state. Esperanza Massana-Crane, the director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development at AEDC, is leading the reorganization and new outreach efforts.
One of the initiatives launched by AEDC is 75Strong, which aims to train community leaders and economic developers across the state in small business and entrepreneurship to spur growth in these sectors. Another program, the Arkansas Resource Hub, provides a centralized platform for entrepreneurs to access resources and information in one place.
AEDC is also funding an accelerator program called Fuel Accelerator, in partnership with Startup Junkie, to help technology-based companies scale and grow. The agency is tracking the success of these programs to ensure that taxpayer investments are beneficial and creating a positive impact.
Massana-Crane emphasizes the importance of spreading entrepreneurship resources across the state, not just focusing on central and Northwest Arkansas. Programs like ARise are working to support businesses in rural areas, with success stories like G&H Decoys relocating to Arkansas and thriving. The goal is to support entrepreneurship in all 75 counties of the state.
AEDC’s efforts to streamline services and provide support to small businesses and entrepreneurs are essential for fostering economic growth and innovation in Arkansas. Massana-Crane’s leadership and the agency’s initiatives are paving the way for a more robust entrepreneurial ecosystem statewide.
Source
Photo credit talkbusiness.net