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In recognition of National Veterans Small Business Week, which begins Tuesday, November 1, 2022, the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA), is hosting a FREE small business development conference with the aforementioned title and date. The purpose of the conference which includes approximately 20 co-hosts is to provide veteran and women-owned businesses with the skills, tools, and contacts needed to develop and sell their products to government and the private sector. The conference, with the theme of “Cultivating Veteran and Women-Owned Businesses: Full Speed Ahead!” will be held at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, AR.
Co-hosts include but are not limited to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission-Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise, Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), Arkansas District Office of the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Arkansas Procurement and Technical Assistance Center (APTAC), Bentonville Chamber of Commerce, USDA, Rural Development and United States Department of Veterans Affairs. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. Guests may attend in-person at the Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies, Northwest Arkansas Community College, located at One College Drive, Bentonville, AR 72712 or on-line via zoom using the link provided below. Topics will include building strategic relationships, exploring and securing the right kind of capital, how to sell goods and services to the government and the private sector, and how to use the many available technical assistance services, such as those provided through the ASBTDC to begin and or enhance your business.
Join us at 9:00 a.m. for presentations from state, federal, and private sector partners. The afternoon will feature a Lenders Roundtable. Confirmed lending organizations include private banks such as Arvest and Regions and non-traditional lenders such as Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, Communities Unlimited, FORGE, RMI Finance, Inc., U.S. Small Business Administration, and USDA, RD B&I. The Lenders Roundtable will be facilitated by Mr. Edward Haddock, Arkansas District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration, with overall facilitation by Colonel Nate Todd (Retired), Secretary, ADVA.
Current and aspiring business owners, especially veterans, spouses of veterans and women-owned businesses and community and economic development professionals, are invited to attend. You will engage with other business owners, receive help with research and business planning, learn how to increase your networking results, and learn to do more business with the government and private industry.
Don’t miss this opportunity to help your small business GROW! AND, INNOVATE!
AN INVESTMENT OF TIME IS THE COST TO ATTEND BUT REGISTRATION IS ENCOURAGED. Lunch will be provided. You may register by calling Arkansas Human Development Corporation toll-free at (800) 482-7641 or (501) 374-1103, ext. 110, by email at [email protected] or online at https://bit.ly/3CBAqej
