The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center offers free resources to persons who are creating or who currently own a small business.
Herb Lawrence, director of the ASBTDC at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, spoke during Monday's monthly luncheon hosted by the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Lawrence said he covers a 15-county area of the state, commuting to Jonesboro from his home in Batesville four days a week.
"Our job is to promote economic development, and to provide resources for new and established businesses," Lawrence said.
"We help bring resources to you, so that you can make decisions based on the latest information that you may not have had available to you," he said.
The ASBTDC is a program based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with six regional offices around the state. They are located at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, ASU, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia and University of Arkansas at Monticello's College of Technology in McGehee.
The ASBTDC is a cooperative partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration and the state. Both receive funds from both the federal government and the state funds through the universities, Lawrence said.
There is no charge to businesses for these services, because they are provided by taxpayers. "It's not free. You've already paid for it. You just haven't taken advantage of it yet," Lawrence said.
The ASBTDC provides all types of information to prospective business owners, including data that can cost thousands of dollars to obtain.
"I come to you armed with information that you can put to work for you, the tools that you can put to work in your business," Lawrence said.
The ASBTDC also provides consultants to help business owners interpret the date to best serve the needs of the business' customers.
In many cases, economic development is thought of only as large companies with thousands of jobs. But small businesses play a large part in stimulating economies. "In most counties, growth is going to come within," Lawrence said.
Lawrence was going to stay in Blytheville and conduct a workshop on keeping a business strong during a struggling economy on Monday night.
Lawrence said he conducts about 60 workshops a year and would be happy to lead more. For more information, contact Lawrence at hlawrenc@astate.edu, or call him at 870-972-3517. Information can also be found on the ASBTDC website at www.sbdc.astate.edu.
dhilton@blythevillecourier.com