The Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock announced last week that it has helped its clients obtain nearly $70 million in capital funding and open 141 businesses in 2016. Both are all-time bests for the ASBTDC.
The center said its services also contributed to the creation of 627 jobs. In the last decade, it has helped create and retain more than 10,000 jobs.
The university was awarded last month a $1 million grant by the U.S. Small Business Administration for the ASBTDC to continue its work this year.
Each year, UA-Little Rock and six partner universities match the federal grant to host the network of small business and technology development offices across the state.
In addition to the lead center at the UA-Little Rock College of Business, there are regional offices at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and University of Arkansas campuses at Fayetteville and Monticello.
But the ASBTDC serves businesses from any county in the state in any industry sector at any stage of development.