By Gwen Green (gagreen@ualr.edu)
Nov 4., 2009
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansas Tech University will be home to a regional office of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center on its campus beginning in January 2010.
The regional office will serve an eight-county region and will be located in Centenary Hall, a new 60,000-square foot academic building scheduled to open on the Arkansas Tech campus at the beginning of 2010.
"Education and economic development are irrevocably tied to one another," said Arkansas Tech University President Dr. Robert C. Brown. "We are pleased to welcome this regional office to our Russellville campus and we look forward to a long and successful relationship with the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, the U.S. Small Business Administration, our colleagues at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and other institutions around the state.
"We believe that this office could have a significant impact on the future economy of the Arkansas River Valley and provide outstanding opportunities for Arkansas Tech graduates by encouraging and developing small businesses in the region."
ASBTDC State Director Janet Roderick said the center at Arkansas Tech will serve Conway, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Pope, Scott, Sebastian and Yell counties.
"ASBTDC is the only entity with a statewide network of offices focusing on entrepreneurial and small business development," said Roderick. "We are excited about partnering with Arkansas Tech University to extend our network and better serve the area's small businesses."
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