By Gwen Green (gagreen@ualr.edu)
June 16, 2010
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A series of live webinars aimed at Arkansas veterans who are interested in owning or growing a small business will begin July 13. The training is offered at no charge by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Veterans Assistance and Services Program.
Webinars will be held July through October at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The one-hour sessions are based on ASBTDC's most popular traditional classroom seminars.
Webinar Schedule
" July 13 - Starting a Business in Arkansas
" July 27 - Writing a Business Plan
" Aug. 10 - Financing Options for Small Businesses
" Aug. 24 - Marketing with Social Media
" Sept. 14 - Procurement Opportunities for Veteran-Owned Businesses
" Sept. 28 - Starting a Business in Arkansas
" Oct. 12 - Writing a Business Plan
" Oct. 26 - Financing Options for Small Businesses
"Starting a Business in Arkansas" and "Writing a Business Plan" are geared toward new or prospective entrepreneurs. "Starting a Business in Arkansas" covers all the basics for start-up businesses, including keys to success and common pitfalls to avoid. "Writing a Business Plan" can help entrepreneurial- minded veterans define their business concept and communicate their strategies and challenges.
"Financing Options for Small Businesses" discusses how and where to get financing for prospective and existing businesses and explores special opportunities for veterans, including the U.S. Small Business Administration's Patriot Express loan program.
Two sessions are designed especially for veterans who are already small business owners. "Marketing with Social Media" examines ways to connect with customers online using tools like Facebook, Twitter, blogs and more. "Procurement Opportunities for Veteran-Owned Businesses" looks at how to tap into the billions of dollars going to veteran-owned businesses through contracts with federal, state and local government and large corporations.
During the Internet-based, interactive seminars, participants view and listen to a live presentation on their own computers from any location. They can submit questions to the instructor and respond to polls in real time.
ASBTDC's Herb Lawrence, Robert Bahn and Rudy Ortiz will rotate as instructors, and ASBTDC webmaster Timothy Lee will provide technical support. All four are military veterans as well as seasoned small business trainers and consultants.
Veterans can reserve their webinar seats by registering at ArkansasVeteran.com/webinars. For assistance or additional information, contact the ASBTDC at (501) 683-7700 or toll-free outside Pulaski County, (800) 862-2040.
"Through webinars, we can assist more veterans with their businesses than we could reach through traditional classroom training. We especially hope our Arkansas military men and women who are interested in owning a business but are currently serving abroad will find the webinars helpful," said Janet Roderick, ASBTDC state director.
ArkansasVeteran.com, a Web portal launched by ASBTDC in 2009, brings together in one place veterans-related resources, news, information and contacts for active-duty, Reserve, National Guard and retired Arkansas veterans and their families.
The ASBTDC assists new, existing and innovation-based small businesses. Through a statewide network of seven offices, ASBTDC provides free consulting and market research services plus affordable training to the business community. The ASBTDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the SBA through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business and other institutions of higher education.
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