By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture
LITTLE ROCK — Military veterans seeking to land contracts with the state or federal government for their businesses are invited to attend the 2024 Veterans' Business Summit on Nov. 7. The event, which is free to attend, will be held at the Cooperative Extension Service state headquarters at 2301 S. University Ave. in Little Rock.
The program will begin at 9 a.m. with an introduction by Melanie Berman, director of the Arkansas APEX Accelerator program for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The APEX Accelerators program, formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, plays a critical role in the Department of Defense’s efforts to identify and help a wide range of businesses enter and participate in the defense supply chain. The program provides the education and training to ensure that all businesses can participate in the federal, state and local government contract process.
Tim Hicks, procurement counselor for the Division of Agriculture, said the event will appeal to many entrepreneurs hoping to expand their sales base.
CALL TO SERVE — Military veterans seeking to land contracts with the state or federal government for their small businesses are invited to attend the 2024 Veterans' Business Summit on Nov. 7. The event, which is free to attend, will be held at the Cooperative Extension Service state headquarters in Little Rock. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)
“The summit focuses on veteran-owned businesses, but we invite all businesses to join us,” Hicks said. “This will be a great time to network and collaborate with many resource partners.”
Berman’s welcome will be followed by the presentation of colors by the Cabot High School JROTC. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Kendall Penn, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, will deliver the keynote address.
The event’s featured speaker will be Ruby Crenshaw Lawrence, chief of the Office of Small Business Programs & Industry Engagements for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. She will discuss the government’s stance on Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence, and associated concerns.
Nearly two dozen organizations will be participating in the event, with representatives taking part in discussion panels and available for networking throughout the day. Participating organizations include:
19th Contracting Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base
Arkansas Division of Emergency
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Arkansas National Guard Purchasing Office
Forge Institute
Arkansas Small Business Technology Development Center
SCORE Business Mentorship
The Conductor / Startup Junkie Foundation
U.S. Small Business Administration – Arkansas District
Arkansas Women's Business Center
City of Little Rock
Clinton National Airport
Communities Unlimited
Disabled American Veterans
State of Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs
State of Arkansas, Office of State Procurement
US Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Business Outreach Center
The summit will conclude before noon. Online registration is required.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.