SBA

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UA Cossatot Grant Writing Course to Focus on Bringing Grant Funds to Sevier County Businesses

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A four-day Small Business Grant Writing course to help grant writers of all skill levels learn how to write a grant proposal will be offered by the Sevier County Economic Development Department at the University of Arkansas Cossatot.   The course will be hosted on the UA Cossatot De Queen Campus on Thursdays, October 26, 2023  - November 16, 2023, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. 

“We’re excited to be utilizing the SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program Grant awarded to UA Cossatot’s Economic Development Department to further help small businesses in Sevier County to obtain the education and technical assistance they need to thrive at no cost, ” says Tiffany Maurer, Sevier County Director of Economic Development.  Adding, “This course will put a focus on bringing grant funds to Sevier County Businesses through successful grant writing.”  

Participants will learn the basic skills needed to be a successful grant writer. Those basic skills include what makes a successful grant application, research for grant opportunities, and types of grants available to small businesses. Type of grants covered will include local, foundation, state and federal. Participants will develop the skills and confidence to apply for grants that will benefit their businesses and communities. 

The course is free to Sevier County, Arkansas, residents or anyone owning a business in Sevier County.  All other registrants may participate for only $25 per person.  Student materials are included at no additional cost. 

Registration is open through October 25.  For more information or to register, contact Continuing Education at (870) 584-1178 or email ContinuingEducation@cccua.edu. 

About the SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program Grant

The Sevier County Economic Development Department at the University of Arkansas Cossatot is one of 51 awardees of the SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program Grant. The grant is intended for education and technical assistance for small businesses, especially those in underserved populations and impacted by COVID-19. 

The economic development department is a Tier 3 awardee, meaning $1 million dollars have been allocated to the implementation of the Sevier County Community Navigator Network. The Navigator Network is a hub-and-spoke model, with UA Cossatot being the hub (primary organizer and applicant), and five spoke partners to help identify and assist impacted small businesses in need of services. Our Partner organizations include FRIENDS Foundation, the City of De Queen, Sevier County Chamber of Commerce, Central Arkansas Development Council (CADC), and Sevier County University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. 

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Cooperative Extension Service to co-host Arkansas Business Navigator informational session

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BRINKLEY, Ark. — Do you need help growing or expanding your business? Is your business looking for financial assistance, but you don’t know what your options are? Is your inner entrepreneur in need of some guidance? An upcoming event, co-hosted by the Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center, likely has the answers you’re looking for.

FINDING THE WAY — Arkansas Business Navigator is the newest program from the Arkansas Small Business Technology and Development Center, a function of the federal Small Business Administration that works through land grant universities and other institutions. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)

Arkansas Business Navigator is the newest program from the Arkansas Small Business Technology and Development Center, a function of the federal Small Business Administration that works through land grant universities and other institutions.

The informational session will be held Jan. 26 at the Brinkley Chamber of Commerce, located at 217 W. Cypress St. in Brinkley. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 6 p.m. There is no cost to attend.

The program is focused on supporting small business owners and entrepreneurs across Arkansas with an emphasis on support for rural, women-owned, veteran-owned and minority-owned businesses. It’s a joint project of the Cooperative Extension Service’s APTAC, the Monroe and Phillips County extension offices, the Brinkley Chamber of Commerce and East Arkansas Enterprise Community.

Kamelle Gomez, economic development program associate for the Division of Agriculture, said the Cooperative Extension Service — the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture — is one of six partners supporting the program.

“We’re helping to provide no cost, one-on-one business consulting, business planning, market research, access to capital and industry-specific training,” Gomez said. “We want you to come learn how the Arkansas Business Navigator can help your business launch, grow, and plan for success.”

Interested individuals may contact Gomez at 501-671-2158 or kgomez@uada.edu.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter 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 Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

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Restaurant Revitalization Fund Applications Opening Today!

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SBA will begin accepting applications via the application portal today, May 3 at 11 a.m. CST. The application portal will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted. 

In preparation, qualifying applicants should familiarize themselves with the application process in advance to ensure a smooth and efficient application. Follow the steps below.

  • If you haven't already, register for an account on the application portal at restaurants.sba.gov. If you are working with Square or Toast, you do not need to register.

  • Review the sample application, program guide and cross-program eligibility chart on SBA COVID-19 relief options. SBA also added screenshots of the application portal that are available here.

  • Applications must be submitted in English or Spanish. SBA has documents in additional languages to help you understand eligibility requirements, fill out applications, and answer frequently asked questions. See the additional languages and materials here.

  • If you were unable to attend one of the webinars held last week which covered program details and a demonstration of the application portal, you can watch the recording here.

For more information, visit sba.gov/restaurants.