2014 Youth Business Plan Competition Winners Announced

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9th year of Youth Entrepreneur Showcase Business Plan Statewide Competition for fifth through eighth grade students

Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), an affiliate of The Arkansas Capital Corporation, today announced the winners of the Youth Entrepreneur Showcase (Y.E.S) statewide youth business plan competition for grades five through eight. Today’s winners, announced at Park Plaza Mall in Little Rock, Ark., were selected from 26 finalist teams that were announced in December. The competition included 220 teams made up of more than 670 students across Arkansas. Y.E.S. students from across the state work in small groups, led by their teacher advisors, to develop and market a business concept. The winners in the four competition categories are as follows: [Read more…]

Youth Business Plan Competition Winners to Be Announced

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Fifth through eighth grade students to showcase and sell their work at Park Plaza Mall

Who: The Youth Entrepreneur Showcase (Y.E.S), a project of the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), an affiliate of The Arkansas Capital Corporation, invites the media to attend the event for photo and interview opportunities of students and student advisors. What:  The top 26 Y.E.S. finalist teams will set up booths to showcase and sell their work at Park Plaza Mall. Fifteen volunteers from the Central Arkansas business and education community will be judging them on creativity, innovation, marketing, and booth display. Winners of the student business plan competition will be announced following the show and sale. When: Jan. 17, 2014. The showcase and sale is 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The awards ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. [Read more…]

Shannon Frazeur Joins Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation

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Shannon Frazeur The Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), an affiliate of The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, is pleased to name Shannon Frazeur as project specialist. Frazeur will work on all details related to the planning, execution, and follow-up of the organization’s annual business plans competitions, including the Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase for grades 5-8, Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase 2.0 for grades 9-12, and the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup collegiate business plan competition. “Shannon will be increasing awareness of the entrepreneurial opportunities available in Arkansas,” said Marie Bruno, executive director, AEAF. “Her main focus will be on educational programs provided by AEAF to introduce students to entrepreneurship from the elementary to the postsecondary levels.” [Read more…]

CDFI Fund Launches New Mapping System, Helps CDEs Transition

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CDFI Fund CIMS Mapping ToolThe Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund today launched the latest version of its CDFI Information Mapping System (CIMS3). The web-based tool allows organizations interested in getting certified as a CDFI or community development entity (CDE), or those interested in applying to one of the CDFI Fund’s award programs, to plot their eligible service areas and investments. [Read more…]

USDA Small Business Round Table Event

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USDA_2 The Arkansas Capital Corporation was pleased to host the USDA Small Business Round Table today. The event drew 22 guests to hear guest Lillian Salerno, Administrator for the Rural Business and Cooperative Services Agency, lead a discussion focused on the needs of small business in Arkansas, and how USDA’s Rural Business Program can better assist these small businesses. [Read more…]

Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase Announced Top 26 Teams Tuesday, December 3

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Top 26 to compete and sell their products January 17, 2014 at Park Plaza Mall

The Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), an affiliate of the Arkansas Capital Corporation in Little Rock, has announced the finalists of its 9th-annual business plan competition for elementary, middle, and junior high school students in grades 5-8. Below are the finalists in alphabetical order by team name: [Read more…]

Arkansas Capital Corporation Announces Martha Moore Appointment to Board of Directors

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The Arkansas Capital Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Martha Moore, owner and president of McCormick Works in Ozark, Ark., to its all-volunteer board of directors. “I am pleased to have Martha join our board, as she brings valuable business skills and insight, as well as geographic diversity to our board,” said Rush Deacon, acting president of Arkansas Capital Corporation. Moore was recently awarded the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas’s “2013 Woman Business Leader of the Year.” The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas established this award to recognize a woman in Arkansas who has shaped the success of her organization/business and demonstrated leadership, professional achievement and contributed not only to her workplace, but also her community. [Read more…]

SBA Lending in Arkansas Rises in 2013

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Arkansas Small Business Administration Loans Supported, 2009-2013 Good news for the state’s small business environment: The number of loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration is increasing nationwide, and Arkansas is no exception. In Arkansas, for the SBA’s fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 237 loans worth a total of $116 million were approved. Compare that to 2012, when it approved 194 loans for a total of $93.9 million. Linda Nelson, director of SBA’s Arkansas district, said the state’s business environment is improving and its “startup ecosystem” is developing, particularly in northwest Arkansas. Nationwide, the SBA showed similar improvement, announcing that it supported loans worth $29 billion, or 54,106 loans. SBA Administrator Jeanne Hulit credited the Obama administration for its support of small business programs. With SBA loans, the administration acts as a sort of mediator between the bank and the entrepreneur. [Read more…]

Picasolar Wins Cleantech Regional Open, Selected for NREL Growth Forum

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UA startup Picasolar added some more “hardware” to its growing trophy collection last week with a win at the Cleantech Regional in Austin, Texas. Next up is the NREL Industry Growth Forum in Denver, where Picasolar will be one of 30 national startups to present. Its sister firm, IA client Silicon Solar Solutions, just last week was named to the prestigious DOE SunShot incubator program. [Read more…]

Enhancing Business Success through Public Service: How Ben & Jerry’s became so Good

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By: Greg Cooper; Digital Literacy Instructional Staff at Arkansas Capital Corporation Ben-and-Jerrys If you believe that failure gets you nowhere and that businesses can’t promote the common good for all, then you should talk to Ben Cohen. Cofounder of Ben and Jerry’s, Cohen spoke to a packed house at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service on October 22nd. And yes, free ice cream was handed out to everyone afterwards. The Ben & Jerry story starts back to Cohen’s childhood friendship with his now business partner, Jerry Greenfield. Cohen fondly recalled being the two largest kids in their junior high gym class and the bond formed by always being the very last two to finish running laps together. [Read more…]

Arkansas Capital Welcomes Bruno’s Little Italy

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Bruno's Little ItalyThe much anticipated Bruno’s Little Italy is now open, and The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group is proud to have played a major role in bringing back one of Little Rock’s most popular restaurants. Bruno’s Little Italy is located at 310 Main Street in downtown Little Rock and is serving as one of the anchor tenants in the Main Street revitalization. Bruno’s is now open for dinner from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday nights. Bruno’s will also begin serving lunch in the coming weeks. Lunch hours will be from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  [Read more…]

Arkansas Capital Corporation Is Pleased to Showcase the Work of Local Artists

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  Jason SmithIn August, The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group was looking for inspiration for its staff, clients and visitors. We found in the work of Robert Bean and decided to share his artwork by opening up our offices to visitors as part of downtown Little Rock’s 2nd Friday Art Night. We were so happy with the enthusiasm and response of our guests, that we have decided to open our offices again. This time, we are inspired by the works of Jason Smith, Diane Harper and Dominique Simmons. [Read more…]