Award Part of Historic $10 Billion Program Expansion; Funding to Support Manufacturing and Small Business Development

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.–(BUSINESS WIRE) — Heartland Renaissance Fund (HRF), an affiliate of ACC Capital, is pleased to announce it has received $85 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) allocations from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. The allocation will enable HRF to leverage private investment capital to drive job creation and economic development across communities throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

“An $85 million allocation is a game-changer for the communities we serve,” said Sam Walls, Chief Executive Officer of HRF. “We’re talking about funding that will help expand or build manufacturing facilities that bring jobs back to Main Street America.”

This award brings the HRF’s total allocation to $510 million since the program’s founding in 2003. With its previous awards, HRF has funded more than 50 businesses, creating and retaining over 8,000 jobs.

“In small towns across the heartland, we see incredible potential that just needs the right capital partner,” Walls continued. “These NMTC funds allow us to be that partner.”

HRF plans to use this $85 million NMTC award to deploy capital in manufacturing projects throughout Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

“This award puts us on track to create jobs over the next seven years while increasing economic activity,” Walls added. “It represents families with stable paychecks, communities with renewed hope, and local economies with sustainable growth.”

According to the CDFI Fund, NMTCs generate $8 of private investment for every $1 awarded. They support essential investments in business growth, job creation, and critical community services. This latest award underscores ACC Capital and its affiliate’s strong reputation for deploying capital to innovative and impactful projects, providing critical investments to the people and places that need it most.

About ACC Capital

ACC Capital is a private, nonprofit lending corporation dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs in the nation. ACC Capital offers flexible capital solutions to meet the unique needs of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and community development projects, emphasizing serving low-income, minority, and rural communities. Since 1957, ACC has partnered with commercial banks, government agencies, and others at local, state, regional, and national levels to deploy over $2.34 billion in capital financing. Learn more at https://acccapital.com.

About Heartland Renaissance Fund

Founded in 2003, Heartland Renaissance Fund is an affiliate of ACC Capital and is a certified CDE focused on revitalizing underserved communities across the American heartland. The organization has deployed over $425 million in NMTC and other community development financing, supporting projects that have created more than 8,000 jobs and leveraged $1 billion in total community investment. Heartland Renaissance Fund specializes in manufacturing and small business development in rural and small metropolitan areas across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.

Contacts

Media Contact
Isabella Barnello
Marketing Coordinator
ibarnello@acccapital.com
501-374-9247

LITTLE ROCK, AR — [May 2025] – ACC Capital is proud to announce the official launch of the ACC Capital Foundation, its 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm, formerly known as the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation. With a renewed mission and expanded scope, the Foundation is poised to become a leading force in entrepreneurship education.

Originally founded in 1999, the Foundation has a long-standing legacy of promoting entrepreneurship. In 2001, it launched the Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition for higher education students and later the Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase (Y.E.S.), a business plan competition for 5th through 8th grade students. Over the past two decades, the Foundation has awarded more than $3 million in cash prizes and inspired the next generation of business leaders, impacting 13,404 students across the state of Arkansas. Other past efforts include Connect Arkansas, an early effort to promote broadband adoption in rural parts of Arkansas, and the Venture Forum, an effort to connect early-stage companies with angel and institutional investors. The Foundation was also one of the early supporters of the Accelerate Arkansas initiative and the UAMS Bioventures.

As the ACC Capital Foundation enters its next chapter, its mission has increased beyond competitions to become a comprehensive entrepreneurship support organization with a nationwide footprint. The Foundation will offer a broad range of programs designed to build capacity among students, faculty, and institutions of higher education, while also equipping emerging entrepreneurs with the tools and resources needed to launch and grow successful ventures.

Among its recent programs is the EDGE Initiative, which connects higher education faculty and staff across disciplines and regions to collaborate on entrepreneurship programming and curriculum. To date, the program has engaged over 100 faculty members through its annual summit and continues to grow. Looking ahead, the Foundation will launch new efforts to create clearer pathways to market for student participants in business plan competitions and broaden educational opportunities for entrepreneurs beyond the classroom.

“The ACC Capital Foundation is a natural extension of our mission to support entrepreneurs at every stage, anywhere in the United States, from students just discovering their potential to founders ready to launch and grow.” Said Sam Walls, III, CEO of ACC Capital. “By investing in talent development and educational programming, the Foundation strengthens the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem of our region. It directly aligns with our goals of expanding economic opportunity and increasing access to capital, creating pathways for more people to participate in and contribute to our nation’s economic growth.”

To lead this renewed vision, ACC Capital has named Tiffany Henry as Executive Director of the ACC Capital Foundation. Formerly a Vice President at ACC Capital, Henry brings deep experience in entrepreneurship education and ecosystem development. While initially focused

on Arkansas and neighboring states, the Foundation plans to scale its programs nationally by 2027, aligning with ACC Capital’s broader mission.

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About ACC Capital Foundation

Founded in 1999 as the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation, the ACC Capital Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship through education, competitions, and support programs. As part of ACC Capital, the Foundation empowers students, faculty, and emerging entrepreneurs with tools and resources to launch and grow successful ventures. Learn more at https://acccapital.com.

LITTLE ROCK, AR – February 18, 2025 –   The Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition, Arkansas’ premier student entrepreneurship competition, is pleased to announce that Miles Stephens and John Stephens, newly announced Co-Chief Executive Officers of Stephens, will participate in the 25^th Anniversary award luncheon on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Little Rock, Arkansas.

“Warren Stephens was the inaugural speaker of this event 25 years ago and has been a tireless advocate for entrepreneurship and capitalism,” said Sam Walls III, CEO of Arkansas Capital.  “We are honored to have Miles and John join us to share their views on these subjects as the next generation of Stephens leadership at this anniversary event.”

Founded in 1957, Arkansas Capital Corporation (ACC) is a mission-driven nonprofit financial institution dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, small business growth, and economic development. Through lending programs, strategic resources, and educational initiatives, ACC provides businesses with the tools they need to thrive, particularly in underserved communities.

Since its inception, the Governor’s Cup has helped launch and accelerate the careers of more than 3,250 students, awarding over $2.9 million in cash prizes and supporting business creation, commercialization, and innovation across the state. The competition continues to serve as a catalyst for entrepreneurial success, providing university students with a real-world platform to pitch and develop their business ideas.

The 25th Anniversary Awards Luncheon will bring together students, business leaders, past winners, and community stakeholders to celebrate the impact and future of entrepreneurship in Arkansas. For more information about the Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition, visit www.argovernorscup.org.

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Arkansas Capital Corporation is a private, nonprofit special project finance company formed in 1957. Through its affiliates and subsidiaries, Arkansas Capital partners with commercial banks, small businesses, and others from the private and public sectors to create and preserve employment opportunities and stimulate economic development in Arkansas and its bordering states. In addition, Arkansas Capital facilitates entrepreneurial development in students through programs like the Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition and the Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase.

Mr. Miles Stephens was appointed Co-Chief Executive Officer of Stephens Inc. on January 7, 2025. Mr. Stephens had been the President and CEO of Stephens Insurance before becoming Co-CEO at Stephens Inc. Prior to his role at Stephens Insurance, Mr. Stephens served as a Senior Vice President in the Investment Banking division of Stephens Inc., where he advised mid-to-large sized businesses with a focus on the Energy and Auto Retail sectors. Before joining Stephens Inc., Mr. Stephens held research positions at Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management and Lehman Brothers. Mr. Stephens is a graduate of Dartmouth College and received his MBA from Columbia Business School. He is currently a director of Vanguard Truck Centers, LLC.

Mr. John Stephens was appointed Co-Chief Executive Officer of Stephens Inc. on January 7, 2025. Mr. Stephens most recently served as a Managing Director and member of the Family Advisory Services Group at Stephens Inc. Prior to that role, Mr. Stephens was an Associate Director of Stephens Europe, where he has served on the Management Committee since 2019, and previously had been part of the Consumer Investment Banking team at Stephens Inc. in New York, NY. Mr. Stephens began his career as an equity analyst for Stephens Investment Management Group based in Houston, TX. As an analyst he assisted four portfolio managers across all industry sectors in their research of small and mid-cap domestic growth equities. Mr. Stephens is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and received his MBA from Columbia Business School. He serves on the Investment Committee for Firethorn Trust, a London based real estate firm. Mr. Stephens also earned the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Fayetteville and Little Rock, Ark.- August 29, 2024 – Arkansas Capital is excited to partner with Startup Junkie and its newest program ARise for the Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition. Dhu Thompson, Owner of US Irrigation and Former Owner/President of Delta Plastics and Revolution Bag,  returns as the Title Sponsor for the 25th year of the program. Startup Junkie and ARise join as the sponsor for the High Growth Technology Graduate Division for the first time after launching their new program in June 2024. 

“Arkansas Capital has positively impacted thousands of student entrepreneurs through the Governor’s Cup competition, thanks to the generous support of our partners and sponsors. We are excited to enhance this impact through our new partnership with Startup Junkie and ARise, which will provide additional support and coaching opportunities for all participating students and teams,” added Sam Walls III, CEO, of Arkansas Capital.  

“We are thrilled to partner with the Governor’s Cup this year. Sponsoring the High Growth Technology Graduate Division is the perfect opportunity for our new ARise program as it is specifically designed to support Arkansas innovators, startups, and entrepreneurs engaged in tech and tech-enabled ventures,” said Jeff Amerine, Startup Junkie Founder and Co-Director of the ARise program. 

Arkansas Capital is focused on increasing participation by students and institutions across the state. To make the program more accessible and support early-stage startups in the Natural State, Startup Junkie and ARise will lead training workshops to strengthen student teams’ oral presentation and elevator pitch skills. Additionally, Startup Junkie and ARise are offering free coaching services to help students prepare for the competition. ARise’s advanced subject matter expert network will also be available to provide insight, answer questions, and assist Governor’s Cup teams. 

The Governor’s Cup is open to undergraduate students from two- and four-year institutions in Arkansas, as well as graduate students from Arkansas and surrounding states. Startup Junkie and ARise’s workshops and coaching are available to students in all competition divisions. Following the competition, ARise’s services will continue to be available to any Arkansas-based tech and tech-enabled companies as part of their long-term program to grow Arkansas’ economy through entrepreneurial support and services. The 2025 all-cash prize pool is $144,000. 

For more information on the Governor’s Cup, visit www.argovernorscup.com, and to learn more about Startup Junkie and ARise, visit arisearkansas.org. Photos from the 2024 Governor’s Cup can be accessed here. ###

Arkansas Capital Corporation is a private, nonprofit special project finance company formed in 1957. Through its affiliates and subsidiaries, Arkansas Capital partners with commercial banks, small businesses, and others from the private and public sectors to create and preserve employment opportunities and stimulate economic development in Arkansas and its bordering states. In addition, Arkansas Capital facilitates entrepreneurial development in students through programs like the Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition and the Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase. 

Startup Junkie is a mission-driven organization that exists to improve lives through innovation and entrepreneurship. With a goal to stimulate economic growth in the region, the organization provides a variety of services including mentorship, consulting, training, and more. Startup Junkie has an extensive network of partners and professionals that are dedicated to enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northwest Arkansas. The organization has served thousands of entrepreneurs and small business owners through one-on-one consulting, curated programs and over 200 events a year.

ARise – Arkansas Innovators, Startups, and Entrepreneurs – is on a mission to empower tech ventures in Arkansas to scale up, create high-wage employment opportunities, and drive world-class technological innovation throughout the state. This is a collaborative initiative funded by the Arkansas Economic Development Organization and led by Startup Junkie. ARise is dedicated to empowering tech ventures in Arkansas through consulting and coaching, capital access, a subject matter expert network, industry connections, and ecosystem resources.

It was a year of firsts for the Governor’s Cup, a collegiate business plan competition hosted by Arkansas Capital Corporation and sponsored by Dhu Thompson. Team Thinking CAPZ from Philander Smith University took first place in the high growth undergraduate division becoming the first HBCU to win in the competition. Thinking CAPZ is an AI-powered educational platform tailored to the unique needs of neurodiverse students. 

“Leading the ‘Thinking CAPZ’ team to first-place victory at the Arkansas Governor’s Cup was an incredibly heartwarming experience,” says Chinwe Uwolloh, Thinking CAPZ team leader. “This isn’t just a win for us; it’s also a win for countless students who need their learning experiences tailored perfectly for them.”

This was the first year of Arkansas Capital’s EDGE Initiative which aims to provide Education to Develop and Grow Entrepreneurs. Taking an intentional approach to student outreach and recruitment, applications for the 2024 Governor’s Cup increased by 65% from the previous year.

The University of Central Arkansas took first place in the small business division with the team Arkansas REM (Real Estate Media), a title UCA last held in 2008. Arkansas REM is a full service real estate media business with the focus of getting more eyes on real estate listings. Team leader Grant Cunningham is an active participant in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. “Arkansas Governor’s Cup was such a special event to be a part of. It helped me dive into my business, learn about other innovative ideas in Arkansas, and hear from excellent speakers and judges!” Cunningham said of his experience in the competition.

2024 was the first year the high-growth graduate division was open to institutions in the states that surround Arkansas. Despite a fierce challenge from second-place winner Samtracs, LLC of Oklahoma State University, the University of Arkansas retained its title of high growth graduation division first-place winner. Team ProPika helps fuel producers leverage billions of tons of agricultural waste through their patented membrane technology. 

ProPika CEO Nhiem Cao says of the Governor’s Cup, “Arkansas Governor’s Cup was a truly inspiring event. The diverse field of competitors exemplified an equitable environment of inclusiveness. The spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship could be felt throughout the competition. We are very inspired by the experience and grateful for the connections. The contacts and relationships we made throughout the event improve our chances of success.”

Winners were announced at an awards banquet which included elevator pitches from nine finalist teams. Elevator pitch winners included Sapien Financial from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, DevelopIQ from the University of Arkansas, and Hidalga Technologies from the University of Arkansas.

The Governor’s Cup is made possible through committed sponsors and large community support. Title sponsor Dhu Thompson celebrated his twentieth year of Governor’s Cup involvement and served as keynote speaker for the 2024 event. Other generous sponsors include the Walton Family Foundation, Winrock Enterprise Ecosystem, Winrock Automotive, and Dillard’s.
To learn more about the Governor’s Cup and see the full list of winners visit www.argovernorscup.org.

Arkansas Capital Corporation, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to fostering economic empowerment, has proudly announced its strategic investment of $100,000 in Cadron Capital Partners Fund II. This forward-looking fund is designed to invest in growth-oriented technology and technology-enabled ventures, focusing on visionary entrepreneurs committed to addressing global challenges through disruptive solutions.

Cadron Capital Partners Fund II is at the forefront of supporting product, process, and industry innovators who are dedicated to solving key problems facing the world today. The fund’s mission aligns seamlessly with Arkansas Capital Corporation’s commitment to economic development and empowerment, emphasizing the transformative potential of technology-enabled ventures.

“Our investment in Cadron Capital Partners Fund II reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting growth-oriented ventures that have the power to bring about positive change,” said Sam Walls, CEO of Arkansas Capital Corporation. “By backing entrepreneurs who are developing disruptive solutions to global challenges, we aim to contribute to a more inclusive and innovative future.”

Cadron Capital Partners Fund II actively seeks ventures that demonstrate a commitment to innovation in products, processes, and industries. The fund’s focus on creating lasting, positive impacts aligns with the values of Arkansas Capital Corporation, reinforcing their shared dedication to making a difference.

“We are thrilled to welcome Arkansas Capital Corporation as a partner in our mission to support visionary entrepreneurs driving innovation in the technology sector,” said Jeff Standridge, Co-Founder and General Partner at Cadron Capital Partners Fund II. “Their investment not only strengthens our ability to identify and nurture disruptive solutions but also enhances our collective impact on the challenges we face globally.”

This collaboration between Arkansas Capital Corporation and Cadron Capital Partners Fund II represents a significant step forward in leveraging financial resources for the greater good, fostering economic development, and empowering entrepreneurs in the technology and innovation space.

About Arkansas Capital Corporation: ACC is a private, nonprofit special project finance company formed in 1957 by Winthrop Rockefeller and other business leaders in Arkansas who saw the need to transform the state from an agricultural-dominated economy to a more diverse commercial economy. Through its affiliates and subsidiaries, Arkansas Capital partners with commercial banks, small businesses, and others from the private and public sectors to create and preserve employment opportunities and stimulate economic development in Arkansas and its bordering states. Since its creation, Arkansas Capital and its partners have deployed more than $2.34 billion to small businesses and economic development projects. Arkansas Capital is certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution and by the Arkansas State Bank Department as an Economic Development Enterprise. These certifications affirm Arkansas Capital’s commitment to serving all communities, including unserved and underserved areas. For more information please visit https://acccapital.com/.

About Cadron Capital Partners: Cadron Capital Partners stands at the forefront of venture capital excellence, rooted in the dynamic landscape of Arkansas. Our distinctive edge lies in our unparalleled early access to prime deal flow, a testament to our close and responsive relationships with top-tier venture capitalists, entrepreneurial support entities, major investors, and key community stakeholders. We actively pursue trailblazing companies experiencing exponential growth, leveraging our seasoned team’s track record of overseeing numerous successful exits, including standout Arkansas entities such as Apptegy and Teslar Software. Now navigating Fund II, our mission is to curate a high-impact portfolio of innovative, rapidly advancing ventures. For a deeper insight into our transformative approach, visit us at https://www.cadroncapital.com/.

Arkansas Capital Corporation CEO Sam Walls III has been appointed to the Consumer Advisory Board with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB describes the Consumer Advisory Board as “a crowdsourced group of experts on consumer protection, consumer financial products or services, community development, fair lending, civil rights, underserved communities, and communities that have been significantly impacted by higher-priced mortgage loans. They are a source of market intelligence and expertise for us, and also advise and consult us on our work. The board helps inform us about emerging practices or trends in the consumer finance industry, and shares analysis and recommendations. They are charged with identifying and assessing the impact of emerging products, practices, or services on consumers and other market participants.”

“I am honored to serve the CFPB in this advisory role,” says Walls. “Arkansas Capital is committed to providing equitable access to capital resources, and the Consumer Advisory Board will allow us to continue to fulfill our mission of supporting underserved entrepreneurs.”

Walls is one of 13 advisory board members who were all recommended by a president of a Federal Reserve Bank.

Company is One of Three in the Nation to be Licensed After 40 Year Hiatus
Licenses Granted Only to SBA 7A Lenders Focused on Historically Underserved Markets

Little Rock, Ark. – Arkansas Capital Corporation, a partner of the SBA since the late 1950s working to provide long-term funding options to hundreds of small businesses throughout the state, today was named by the SBA as one of three new Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) licensees – the first expansion of the SBLC program in 40 years.

The SBLC designation will now allow Arkansas Capital to expand SBA 7a lending services nationwide. Initially, the company will focus on the states bordering Arkansas that contain nearly 40 percent of all persistent poverty counties nationwide. Persistent poverty counties are those with 20 percent or more residents living in poverty consistently for 30 or more years.

Since 2019, more than half of Arkansas Capital’s SBA lending has gone to businesses based in persistent poverty counties.

“For over thirty years, we have used the SBA 7(a) program to support small businesses in underserved areas of Arkansas where accessing capital is uniquely cumbersome,” said Arkansas Capital CEO Sam Walls. “Arkansas Capital has bolstered regional economic development, but now with this SBLC license, we can widen our SBA 7(a) footprint as well, expanding our services to rural and poverty-stricken areas in the South to start. We are honored that the SBA chose Arkansas Capital as one of the three recipients of this license, and we look forward to working with the SBA in the years to come as we seek to break down barriers to accessing affordable, reliable capital.”

SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman echoed Walls’s comments in today’s announcement. “Persistent barriers to capital, especially small dollar loans, still pose a challenge to many of the entrepreneurs who power our economy. The expansion of the SBA’s SBLC program after more than forty years is a monumental step forward in this crucial effort … the SBA will be able to serve even more small business owners who need capital to start, operate, and grow their businesses.”

SBLC licensees can utilize government guarantees to borrowers in all 50 states when underwriting small business loans to reduce the level of risk to the lender – and the cost to the borrower. Small business owners interested in Arkansas Capital’s SBA financing options are encouraged to visit the company’s website at arcapital.com/lendingservices, or call 501-374-9247.

To see the announcement from the SBA, click here.

Credits to be deployed into federally-qualified low-income communities in Arkansas and border states

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Heartland Renaissance Fund (HRF), a subsidiary of Arkansas Capital Corporation, has been awarded a new $50 million allocation of federal New Markets Tax Credits (NMTCs) from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund.  This award brings HRF’s total allocation of NMTCs to $425 million since the NMTC program began in 2003. Over this time, HRF’s credits have produced more than 3,500 direct jobs and over 11,500 indirect jobs in rural and underserved communities.

Arkansas Capital’s CEO, Sam Walls, says NMTCs are a critical part of Arkansas Capital and HRF’s work to deploy capital into historically underinvested areas and have been the catalyst for several transformative projects. These include:

• a 3.46 megawatt solar farm that powers all the city and county offices in a rural community;
• a full-service grocery store in a USDA-designated “food desert” that had not had a grocery store since 1993;
• headquarters of a nonprofit organization serving developmentally disabled adults;
• renovation and rehabilitation of a historic building in downtown Little Rock, pairing NMTCs with state historic tax credits;
• LEED-certified rehabilitation of a long-abandoned brownfield facility for a state-of-the-art corporate headquarters and manufacturing operation in a highly-distressed census tract;
• expansion and new equipment for a company manufacturing graphite electrodes for electric arc furnaces used in the steel production industry; 
• a startup biomass fuel facility;
• expansion of a homeless shelter to double its transitional housing capacity and expand workforce training services; and,
• purchase equipment for a rural manufacturing facility owned by a federally recognized tribe.

Walls noted that the NMTC program is a perfect opportunity for investors to use tax credits to put investments into the most underserved census tracts throughout Arkansas and its bordering states.  “We are continually looking for impactful projects, especially in low-income areas, where local officials are struggling to find capital for projects to grow their economies, provide jobs, and, overall, increase the well-being of their communities,” he said.

Walls emphasized that successful deployment of NMTCs is not possible without partners from both the public and private sectors, noting “Partnerships are key. We must rely on these local, state, and regional officials to give us guidance on what projects are needed in their communities; the projects that have the most impact and are best for the long term health of the community.”

According to the CDFI Fund, NMTCs generate $8 of private investment for every $1 awarded. They support essential investments in business growth, job creation, and critical community services. This latest award underscores Arkansas Capital’s strong reputation for deploying capital to innovative and impactful projects, providing critical investments to the people and places that need it most.

ACC has entered into a new partnership with Economics Arkansas, a non-profit that trains Arkansas K-12 teachers to integrate economic and personal finance principles into their classrooms. This partnership will increase the growth and participation of the Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase (Y.E.S.), a business plan competition for 5th through 8th grades established by ACC in 2006. 

“Y.E.S. has been a huge success in the state, reaching more than 9,800 Arkansas youth and awarding more than $124,000 in cash prizes to teachers and students,” ACC CEO Sam Walls said. “This partnership with Economics Arkansas will build upon the program’s success with a renewed intentionality to engage teachers and students in our state’s most rural communities.”

Y.E.S. supports the development of young entrepreneurs through a competition that evaluates the best business plan, most innovative idea, best retail display, and best marketing piece. The partnership enables ACC to serve as the program sponsor and Economics Arkansas to lead programmatic execution.

“Through this collaboration, we have the opportunity to expand our commitment to entrepreneurship education for students,” shares Kathleen Lawson, Executive Director of Economics Arkansas. “The Y.E.S. competition is an engine for fostering innovation, igniting youth ambitions, and driving home our mission of economic education for all students.”

The application window for Y.E.S. opens in October with winners expected to be announced in January 2024.

Economics Arkansas is a private, nonprofit, non-partisan educational organization founded in 1962 by Dr. Arch Ford and led by Dr. Bessie B. Moore to promote economic literacy in Arkansas. Its mission is to equip PreK-12 schools with standards-based resources and professional development to teach economics, personal finance, and the free-enterprise system using practical, innovative, and inspiring methods so that Arkansas students may master an understanding of economics and personal finance and apply that knowledge for success in the free-enterprise system.

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