ASBTDC August 2025 Initiative Report: Fostering Sustainable Economic Growth through Small Business Development

Executive Summary

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) at Arkansas State University has scheduled a series of strategic initiatives for August 2025. These events are designed to provide critical support to small businesses and entrepreneurs in areas of funding, growth, and marketing. This report outlines the scheduled activities and their direct contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The ASBTDC’s programming is fundamentally aligned with fostering sustainable local economies. The August initiatives will directly support the following SDGs:

• SDG 4: Quality Education: By offering specialized seminars and masterclasses, ASBTDC provides accessible vocational and entrepreneurial training, equipping business owners with essential skills for success.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The core mission of ASBTDC is to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. By empowering small businesses, the center facilitates job creation, encourages entrepreneurship, and enhances economic productivity within local communities.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The focus on technology, marketing, and business growth supports the development of resilient infrastructure and fosters innovation. The “Online Reviews” masterclass specifically addresses the need for businesses to adapt to modern digital infrastructure.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: Offering these high-value consulting sessions and seminars at no cost removes financial barriers, ensuring that entrepreneurs from all economic backgrounds have the opportunity to access resources for business development.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative is made possible through multi-stakeholder partnerships with financial institutions and regional development districts, demonstrating a collaborative approach to achieving sustainable development objectives.

Core Support Services

ASBTDC provides confidential, one-to-one guidance to entrepreneurs, focusing on key areas essential for sustainable business operations:

• Business Planning
• Financial Analysis
• Market Research
• Loan Packaging
• Growth and Expansion Strategy
• Marketing and Profitability Analysis

Schedule of August 2025 Development Activities

1. Consulting Sessions in Cave City
   • Date: Tuesday, August 5
   • Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
   • Location: City Hall, 120 East Spring St., Cave City
   • Lead: Laura Miller, Director of ASBTDC
2. Consulting Sessions in Paragould
   • Date: Tuesday, August 12
   • Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
   • Location: Generating Innovative Network, 200-212 N. Pruett St., Paragould
   • Lead: Robert Bahn, ASBTDC Business Consultant
3. Consulting Sessions in Batesville
   • Date: Wednesday, August 13
   • Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
   • Location: Batesville Chamber of Commerce, 409 Vine St., Batesville
   • Lead: Laura Miller, Director of ASBTDC
4. Seminar: “Starting a Business in Arkansas”
   • Date: Thursday, August 14
   • Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
   • Location: The Tech Depot, 209 Hazel St., Newport
   • Lead: Laura Miller, Director of ASBTDC
5. Seminar: “Starting a Business in Arkansas”
   • Date: Wednesday, August 20
   • Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
   • Location: Black River Technical College, 1410 Highway 304 East, Pocahontas
   • Lead: Destiny Adams, ASBTDC Business Consultant
6. Masterclass: “Online Reviews: Unfiltered Feedback”
   • Date: Thursday, August 21
   • Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
   • Location: Judd Hill Farmers’ Market, 3350 Aggie Rd.
   • Details: A partnership with Atwill Media to enhance digital presence, directly supporting SDG 9.
7. Webinar: “20 Ways to Market Your Business”
   • Date: Wednesday, August 27
   • Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
   • Presenter: Melissa Forziat

Strategic Partnerships (SDG 17)

The provision of these events at no cost is a direct result of strategic partnerships with mission co-sponsors, exemplifying the collaborative spirit of SDG 17. Partners include:

• First Community Bank
• FNBC Bank
• East Arkansas Planning & Development District
• Bank OZK
• First Security Bank
• Capital CDC
• Simmons Bank
• Northeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Authority

Registration Information

While all events are offered at no charge, registration is required to ensure resource allocation. Interested parties must register by calling 870-972-3517. Further information on ASBTDC services is available at https://asbtdc.org/jonesboro/.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

• SDG 4: Quality Education – The article highlights educational opportunities such as seminars, a masterclass, and a webinar designed to provide entrepreneurs with relevant vocational and business skills.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The core focus of the article is on supporting small businesses through guidance on funding, growth, and marketing, which directly promotes entrepreneurship and contributes to local economic growth.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The initiative supports small-scale enterprises by providing assistance with business planning, market research, and access to financial services (loan packaging), fostering innovation and their integration into the market.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article explicitly mentions a multi-stakeholder partnership involving a university (Arkansas State University), a public development district, and several private sector banks and companies to deliver these services.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.

   • The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) is described as providing “one-to-one confidential guidance to business owners and entrepreneurs.”
   • Its primary areas of assistance directly support this target, including “business planning, financial analysis, market research, loan packaging, growth and expansion, marketing and profitability.”
   • The seminars titled “Starting a Business in Arkansas” are a direct effort to encourage entrepreneurship.

2. Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

   • The ASBTDC offers several events to build skills, such as the “Starting a Business in Arkansas” seminar, the “Online Reviews: Unfiltered Feedback” masterclass, and the “20 ways to Market your Business” webinar.
   • These sessions are designed to equip current and prospective business owners with practical skills in marketing, online presence management, and business fundamentals.

3. Target 9.3: Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.

   • The article states that ASBTDC assists with “loan packaging,” which directly relates to increasing access to financial services and credit.
   • Assistance with “market research” and “marketing” helps small businesses integrate into markets, as exemplified by the masterclass on “forming and maintaining an online presence” and the webinar on marketing strategies.

4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

   • The article demonstrates a clear public-private partnership. The ASBTDC is part of a public university (Arkansas State University).
   • The events are made available at “no cost thanks to mission co-sponsors,” which include multiple private banks (First Community Bank, FNBC Bank, Bank OZK, First Security Bank, Simmons Bank), a private company (Atwill Media), and a public development district (East Arkansas Planning & Development District).

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. For Target 8.3:

   • The article implies that the number of businesses and entrepreneurs assisted is a key metric. The text notes, “Spots are limited for consulting sessions,” and requires registration for all events, indicating that the number of participants (representing small businesses) is being tracked.

2. For Target 4.4:

   • The requirement for registration (“To register, call 870-972-3517”) for all seminars, masterclasses, and webinars implies that an indicator of progress is the number of adults who participate in these skill-building events.

3. For Target 9.3:

   • The number of small businesses that receive assistance with “loan packaging” or “marketing” strategies can be inferred as a performance indicator, as these are listed as primary areas of ASBTDC’s work.

4. For Target 17.17:

   • The number and type of partners involved serve as an indicator. The article explicitly lists the partners, including a university, a development district, a media company, and seven different banks, showcasing the breadth of the public-private partnership.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: astate.edu