Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center

09/02/2026

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT - Nurse practitioner Nichole McLemore recently opened UP Medical Care, a comprehensive urgent and primary care clinic in Little Rock.

After working in clinics owned by others for more than a decade, she decided to start her own practice.

“The biggest challenge was to find the financial resources to open the clinic and a financial business strategy to know that we would be successful. That is where ASBTDC came in,” she said.

The center's market research and financial advisory services gave Nichole and her husband confidence in their plan.

Nichole was quick to recommend ASBTDC to others looking to start a business in Arkansas.

“ASBTDC is the place to go. Get the business plan and statistical data to make sure your business will thrive. You will not regret taking the extra time and being prepared for what’s ahead,” she said.

➡️Link to Nichole's full startup story: https://asbtdc.org/nurse-practitioner-starts-up-clinic/

(Photos courtesy of UP Medical Care)

09/01/2026

We're hiring! We have openings for a full-time Capital Access Business Consultant based in Fort Smith and a part-time Marketing Assistant based in Little Rock.

Apply now! Details here: asbtdc.org/jobs/

08/27/2026

Julie Salomone thought about opening a business where customers could decorate their own cakes and cookies. She thought about it for over a decade, in fact.

Now, Julie is celebrating Frost Your Cake Studio's first year in business!

“I had the idea for this business concept for 10-plus years but was always afraid to try. I didn’t have or know of the types of resources provided by ASBTDC. I’m so glad to have found them. They helped make my dream a reality,” she said.

One year in, the experience has been a “fun, stressful, and rewarding roller coaster,” according to the first-time business owner.

🧁Check out more of her startup story here: https://asbtdc.org/cake-studio-an-idea-a-decade-in-the-making/

08/25/2026

The Entrepreneurial Law Project is back on the road this fall, providing free legal resources.

Get a no-cost, 30-minute session with one or more pro bono attorneys and ask whatever business law questions are on your mind: entity formation, contracts, tax, employment, all the things that tend to sit on the back burner. You can also submit documents in advance that you would like a lawyer to look over.

➡️Sept. 18 - Little Rock
➡️Sept. 19 - El Dorado

Appointment required. Spots are limited and scheduled in advance, so register early. These are one-time consultations rather than ongoing representation. Think of it as getting a clear answer and a sense of what to do next!

Sign up here: https://entrepreneurship.uark.edu/programs/entrepreneurial-law-project.php

08/10/2026

The winning one-minute pitch at last week's Pitch-N-Pint belonged to Ashley Franke of The Rockin' Chair, an ASBTDC client! Thanks to The Venture Center for providing this opportunity for our local entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas, and congrats to all the top finishers.

08/07/2026

Congrats to ASBTDC client Dr. Kathy Lenahan, the founder and CEO of Alta Integrated Wellness, on a groundbreaking new partnership with World Services for the Blind.

Through the new pilot program, ALTA will provide physical therapy alongside occupational therapy for people who are blind or visually impaired. The goal is to help individuals build the skills and confidence needed for daily life, work, school, and home.

Lenahan and Eric Yarberry, World Services for the Blind president and CEO, launched the partnership with a signing ceremony this week.

ASBTDC is honored to assist Kathy – an Air Force veteran, an occupational therapist, and now an entrepreneur – with growing her Arkansas-based healthcare company.

"It's not easy going from clinician to business owner," she said. "ASBTDC has helped me with a business plan and budget and with market research for my area of practice. My consultant has helped me see a path forward with data and support. I am able to keep moving forward because of the help and support I am receiving from ASBTDC and my advisor, Nicolas."

08/06/2026

Fun to see all the Arkansas businesses and service providers listed here! We are honored to appear in the Entrepreneur Support category.

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07/08/2026

PART-TIME OPENING: We are seeking an Intake and Market Research Assistant.

Engage with prospective entrepreneurs, answer questions about starting and growing a business, and prepare market research that helps Arkansas small businesses make informed decisions.

This is a 20-hour-per-week position at our UA Little Rock office.

Details here: https://asbtdc.org/jobs/

Positions Available LEAD CENTER, UA Little Rock Startup and Capital Readiness Consultant The Startup and Capital Readiness Consultant will assist clients in all facets of starting, managing, and growing a small business, with an emphasis on startup planning, capital readiness, business sustainabilit...

07/02/2026

Fun fact: Buckman Brewhouse, Cabot's first brewpub, traces its roots back to the American Revolution.🍺

Check out their startup story and the role ASBTDC played in bringing the owners' American Dream to life. (Link in comments.)

Happy Independence Day, everybody! Our office will be closed on July 3 as we celebrate America's 250th birthday!

06/23/2026

Big news for the small business community: on July 16, America’s SBDC is hosting its first-ever National AI Day Virtual Summit — a free, live event uniting small business owners, SBDC advisors, and AI innovators nationwide. We’re sharing real stories, practical tools, and measurable results — save the date and register now: https://aiday.americassbdc.org/event-registration?_gl=1%2A1dl3hr2%2A_ga%2AMjExNzc3MTc3MS4xNzIzNDk0NzY3%2A_ga_FPDTHCN46G%2AczE3ODIwODgxMDkkbzI4NCRnMCR0MTc4MjA4ODEwOSRqNjAkbDAkaDA.&chronoform=ai-day-registration