Small Businesses in Downtown Springdale Connect with U of A for Support and Growth

On August 23, small businesses in downtown Springdale came together to discover the range of resources provided by the University of Arkansas (U of A) for businesses across the state. The Division of Economic Development, in partnership with the Downtown Springdale Alliance, organized a Small Business Cohort at The Medium, a project of CACHE, to showcase the various units and resources offered by U of A to assist small businesses.

The executive director of Downtown Springdale Alliance, Jill Dabbs, expressed her optimism about the event, saying, “The University of Arkansas small business cohort’s presentation to the downtown Springdale small businesses was a remarkable event, filled with immense possibilities. The synergy and collaboration witnessed during this gathering are strong indicators of the prosperous economic development that lies ahead. Together, through shared knowledge and collective efforts, we will pave the way for a thriving future for all.”

The event featured colleagues from different departments of the university who shared information on a wide range of topics. These included complimentary consulting, complimentary market research, opportunities to hire students, creating internship programs, recruiting students on campus, funding for student workers, and workshops offered by the School of Art’s Community Design Clinic.

Among the presenters at the event were Mary Beth Brooks, the center director of Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center; Michelle Pribbernow, the director of career initiatives at the Offices of Career Connections and the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; Donna Smith Jones, the director of recruitment and outreach at the School of Art; and Jason Riley, the Venture Intern Program manager at the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Mike Malone, the vice chancellor for economic development, acknowledged the challenges faced by small business owners when approaching the university for support. He said, “We hear from time to time that people don’t know the best way to approach the university – one participant at this event even said she finds it ‘intimidating’ to think about doing so. Our goal is to make it easier to navigate through events like this that help expose communities to all that we have to offer and how we can help connect them to campus.”

Bill Rogers, the president/CEO of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the importance of the collaboration between U of A and downtown Springdale entrepreneurs for economic growth and profitability. He stated, “This week’s event is the very definition of the chamber’s value to our community. Through our relationships, we were able to convene small business experts at the university with our incredible Downtown Springdale entrepreneurs and begin a conversation we hope will result in economic growth and profitability for these stakeholders. We are seeing phenomenal growth in our downtown economy, and this collaboration is the next step to bigger and better things.”

Dabbs urged the business owners to find a resource at U of A that can help their businesses before the next meeting, emphasizing the importance of leveraging the support and expertise offered by the university.