Union County has several organizations whose mission is to encourage and support entrepreneurship.
Arkansas Department of Workforce Services
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
Arkansas Women's Business Center
SouthArk's Center for Workforce Development
Startup El Dorado Entrepreneur Resouce Center
The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services is dedicated to being Arkansas' preferred provider of workforce services and solutions. Their goal is to enable the Arkansas workforce to compete in the global economy by linking a comprehensive array of services for employers and job seekers. The Department of Workforce Services maintains records on unemployment insurance, employment service, workforce investment activities, and labor market information.
Union County Office Phone: (870) 862-6456 Website: www.dws.arkansas.gov
The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is a university-based economic development program that assists entrepreneurs, both new and seasoned. We help with every aspect of business creation, management, and operation. As the state’s premier business assistance provider, the ASBTDC is dedicated to helping small businesses achieve success and to promoting economic development throughout the state. The Southern Arkansas University SBTDC, located in Magnolia, operates as a regional office of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, a statewide network of seven regional offices located on university campuses throughout the state. Any new venture or existing business may receive assistance from the center. The SAU SBTDC serves the following counties: Calhoun, Columbia, Hempstead, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita and Union.
Contact: Megan Whitehead, Center Director Phone: (870) 235-4007 Email: meganwhitehead@saumag.edu Website: www.asbtdc.org
The Arkansas Women's Business Center (AWBC) is committed to providing technical assistance, training and access to capital services tailored to meet the needs of women business owners. The center is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, a network of more than 100 centers located through the nation. The AWBC through Winrock offers a services and a team of professional consultants provide the following technical and financial assistance to women entrepreneurs: Assess interested companies to ensure disadvantaged entrepreneurs receive support; assess current client capabilities; provide opportunities to participate in training activities; provide business plan development support; develop market feasibility studies; provide mentoring assistance; enhance links to capital investments; and locate federal, state, and local funding assistance. Computers are available for clients to prepare business documents, access online information, and participate in online training activities. In addition, space at the Center is set aside to serve as a business accelerator.
Phone: (870) 864-8429 Email: SKaldem@winrock.org Website: www.winrockusprograms.org/arkansas-womens-business-center
The Arkansas Workforce Center of Southwest Arkansas is a state agency committed to providing employees in Southwest Arkansas with the most up-to-date information available on job openings, training and education programs and labor market statistics.
Phone: (866) 433-1274 Website: www.southwestarworks.org
South Central Arkansas SCORE is part of SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business," a national nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of the nation's small businesses. SCORE provides free and confidential business advice and counseling tailored to meet the needs of your small business and your personal objectives. South Central Arkansas SCORE also offers workshops for a modest fee, for both start-up and in-business entrepreneurs.SCORE volunteers are real-world professionals with time-tested knowledge who donate thousands of hours to help small businesses succeed. Counselors are experts in such areas as accounting, finance, marketing, management and business plan preparation. We have assisted many clients in obtaining business loans.
Phone: (870) 863-6113 Email: score@suddenlinkmail.com
The Center for Workforce Development at South Arkansas Community College serves as a link between the college and area businesses, industries and government agencies. Customized training is developed in response to a specific demand by local business and industry. The center is able to deliver training whenever and wherever it best meets the client's needs.
Contact: Jamie McConathy Phone: (870) 864-7193 Email: jmcconathy@southark.edu
Startup El Dorado Entrepreneur Resource Center is the first of its kind in South Arkansas. SEERC’s mission is to connect entrepreneurs with critical resources that are needed to launch or grow a business.
Phone: (870) 864-8429 Email: skaldem@winrock.org Website: https://www.facebook.com/startup.eldorado
For more information contact brandon@goeldorado.com or call (870) 863-6113