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Success Stories 2005 - 2006 Marketing efforts - updates coming soon! Funded projects - updates coming soon!
2004 MED Week 2004 - update coming soon! Minority Economic Development Summit 2004 Photo Gallery
2003
Marketing
Efforts The Arkansas
Minority Business Development Roundtable (AMBDR) enjoyed wonderful
successes during our first year of funding. Much of this success
was due largely to the hard work of its members and staff, and equally
important, was the program’s outreach and marketing efforts. The demonstration
project was jump started with a press conference in October 2002
announcing $209,000 grant funding which was held at the Little Rock
Chamber of Commerce with support from Congressman Vic Sydner, Mr.
John Iglehart, MBDA Regional Director, Mayor Jim Dailey, LR Chamber
Chairman Bob Birch, City Manager Bruce Moore, representatives from
the Governor’s Office, Senator Lincoln’s office, and partnering
resource organizations, and small businesses. The AMBDR consulted
with the local Chamber to design and maintain a website - www.ambdr.org
to promote the Roundtable’s program and to provide a vehicle
to disseminate grant proposals. The project
took its “show on the road” during the 2nd and 3rd Quarters
traveling to Wrightsville, Pine Bluff, West Helena, West Memphis,
Bentonville, Springdale, Conway, and Dardanelle meeting with prospective
grant applicants and spreading the good news of U.S. Department
of Commerce funding. In June 2003,
Roundtable members, along with the executive director traveled to
Miami, Fl and joined MBDA funded projects during a national conference
to share program successes as well as obstacles. EBLS
Student Takes National Honors The U.S. Department
of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency was created to
foster the creation, growth and expansion of minority-owned businesses
in America. They provide assistance to socially or economically
disadvantaged individuals who own or wish to start a business. Each year the MBDA recognize the accomplishments of minority owned firms who have had significant success in their businesses. These successes are celebrated during a week long activities in local, regional, and national conferences. During the national conference, MBDA host an Emerging Business Leaders Summit. This summit prepares and host both high school and college student nationwide to become business leaders or encourage them to seek a business related field. During the summit, students are ask to submit business plans and to compete for national honors. This year’s national winner was Mr. James Ratcliffe, a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Mr. Ratcliffe’s business plan submission was for An Indoors Go Cart. Mr. Ratcliffe is the recipient of a scholarship to Dartmouth and Microsoft Software. The AMBDR joins MBDA in congratulating Mr. Ratcliffe.
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