RLACC Mission 5 | Your Quarterly Report: Small Business & Entrepreneurial Development

Posted by: Justin Freeman on Friday, May 13, 2022

Our Vision is for the Rogers-Lowell Area to be the center of world-class business, welcoming communities, and opportunities for all. This Vision drives our mission-work.

The Mission 5 Report is a new quarterly report highlighting our results, accomplishments and other outcomes from the Chamber’s efforts to be influencers, catalysts, and conveners: the trusted source for growing business, activating leaders, and building community.

The Chamber’s five key focus areas for its mission-work, called the “Mission 5”, include Economic Development, Community Development, Small Business & Entrepreneurial Development, Advocacy & Government Affairs, and Destination Marketing & Management.

Whether you are an investor in our mission-work through Vision 100 or through membership in the Chamber, or both, you are helping to fuel these important outcomes for the Rogers-Lowell Area. We thank you for your investment in our community’s future and taking time to learn more about our mission-work highlights in this report.

Small Business & Entrepreneurial Development

This mission-work includes curating essential resources for starting, running, and growing business. We open new doors to new business connections for small businesspeople and entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds by delivering educational and networking events. We also listen to our Small Business Council who guides us as the Voice of Small Business and helps understand and represent their needs.

Q1 2022 Highlights:

Staff assisted 64 small businesses seeking resources and assistance in the first quarter. This included providing guidance, mentoring and access to professional help to 38 minority owned business entrepreneurs.
Staff helped 27 entrepreneurs learn “How to Start a Business in Arkansas” presented in Spanish language as part of the Chamber’s quarterly Spanish Seminar Series.
The Chamber partnered with Business and Industry Training to host a 3-part “Soft Skills Certification” program teaching them how to deliver constructive criticism, make better presentations, and improve hiring skills with the available workforce.
Over 230 member businesses took advantage of the Chamber’s business connect events and programs, providing them opportunities to network, build relationships and exchange referrals.
Our Member Engagement Committee conducted 72 visits to Chamber member businesses in the first quarter, surpassing their goal of 66 calls. This dedicated group of 11 business professionals volunteer to help businesses get the most out of their membership by connecting, informing, engaging, and supporting them.
The 100th Annual Celebration of Business & Community was held on March 29 with over 900 business and community leaders attending. The event raised $72,000 ($28,000 over projected budget) to help fund the mission work of the Chamber.