Arkansas Press Association Paid News Distribution Service
Providing small and emerging businesses in rural communities with the innovative skills, tools, and contacts needed to visualize creative pathways to grow their enterprises and better engage in job creation activities are the goals of an upcoming regional rural business conference to be held in Magnolia, Arkansas.
Funded by the Arkansas Human Development Corporation (AHDC) and USDA RD, with support from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Southern Arkansas University-Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, and Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District, the 2025 Southwest Arkansas Rural Business Development Conference, with a theme of “Revitalizing Rural Communities: Pathways to Business Growth and Success”, will bring together approximately 15 private, quasi-state, state, federal and non-profit organizations to provide participants with needed resources to start new businesses, grow their existing businesses and support their local communities.
Confirmed and/or invited partners include Arkansas APEX Accelerator, City of Magnolia; Columbia County; First Church of God; Life Builders Restoration Church International; Magnolia-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce; Southern Arkansas University; SAU-Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (SAU-ASBTDC); SBA; and more. The conference will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, from 8:30 am – 2:00 pm via Zoom and in-person. In-person participation is limited to 75 at the conference site, which is Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District, 101 Harvey Couch Boulevard, Magnolia, Arkansas 71754. Topics to be covered include but are not limited to building strategic partnerships, evaluating, and securing capital, obtaining technical assistance for your small business, and selling goods and services to the government and corporate sector.
Please join us at 8:30 am for a “Breakfast with the Lenders Roundtable,” where conference participants will network with local, regional, and statewide lenders. Current lenders confirmed and/or invited to participate include Bodcaw Bank, Cadence Bank, Farmers Bank and Trust, FORGE Community Loan, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and USDA Rural Development-Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program. The Lenders Roundtable will be facilitated by Mrs. Megan Whitehead, South Arkansas Regional Director, FORGE Community Loan Fund. Ms. Adriene Brown, Arkansas District Director, Small Business Administration, will be the luncheon speaker.
Do not miss the opportunity to help your community create needed JOBS by learning valuable tools to help your small business unlock pathways to growth and success!
Registration is encouraged to attend this free event. Register by calling Arkansas Human Development Corp. at 800-482-7641 Ext. 0 or online at https://t.ly/KbW_i