This interview is a bonus episode of the Arkansas Business Navigator podcast featuring Eric Howerton, co-founder of Whyte Spider and Head of Walmart Innovations at Flywheel. This video podcast is a candid conversation about entrepreneurs' emotional wellbeing and emotional intelligence (EQ), and the challenges they face starting and running a business. 

Today's episode is the last one for the Arkansas Business Navigator podcast. Co-hosts, Kamelle Gomez and Brandon L. Mathews linked up to record this episode to share some of the statewide program outcomes, a new funding opportunity that is available for small business owners and entrepreneurs that have been involved with the program anytime during the last we months, and an upcoming day-long workshop on hiring your first employee. This marks our 22 episode on the pod, and we are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to support Arkansans through this project.

***SHOW NOTES***
Arkansas Business Navigator Resource Page

On Ramp Funding Application

Nov 7 HR Event with Glenda Caton Registration (Register by Nov 3 to guarantee lunch. This is a hybrid event.)

Today’s episode features an update from the SBA Office of Advocacy regarding U.S. Department of Labor proposed changes for salaried workers; a review of national disaster resources from SBA; and a round up events were hosting at University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture,  which includes a save the date for a big workshop opportunity about Human Resources, but we’ll get to that later. Let’s dive in.

*** SHOW NOTES***
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Proposed Rule Change
SBA Disaster Preparedness Checklists and Resources

Events
October 2 - Digital Marketing Workshop, Hybrid (in-person and Zoom)
October 23 - Digital Marketing Workshop, Hybrid (in-person and Zoom)
November 7 - Save the Date, HR Workshop with Caton Consulting, LLC, Little Rock, AR

Today's episode features a special focus on small business owners and how developing digital skills can be a game changer for their success. Whether you're a small business owner or just curious about boosting your digital know how stick around because we have some valuable insights for you.

*** SHOW NOTES***

SBA Learning Center 

Ascent 

Google applied skills 

LinkedIn Learning 

MailerLite 

Mailchimp 

Events

Today’s episode covers some changes that happened this month to the SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs and what that means for you. We finally have a date and specific details for the inaugural Arkansas Latino Business Awards. Spoiler Alert, I hear your favorite Latino Food Truck is supposed to get an award... We also have a number of events to cover happening around the state, so stay tuned. 

*** SHOW NOTES*** 

Biden-Harris Administration Launches Small Business Loan Program Improvements to Expand Access to Capital 

Arkansas Latino Business Awards 

Events 

August 29 – AR Biz Assist – Pine Bluff 

September 14 – AR Biz Assist – Harrison 

September 18 - How to Use Your 401(k) or IRA to Start or Buy a Business 

Additional Links    

ABN UADA Website    

Arkansas Business Navigator Podcast     

ABN State Website    

Small Business Administration    

Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center    

In today's episode, we will be discussing the essential steps involved in starting a business successfully. If you're considering embarking on this exciting journey, listen closely as we outline a clear path to your business launch. Then we'll get into events around the state.

*** SHOW NOTES***

SBA Business Guide 

Business New Daily

Events
August 14 - Strategies for Food Service Startups
August 17- AR Biz Assist - Bentonville
August 22 - Small Business Podcast Fundamentals
TBD - Beyond the Idea: Start Ups and their Stories

Additional Links
ABN UADA Website
Arkansas Business Navigator Podcast
ABN State Website
Small Business Administration 
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center  

Today’s episode features a special conversation with Trish Villines of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, and she and I discuss a new resource they developed called Small Business Breaks. We’ll talk about what these are, how to access them, and some of the topics they feature. After that, we’ll take a quick look at a new entrepreneurship training course designed for military spouses and how you can tap into that resource. And finally, we we’ll wrap up with workshops offered through the ABN program. 

 *** SHOW NOTES***
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce Small Business Breaks Video Series
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
Arkansas Economic Developers and Chamber Executives

EVENTS
August TBD - Small Business Podcast Fundamentals
August 8 - Food Service Start Up, Part 1
August 11 - Food Service Start Up, Part 2

Additional Links    

ABN UADA Website    

Arkansas Business Navigator Podcast     

ABN State Website    

Small Business Administration    

Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center    

Kamelle focuses on ways A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) can impact a small business in a meaningful way through customer support, analyzing data, and sales.

*** SHOW NOTES***
10 AI Tools To Run Your Business from A to Z  
7 Different Ways To Use ChatGPT For Your Business

Events
Jul 18 - Small Business Interest Meeting Fordyce
Jul 25 - Start Small Think Big
Aug 8 & 10 - Food Service Start Up
TBD - Latino Business Awards   

Other Resources
ABN UADA Page – https://uaex.uada.edu/abn
Podcast – https://uaex.uada.edu/abnpodcast
ABN State Website – https://arbusinessnavigator.com
SBA Website – https://sba.gov
ASBTDC website – https://asbtdc.org

In Today’s episode, Brandon L. Mathews explores the details of a new law that will change disaster declarations for rural businesses, ASBTDC and ABN are hosting the inaugural Arkansas Latino Business Awards on July 10 in Little Rock, and the ABN Human Resource Guide is available! 

*** SHOW NOTES*** 

SBA Implements Law Enhancing Ability to Declare Disasters and Deliver Support to Rural Communities 

Arkansas Latino Business Awards 

Arkansas Business Navigator Human Resource Guide 

 Events 

Getting Started With Podcasting – July 20 | Virtual 

Additional Links    

ABN UADA Webste   

Arkansas Business Navigator Podcast    

ABN State Website   

Small Business Administration   

Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center   

Kamelle hosts today's episode covering easy social media marketing efforts for your small business, events going on around the State, and feature some Q&A about small business marketing.

***SHOW NOTES***

Essential digital strategies training
 https://uada.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=767f88dc-d9c5-4385-9d4f-af0e0154fd86  

Events
https://asbtdc.org/asbtdc-events/ 

QA segment
https://learn.sba.gov/learning-center-market

ABN UADA Page – https://uaex.uada.edu/abn 

Podcast – https://uaex.uada.edu/abnpodcast 

ABN State Website – https://arbusinessnavigator.com 

SBA Website – https://sba.gov 

ASBTDC website – https://asbtdc.org