Recently Tony Hammack invited me to become a regular contributor to the Voice of Batesville blog to discuss issues on business development 
especially as it impacted small businesses and entrepreneurs. This is a topic that is very near and dear to me and I happily accepted his kind offer. I recently posted a short article on cash flow planning for small businesses, but before I submit any other articles I should take a few minutes to tell you a little about who I am and why I am writing these pieces.I am the Center Director for the Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center, housed in the College of Business on the ASU Jonesboro campus. The ASU SBTDC is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration with matching funds from Arkansas State University. At the ASU SBTDC we have one mission – to encourage economic growth and development for small businesses and entrepreneurs in a 15 county area of Northeast and North Central Arkansas. My staff includes, myself, Herb Lawrence Center Director, Ms. Laura Miller, Business Consultant, Ms. Susan Glasgow Training Coordinator and Lois Travis Administrative Assistant.
At the ASU SBTDC we fulfill our mission through:
· Individualized consulting services to start up and existing businesses –
· Information assistance and market research –
· Small business training seminars.
· Individualized consulting services to start up and existing businesses –
· Information assistance and market research –
· Small business training seminars.
Our consulting services and information assistance is all free of charge and completely confidential. My consultant and I will work with anywhere from 160 to 200 small businesses and entrepreneurs each year providing assistance with business plan development, market feasibility, business financial analysis, business valuations and loan packaging.
We also have a large proprietary database and on line reference library where we can help small business owners get answers to basic question, provide sample business plans, provide information about SBA loan programs, etc. On a typical year the ASU SBTDC will fill over 800 information requests.
Finally we conduct an average of 60 small business training workshops throughout our 15 county area on topics such as Starting A Business in Arkansas, Business Financing Options, Market Research, Guerrilla Marketing, Cash Flow Planning and more.
All of our consulting assistance and information research is completely free and confidential for any small business owner or start up in our territory thanks to our grant from the SBA. Some of our training seminars are also offered at no cost although others do have a registration fee usually between $35 and $49 dollars – basically to cover expenses related to the workshop.
It is not my intention to turn this opportunity to be involved with the Voice of Batesville into a marketing piece, but I did feel that it was important to give readers some background in who I am and how I help businesses succeed. If any readers would like more information about the ASU SBTDC services please feel free to contact me off-line (870) 972-3517, e-mail me at hlawrenc@astate.edu or go to our website http://www2.astate.edu/a/business/sbdc/index.dot for more information. Although my office is in Jonesboro, I am a long time resident of Batesville and generally work out of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce every Wednesday to work with small businesses in Independence County.
IT IS my intention to provide articles that I feel are relevant to small businesses and entrepreneurs on an ongoing basis from issues raised by our clients that should be shared with the larger community especially as they deal with the current economic situation. Here is where
I need reader feedback. After you read my article, there is a “comment” button at the bottom of the article. PUSH IT! Give me feedback. If you agree with the article, give me an “amen”, if you have questions about what was discussed or even disagree, let me know. Suggest other topics that are impacting your business that you would like to see posted, or just ask questions. If I can’t answer it, I will find relevant experts who can also contribute.
The purpose of this blog is to be an interactive and running commentary by and for small businesses in the region on topics that are affecting you and hopefully to help find answers that will keep your business financially healthy. So that means readers should feel free to join in.
Finally, the more folks that subscribe to this blog and join the discussion, the better… the purpose of social media formats like these are to bring people together that have common interests or problems and find solutions. Please feel free to encourage other small business owners, entrepreneurs, economic developers, lenders, etc. who you know in our community to subscribe to The Voice of Batesville and get involved in this blog. I look forward to hearing from all of you and hope you will find this blog enjoyable.
Sincerely,
Herb Lawrence
Posts
The punishment of the arrogance of the U.S.
ReplyDelete"And with a claimed strong voice, saying," Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great room and has become the den of demons and evil spirit throughout, and shelter for all unclean and hateful bird.
Because all nations have drunk the wine of the wrath of fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury. "(Revelation 18,2-3)
During these last several weeks have been negative news to shake the United States.
The material that caused the disaster Hurricane "Ike" in Texas, the collision of two trains occurred in Los Angeles where 10 people died, the financial crisis that is leading to bankruptcy for large companies like Leman Brothers and others, the crisis that still inmobibliaria endures, high inflation and mismanagement of course that President Bush has given the nation, all these things could be classed as "shock" the pride of the American people used to live in waste and wantonness.
And if they join the thousands who died from the attack on the twin towers, or more than a thousand people died from Hurricane Katrina, or the moral degradation that is coming to American society. All this evidence lugubre the scenario that today the United States.
The next president to be elected may not change much this negative reality.
But the Evangelical Church in the United States can not do something to change this, but even when these churches seem more concerned about their property and political alliances that change the poor spiritual reality in the United States.
This nation for many years has shown hostility to Latino immigrants who enter the country, and warfare with other Arab countries especially.
The administration of President Bush is leading the U.S. confrontation with the world, and probably also look to do with God.
The methods used by the anti-American government and also its people's traditional generosity desdicen previously demonstrated the United States, but now seems to show much pride and arrogance.
Of course one can not generalize to all people.
However, the beating that this nation is experiencing both economic and climatic are a clear warning from God that the United States correcting their wrong policies that have for the world.
Otherwise it is likely that in a short time will get from the trial of God over this nation as it sobrevinieron to other countries such as China or Burma.
The true Christian churches in this country should check the distance in a very clear and with more strength to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to avoid being influenced by the prevailing darkness in this nation. A dark and that is affecting many countries.
It is time we hear the voice from heaven speaks to our conscience by saying: "Come out of her, my people, so do not be partakers of her sins, and receive of her plagues, for her sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities. "(Revelation 18,4-5)