Small Business Resources

Small business owners in the Little Rock region will find many valuable resources for starting and growing their businesses - both from the chamber, local and state-wide agencies.

Spark! Pre-Accelerator

Through a partnership, The Venture Center and the chamber have formed Spark!, a new small business pre-accelerator for businesses in the Little Rock region. Qualifying applicants will be startup companies with traction, full-time company founders and a central Arkansas resident with an annual recurring revenue of at least $50,000. Benefits of the program include the opportunity to pitch at Pitch ‘N Pint, free office space in The Venture Center, deeply discounted parking and conference rooms for meetings. To learn more, please email or call Matthew Bellew, director of existing industry, at wfaulkner@littlerockchamber.com or 501. 377.6014.

Equip Small Business Series

In 2019 we kicked off a new small business series called Equip. This series offers workshops on topics that our small business members voted on in a survey regarding their top business concerns. Learn more >

Chamber On The Go

Chamber On The Go brings services to small businesses on-site. The chamber's director of small business and inclusion makes personal visits to select businesses. The goal of this outreach is to provide on-site assistance to business owners, while at the same time building a healthy and robust business environment throughout the Little Rock region.

AR Story

The chamber started filming a digital media video series called AR Story to spotlight some of our region’s influential business men and women and small businesses that they’ve started that are impacting our area’s economy. AR Story is a unique platform that gives viewers a behind the scenes look at what it likes to be a small business owner, while at the same time giving the company more visibility through social media. See the videos >

U.S. Small Business Administration

The Arkansas District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration is located in Little Rock. Each year, the Arkansas District Office helps to provide about $100 million in loans to small businesses. The office and their SBA-funded partners provide management training and consulting to thousands of entrepreneurs, and they help small business owners pursue contracts from the federal government and prime federal contractors. The Arkansas District Office Resource Guide provides an overview of their programs and success stories. 

Little Rock SCORE

Little Rock SCORE is a chapter of the national SCORE program, a nonprofit organization that seeks to match entrepreneurs with local volunteer mentors. Little Rock SCORE provides free business advice, counseling and workshops to startup entrepreneurs and small business owners.

SCORE mentors are available at the chamber every first and third Tuesday of the month from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A small business or aspiring small business can meet with a  mentor in thirty-minute increments during the two-hour period. The chamber is offering these sessions free of charge. To set your appointment, please call 501.374.2001.

I-Fund at Winrock International

The mission of the Innovation Fund at Winrock (I-Fund) is to positively impact communities throughout Arkansas and the Delta Regional Authority territory. The program seeks to provide a platform for the creation and launch of high-growth companies, spurring economic development and job creation. Learn more >