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2000 Best Practice AwardsProgram and Geographical Winners: Arkansas
Best Practice: Jacksonville Business Incubator
Program
Jacksonville Program Offers Small Business
Training Classes
Jacksonville.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) places the failure rate of small
businesses in Arkansas well above 50 percent. The Jacksonville Business
Incubator Program stimulates the growth of small businesses to create employment
for low- to moderate-income individuals and give new entrepreneurs a good
foundation for success. The program provides six weeks of concentrated business
training classes and seminars for enrolled individuals and technical assistance
for a two-year incubation period during the start-up of small businesses.
They are contractually committed to hire at least one low-income resident.
Graduates may apply for loans up to $5,000, secured by purchased equipment,
to assist with start-up operations. A grant up to $3,000 may also be awarded
to program graduates to assist with hiring and training persons from low-
to moderately low-income households within the city. A minimum one-year
employment for hired trainees is required. Last year, the program graduated
23 entrepreneurs; 15 started their own business in the community and this
resulted in the creation of 14 jobs.
Contact: Frank Rowland, Phone: (501) 982-6702
Tracking Number: 2577
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: Renaissance of a Public Housing
Project, Ragon Homes
City Renovates Ragon Homes
Fort Smith.
With a population of approximately 80,000, Fort Smith is the second largest
city in Arkansas and affordable housing developments are in short supply.
One development, Ragon Homes, was a crime-infested haven of drug dealers
and gangs. The vacancy rate was about 50 percent and it was hardly a healthy
environment in which to live and raise families. Determined to change this
environment, the Fort Smith Housing Authority and the City of Fort Smith
worked in concert to eliminate crime, renovate the physical plant, provide
residents with opportunities to improve their quality of life and establish
an atmosphere that would allow families to grow and thrive in the project.
Initiatives included computer and Internet training, GED tutoring, resident-operated
business enterprises, parenting classes, youth programs, drug counseling,
resident patrols, and Head Start. Ragon Homes was transformed into a development
that offered its residents a decent quality of life in a family atmosphere
and real opportunities to become contributing, self-sufficient citizens.
As a result, occupancy runs between 98 and 100 percent.
Contact: Charles Blevins, Phone: (501) 324-6375
Tracking Number: 256
Winning Category: Program (Community Builder)
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Content Archived: April 20, 2011 |