Promote Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development in Your Community
A Statewide Program to Advance Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development Funded by the AEDC
A Lack of Resources Could Be Stunting Your Community's Economic Growth.
Benefiting Your Community & the Entire State.
Entrepreneurs and small businesses play a vital role in not only Arkansas’ economy but also in the national economy.
Bringing New Job Opportunities to the State
Small businesses and startup companies comprise almost 50% of all employees and 99% of all employers in the United States. Arkansas trends above the national average in both stats.
Creating More Jobs for Your Community
Small businesses and entrepreneurs create approximately 65% of all new jobs in the U.S. and 85% of net new jobs. In fact, they create approximately 4.74 new jobs in their first year and, over the past two decades, have created two times the number of jobs compared to larger companies.
Investment for the Local Economy
Small businesses and startup companies invest $0.67 of every dollar they generate back into their local economy.
Become a Champion for Small Business & Entrepreneurship in Your Community.
75Strong is a statewide program focused on educating, equipping, and deploying economic developers, chamber executives, community leaders, university representatives, and others as entrepreneurial developers who will build capacity across the state for those who serve small businesses and startups.
As a part of this program, you’ll create a strategic plan for your community and/or region to build and foster entrepreneurship. We will also partner with you, the entrepreneurial developer, to provide direct entrepreneurial and business-building support to small businesses from your community.
Grow Your Local Economy
Entrepreneurial development is a vital piece of strategy in economic development, as entrepreneurs and small businesses play a vital role in growing local economies.
Strengthen Your Community
Growing capacity to serve existing and future businesses strengthens the role of your organization in the community and the resources you can provide to business owners.
Become a Certified Expert in Entrepreneurial Growth
By completing this program, you will earn the prestigious Entrepreneurial Development Professional (EDP) certification, recognized by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), establishing you as a leader in economic growth.
Develop a Strategic Plan for New Business Ventures
Through the program, you will create a strategic entrepreneurship plan for your community or region to guide the growth of resources and the development of businesses in your area.
75Strong Program Overview
Entrepreneurial Development Curriculum
Participants will pursue an extensive curriculum that will educate them on how to build entrepreneurial development through the International Economic Development Commission’s (IEDC) Entrepreneurial Development Professional (EDP) credential to bring those resources back to their community.
Frequently Asked Questions
75Strong is open to chamber executives, economic developers, municipal leaders, and university partners in the state of Arkansas, giving preference to those serving in rural areas who are looking to cultivate successful entrepreneurs and small business development in their communities.
The EDP certification is an internationally recognized credential from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). It signifies expertise in entrepreneurial and small business development, elevating your credibility and effectiveness as a community leader.
The program equips participants with the skills and resources to create strategic plans for promoting entrepreneurship and supporting small businesses. This leads to job creation, economic growth, and a thriving local economy.
Thanks to funding from the AEDC, the cost of the program will be an initial $1,500 that will be reimbursed in $500 tranches as participants complete 3 program milestones - when the EDP is completed, when a community entrepreneurship strategic plan is developed, and when the business building curriculum is completed.
30-50 Arkansas-based participants will be accepted.
Preference will be given to:
- Communities or regions with MULTIPLE applicants, making it easier for participants to collaborate to create entrepreneurial development plans within their communities or regions (for example, applicants from communities where a chamber executive, higher education partner, municipal leader, and community developer all apply). We highly recommend recruiting other applicants from your region or community to apply with you.
- Participants from underserved, rural, or under resourced communities or regions.
Individuals who are committed to the program AND willing and capable to deploy an entrepreneurship initiative in their community or region.
- Attend in person meeting dates as needed, the program will be partially virtual and partially in person.
- Complete the EDP curriculum, study, and sit for the EDP exam.
- Participate in Ecosystem Building curriculum and work within their community to develop a strategic plan for entrepreneurial development.
- Recruit 3-5 businesses from their community or region to participate in the business building curriculum.
- Participate in the program for the full 2 years.
- Provide the $1,500 program deposit, which will be reimbursed in 3 $500 tranches over 3 strategic program milestones (i.e. if you complete the program, you will receive the $1,500 back in full).
