We all know how important small businesses is to the culture, feel, and success of Little Rock and all its residents. Whether someone is looking for an electrician to light their dream home, enjoying a lunch at their favorite food truck, or hiring hospitality staff to celebrate a special occasion, small businesses answer the call.

We want to support small business creation in Little Rock, and that’s why I want to invite you to apply for selection to our third cohort of BUILD Academy. 

We know that starting a small business is not easy, especially for minority entrepreneurs who live in underserved areas in our community. As a former banker, I’ve seen firsthand some of the obstacles entrepreneurs face. Credit issues can make it hard to qualify for a loan. Learning and targeting your ideal customer isn’t always intuitive. Differentiating your business from your competitors can be difficult.

Helping entrepreneurs overcome these obstacles led to the creation of BUILD Academy in 2021. BUILD stands for Businesses United in Leadership Development, and I see BUILD as the City's overall small business development and support strategy. We must be united as we work together to support entrepreneurship and economic growth throughout Little Rock. 

BUILD Academy is a 12-week incubator that walks local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs through topics pertaining to business essentials. Each week covers a different topic like defining your company, conducting market and industry analysis, operations, and finance.

The curriculum culminates with a pitch competition with startup funding going to the winners. By the time graduation rolls around, participants graduate with all the elements of a business plan and connections with local professionals to help get their business off the ground. Also included upon graduation is a business essentials package with perks like a fee-free business bank account.

Our vision is that BUILD Academy acts as a front door to entrepreneurship in Little Rock. It’s the first step in starting a small business, not the final chapter. BUILD Academy graduates have gone on to compete and win pitch competitions and participate in other business development programs. In this way, we seek to be collaborative and unite the business development behind entrepreneurs in Little Rock.

Applications are open until tomorrow, Tuesday, January 31 for our cohort starting in March. You can apply here. If you have an idea to start a business or are looking to grow your side hustle into a full time job, please join the movement and help us BUILD together!

• The Little Rock Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 4 p.m. has been cancelled due to inclement weather. The next Board Meeting will be on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock Facebook and YouTube pages. To view the agenda, click here. 
• A public meeting will be held Thursday, Feb. 2, at 5:30 p.m., to discuss planned improvements to Zion Street in Ward 6. The meeting is at the West Central Community Center, 8616 Col. Glenn Road.
• Residents may receive a Municipal ID on Friday, Feb. 3, from 7:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Chicot Elementary School. No appointments are necessary. To qualify for a municipal ID, you must be a Little Rock resident 14 or older with at least two forms of identification. The cost is $10. Chicot Elementary School is located at 11100 Chicot Rd, Mabelvale, AR 72103.