News, Events & Blog

409 Vine - Small Business Help

04-Feb-09 09:59

As part of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce's new blog I have been invited to become a regular contributor to discuss issues on business development especially as it impacted small businesses and entrepreneurs.  Before I start submitting articles however 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.   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.

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 Batesville Area Chamber blog 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://sbdc.astate.edu 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.  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

409 Vine - 09 Annual Banquet

04-Feb-09 08:48

The 2009 BACC Annual Banquet & Awards Luncheon is going to be Monday, February 23^rd from 1130am-1pm.  This year, we are honored to have as our key note speaker Jeffery Collins, Partner at Streetsmart, Inc.  Jeffery has a long list of accolades and accomplishments worthy of any Federal Reserve Bank CEO out there.  Jeffery has been quoted and asked to appear on various media outlets, including the BBC, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg USA, Today, and CNN.  His presentation will not disappoint, and its something that we will be blogging from live as he speaks.

Another aspect of our annual meeting is awards, and awarding people who have contributed to the Chamber but that in turn have contributed to the overall economy of our area.  Nominations are still being accepted for the following categories:

Small Business of the Year (20 employees or less)

Business of the Year

Business Person of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

All nominees must be a current Chamber member in good standing.  Please submit all your nominations by Monday, February 16^th, to the Chamber by emailing us or calling us.  Reserved tables of 8 can be purchased for $250, or individual tickets can be purchased at $25 before February 16^th, and $30 after that.

The Annual Banquet & Awards Luncheon will be held on campus at UACCB in Independence Hall.  All of our membership is invited to attend.  At this years banquet, the Chamber will be outlining some of the goals we have set for 2009 and the priorities we will be working on to achieve.  President & CEO Jonah Shumate will outline some of those, along with Chairman Stacy Gunderman.  2009 will prove to be an exciting year, and with the help of our members, it will be one to remember!

This years sponsors of the annual banquet are:

Until we blog again,

The Staff @ 409 Vine

409 Vine - Water Carnival Happenings

03-Feb-09 16:04

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce is also known for having the oldest event in Arkansas, The White River Water Carnival.  This event, held every year in August, is something to behold!  We are having our monthly meeting today, here at the Chamber, and we are looking for people to help with the effort.  Imagine a great community event, coupled with awesome family fun, and you have something that is too fun to miss!

This year marks the 66^th installment of this grand ol' event, and the theme is Route 66!  As always, we will have the Water Carnival Parade and activities throughout the week!  WE NEED YOU to be involved, to be a part of our event, and a part of this community.  Here are just a few things in the hopper about this year's event:

Friday Night Fun:  Activities in Downtown Batesville that will take you back a few decades, where you can enjoy some classic cars, some great entertainment, and a ton of family fun!

A Saturday Day You Will Never Forget:  From the traditonal Water Carnival Parade, to the Wet Zone, to the Kidz Zone, to all sorts of water things thrown in, you may get hot, but you will have a blast doing it!!

Free:  Yes, you read correctly.  Free.  Period.  End of discussion, at least with your husband or wife about coming.  Everything is free to get in to, including the kiddies, so you can come and enjoy and all it will cost is the gas to get here, and a hotel room.  You will need a hotel room because you will get so worn out from having so much fun that you will just want to stay the night.  And we have some pretty incredible hotels for you to enjoy too.  They're not free, however.

Does your community group want to be involved?!  Do you want to see funnel cakes, corn dogs, and other heartburn friendly, family fun, type food??  Come to the Water Carnival and make your own to sell to the public!  Or, if you want, convince your friends to come and be a vendor at our event and you can tag along and enjoy it yourself.  All in all, were gonna have a great time, a time that will be had no where else in the state of Arkansas the first weekend in August!!

409 Vine - Member Update

03-Feb-09 11:13

One of our Chamber Members has recently updated their surroundings and we wanted to let you know about it.  As is usually the case, ownership can change when it comes to a variety of businesses and Janet Smart is now heading up the efforts at Farmer's Insurance located at 11 Eagle Mountain in the Eagle Mountain Shopping Center, just beside Colton's.  Janet is eager to help you with your insurance needs, and is excited about what Farmer's has to offer area residents.  You can shoot her an email or give her a call at 793-5757.

Connecting our Members; another way we can provide Solutions to our Members.

Until we blog again,

The Staff @ 409 Vine

409 Vine - The Wastewater Tax

02-Feb-09 21:36

On March 10^th, the Citizens of Batesville will get to vote on a 1% sales tax for a seriously needed upgrade to our wastewater system.  While our unprecedented economic times breed uncertainty and anxiety in all of us, they should also foster a sense of action in what we need to do for our community.  2008 was a year that we transformed ourselves in the fashion of a funded economic development program.  2009 is going to be a year that we continue that emergence from reactive positioning to proactive decision making. 

Stay tuned to this blog for updates, both breaking news and important data, that will help you decide on what your stance will be come March 10^th.

Until we blog again,

The Staff @ 409 Vine

409 Vine - Social Marketing

02-Feb-09 21:29

As we get this blog going, the Chamber would like to know what you would like to see published, promoted, or otherwise put in this area.  We want to provide content that is interesting to you, our membership, while at the same time promoting our membership in ways that have not been done before. 

One of those ways is by following us on Twitter.  If you are not familiar with Twitter, go there and check it out: www.twitter.com.  In 140 characters or less, you can update friends, colleagues, family, or your boss, what you are doing.  Its not as complicated as facebook, is better looking than MySpace, and keeps it simple.  Your Chamber is batesvillechamb and once you sign up, look us up, and follow us and what is going on. 

 This blog, along with Twitter, are new forms of social marketing that are emerging as ways for companies and people to network in ways unseen or thought of before.  Gone are the days that the only way to network is a Business After Hours.  Gone are the days that the Annual Banquet was the only chance all Chamber Members could connect and catch up.  Now, with blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and others, we can do this all the time and resolve problems faster, and with such efficiency it is mind boggling. 

We hope that by expanding our knowledge and insight in to social media it can be leveraged to help your business, no matter how large or how small, in ways we have never thought of before.  With new technology comes new ideas, and imbedded in those ideas, comes a new era of creativity that can happen anywhere, at anytime.  Even here in Batesville...

So let us know what you want to learn about, what you want to see, what you want to know.  We will attempt to publish info relevant to that, and, expand your mind some in areas you may not know anything about, or, about Chamber Members you dont know about.  Its all a part of 409 Vine...

Until we blog again-

The Staff @ 409 Vine

Chamber Blog - 409 Vine

02-Feb-09 17:20

409 Vine - the latest blog from your Chamber

As we get this blog going, the Chamber would like to know what you would like to see published, promoted, or otherwise put in this area.  We want to provide content that is interesting to you, our membership, while at the same time promoting our membership in ways that have not been done before. 

One of those ways is by following us on Twitter.  If you are not familiar with Twitter, go there and check it out: www.twitter.com.  In 140 characters or less, you can update friends, colleagues, family, or your boss, what you are doing.  Its not as complicated as facebook, is better looking than MySpace, and keeps it simple.  Your Chamber is batesvillechamb and once you sign up, look us up, and follow us and what is going on. 

This blog, along with Twitter, are new forms of social marketing that are emerging as ways for companies and people to network in ways unseen or thought of before.  Gone are the days that the only way to network is a Business After Hours.  Gone are the days that the Annual Banquet was the only chance all Chamber Members could connect and catch up.  Now, with blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and others, we can do this all the time and resolve problems faster, and with such efficiency it is mind boggling. 

We hope that by expanding our knowledge and insight in to social media it can be leveraged to help your business, no matter how large or how small, in ways we have never thought of before.  With new technology comes new ideas, and imbedded in those ideas, comes a new era of creativity that can happen anywhere, at anytime.  Even here in Batesville...

So let us know what you want to learn about, what you want to see, what you want to know.  We will attempt to publish info relevant to that, and, expand your mind some in areas you may not know anything about, or, about Chamber Members you dont know about.  Its all a part of 409 Vine...

Until we blog again-

The Staff @ 409 Vine

409 Vine - LaCroix Optical

02-Feb-09 14:42

Long time Chamber member LaCroix Optical has launched a new website.  Go to Lacroix Optical and check out what this long time business of Independence County is doing in the field of precision optics!

For more information on our Chamber members, visit our Membership Directory here on this website on the left hand navigation bar and click on Membership Directory.

409 Vine

02-Feb-09 14:09

Welcome to the very first edition of 409 Vine.  409 Vine is the new weekly blog of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce where we will be working to provide updates to the goings on in our community, and our membership, to the public.  This area will of course be open to our Chamber members, and as we grow this effort, is going to be a way we promote our membership and Chamber activities to any and all that are interested.

As we work to create more value for our Chamber members in 2009, we want to help provide solutions as well.  In providing solutions, we will do all we can to work with our Members as they have issues they need help resolving.  Our blog is one way to get feedback from a broader audience and to also have other Chamber members submit info in their area of expertise that you can utilize in your everyday operations.

As we grow your Chamber, and as we grow our community, this blog will serve as a way to communicate those efforts effectively.  We hope that you will follow and provide feedback in all that we do so we can better serve and create value for our membership.

Until we blog again, 

The Staff @ 409 Vine

Newsletter 1-29-2009

30-Jan-09 10:42

Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce Weekly Update: January 29 - February 4, 2009

Area Hotel Availability

Please see the following information about availability with our local hotels, and contact information:

• Ramada Inn: Limited availability over the next few days. Contact: 870-698-1800
• Comfort Suites: No availability today, limited availability starting tomorrow. Contact: 870-698-1900
• Holiday Inn Express: No availability until Sunday. Cancellations could occur. Contact: 870-698-2700
• Economy Inn: Limited availability over the next few days. Contact: 870-793-3871
• Chester Cottage: Contact: 870-793-2291

If there is other information or disaster relief info that you would like to be sent to the Chamber membership, please let us know and we will get it out as a service to our Membership.

WiFi Now Available for Chamber Members

WiFi is available at no charge for Chamber members at the Chamber office. If you are in need of a quick connection, or if your company needs to host a meeting where you have a need for a high-speed wireless connection, the Chamber has it available FREE of charge! For your next meeting or spur of the moment needs, your Chamber is here to help!

90th Annual Banquet & Awards Dinner Call for Nominations

The Chamber would like your help in identifying people and businesses for our awards. The categories are as follows:

• Small Business of the Year
• Business Person of the Year
• Business of the Year
• Volunteer of the Year

The criteria for nominations is that they must be a Chamber member in good standing. Also, you must submit with your nomination the qualifications you believe make this person, company, or organization, qualify for the respective category. Nominations will be accepted through Monday, February 9th.

Business After Hours slots still open

May & August are open for your business to host an After Hours. Contact the Chamber today so we can get your month signed up and ready to go!

8th Annual Polar Bear Plunge, February 28th at 1pm

8th Annual Polar Bear Plunge, February 28th at 1pm at White River Sandbar, registration will start at noon. Registration forms are available at any of the following locations: Bishop's Body Shop; Citizens Bank; Chamber of Commerce; First Community Bank; Employers Staffing and the Property Shoppe. Post plunge party at Batesville High School Cafeteria. All proceeds to benefit Special Olympics. For more information call (870)698-0800.

Main Street Batesville WINTER GALA Saturday, January 31, 7pm

The 2009 Winter Gala will be Saturday, January 31, 7pm at Elizabeth's Restaurant located at 231 E. Main. There will be Live Music, Silent and Live Auctions. Tickets are on sale now for $25 and may be purchased at any of the following locations: Heuer's Shoes; Schwegman's; Paper Chase Bookstore, Elizabeths and Main Street Batesville. For more information you may contact Main Street Batesville at (870)793-4632.