The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will offer 32 free website development and online marketing workshops around the state over the next six months through a partnership with Connect Arkansas.

ASBTDC, part of UALR’s College of Business, partnered with Connect Arkansas, a nonprofit organization who received federal stimulus grants, to increase Internet awareness, education, and use in Arkansas.

Through this partnership, free Internet training will be available to current and potential small business owners and their employees.

“Ensuring entrepreneurs and small business owners receive the education they need to be able to compete in the global economy is vitally important to the economy of Arkansas and the future of its citizens,” said C. Sam Walls, chief executive officer of Arkansas Capital Corporation and president of Connect Arkansas. “We are pleased to be able to partner with the ASBTDC to extend the reach of these educational programs.”

The workshops will assist local businesses in a primarily rural, 57-county area with sessions such as “Website in a Day,” that will provide training to business owners on how to build effective, easy-to-maintain websites using free online tools.

The workshops will be presented by local ASBTDC offices. “Website in a Day” events have been scheduled in Camden, Crossett, Dardanelle, Dumas, El Dorado, Hope, and Magnolia. ASBTDC will announce additional seminars as training dates are set in additional locations. Potential participants can register online at or by calling 1-800-862-2040.

“To compete in their local markets as well as in the global economy, Arkansas businesses need to embrace the Internet. We are delighted to work with Connect Arkansas to strengthen small businesses by sharing tools, skills, and knowledge they can use to reach more customers online and increase sales,” said Janet Roderick, ASBTDC state director.

ASBTDC, a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, assists start-ups, existing businesses, expanding businesses, and technology businesses. Core services include free consulting and market research plus low- and no-cost training.

In addition to the lead center at UALR, six regional ASBTDC offices are located at: Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, Henderson State University, Southern Arkansas University, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and the University of Arkansas, Monticello.

Connect Arkansas, is a project of Arkansas Capital Corporation, a privately held group of for-profit and nonprofit corporations dedicated to improving the lives of Arkansans.