| WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representative Marion Berry today announced that the East Arkansas Enterprise Community, Inc. will receive $98,800 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program. The money will be used to continue to provide technical assistance and training to the people of the rural delta communities by providing education for small businesses to foster economic gardening.
“This grant helps East Arkansas communities make the most of the resources that are available right in their own backyard,” said Lincoln. “With these funds, small businesses will be better able to gain access to existing information and expertise in their own communities. Not only will they increase their chances of personal business success, they will also strengthen the entire local business community. I’m pleased to help announce these funds for East Arkansas.”
“This innovative program is just another example of how the East Arkansas Enterprise Community finds positive ways to impact the region,” said Pryor. “Technical assistance often makes the difference between a business that thrives or just barely survives.”
"It is no secret that we are always stronger and more productive when we work together," said Berry. "This funding will allow small businesses to collectively pool their resources and grow the economy together so all businesses can benefit. I applaud the East Arkansas Enterprise Community for securing this grant and launching this innovative program."
Instead of the traditional approach of recruiting large business to develop local economies, economic gardening aims to grow the economy from within by providing access to information, technology and business expertise to help both new and existing small businesses located within the community thrive and grow.
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