Stronger Veteran Businesses, Stronger Arkansas Communities

by Melanie Berman, Arkansas APEX Accelerator Program Director - October 26, 2026

Veterans bring discipline, leadership and a mission-first mindset to everything they do, including building businesses. When those businesses grow, the benefits reach far beyond the owner. They create jobs, keep dollars circulating in local economies, strengthen supply chains, and add to the vitality of Main Streets in communities across Arkansas.

That’s why the Arkansas APEX Accelerator and partners from across the state are coming together for the 9th Annual Arkansas Veterans’ Business Summit on Friday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service office in Little Rock.

It’s one day, in one location, connecting veteran entrepreneurs with the counseling, capital, and contracts they need to grow, and lunch is included, courtesy of First Security Bank.

Register here

Building a Stronger Support Network

Running a business is hard work, and no one should have to do it alone. Arkansas organizations offer free, confidential business counseling, no- or low-cost training, and valuable networking, but knowing where to start can be a challenge. When entrepreneurs can’t find the right resources, communities miss out on growth. This summit brings the state’s small business support network together in one place:

• Counseling: Get practical guidance from Arkansas entrepreneurial support organizations.
• Capital: Learn how resource partners help businesses access funding.
• Contracts: Meet government procurement representatives face to face.

What Attendees Will Gain

• Learn from the best: veteran entrepreneurs, executives, and industry leaders
• Connect with buyers and resource organizations
• Discover new opportunities for growth and collaboration
• Share best practices with fellow business owners
• Leave with a plan to strengthen and advance your business

Who Should Attend

• Veteran business owners ready to grow or compete for government contracts
• Aspiring veteran entrepreneurs looking to start the right way
• Local leaders, economic developers, and community partners
• All business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs are welcome!

A Call to Community Leaders and Economic Developers

We’re setting aside time to hear directly from veteran business owners about their needs and challenges. This listening session is a valuable opportunity for local leaders, economic developers, and community partners to learn what veteran entrepreneurs need to succeed and to help shape how our communities support veteran-owned businesses. Strong local economies are built by connecting people to resources, and that work starts with listening.

Reserve Your Seat Today

Whether you own a business, hope to start one, or work to grow your community’s economy, we invite you to join us. Connect, learn, collaborate, and grow, and enjoy lunch on us. Register for the 2026 Arkansas Veterans’ Business Summit.

Thank You to Our Partners

This summit is made possible by organizations committed to strengthening Arkansas’s veteran and small business communities and the local economies they support. Special thanks to First Security Bank for sponsoring lunch, and to our partners:

• 19th Contracting Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base
• Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM)
• Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC)
• Arkansas National Guard Purchasing Office
• Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC)
• U.S. Small Business Administration – Arkansas District Office
• City of Little Rock
• Clinton National Airport
• NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC)
• State of Arkansas, Office of State Procurement
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Little Rock District
• The Venture Center
• Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)