ia strategic partners

The Arkansas Development Finance Authority is committed to responding to the changing needs of Arkansas’ growing, increasingly diverse population and business community. Since its creation in 1985, the ADFA has become the state’s largest source of low-cost financing for low to moderate income housing development, small industries, government, education, agricultural business enterprises and health care. It is through taxable and tax-exempt bonds and notes, private and public grants and state and federal agency partners that ADFA gives Arkansans the most cost-effective financing choices possible.
 
In 2001, bond guaranty legislation was modified to allow ADFA to use credit enhancement and state tax credits to finance "fund of fund" venture capital investments. The $70 million Arkansas Institutional Fund (AIF) is authorized to invest in professionally managed venture capital funds that in turn make risk capital more accessible to promising Arkansas firms.

Accelerate Arkansas is a statewide group of business and education leaders committed to building a competitive, knowledge-based economy in Arkansas with the goal of achieving parity in per capita income with the U.S. average by 2020.

In addition to added wealth and expanded economy, about $2.4 billion in additional tax revenue will be created for the state on an annual basis. Accelerate Arkansas' mission is to foster economic growth by using the essential building blocks of the knowledge-based economy, and to create an environment supporting entrepreneurship and continuous innovation in Arkansas.

Innovate Arkansas is one of the initiatives of Accelerate Arkansas. It is an organization formed through legislation by Accelerate Arkansas and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Innovate Arkansas builds upon Accelerate Arkansas' efforts to support entrepreneurship by finding and helping companies bring new produces to market. The end result is more successful, Arkansas-grown companies with high-paying jobs that benefit Arkansas.

The Arkansas Science & Technology Authority was created in 1983 to bring the benefits of science and advanced technology to the people and state of Arkansas. The Authority promotes scientific research, technology development, business innovation and math, science and engineering education. The Authority’s goal is to plan, promote, influence and support with high-quality programs and services the commercialization of research innovations, helping grow the Arkansas economy and increase per capita income.

Winrock International retained Arkansas Business Publishing Group and its FLEX360 Web development firm to build, provide content for and market the Innovate Arkansas Web site. ABPG specializes in niche newspaper, magazine and Web publishing that bring together targeted audiences and advertisers that want to reach them. Its mission is to profitably disseminate a variety of high-quality information in a model work environment that has a positive effect on the community. ABPG produces more than 20 newspapers, magazines and guides, including Arkansas Business, the Central Arkansas Manufacturer's Directory, Office Retail Lease Guide, Book of Lists, Arkansas Next: A Guide to Life After High School and many more.

The FLEX360 Web development team has been developing high-quality, professional Web sites since 1996. Its staff includes an experienced management team, graphic designers, programmers, marketing specialists and top-notch technical support.

FLEX360 was born out of a defined need for a business-minded, professional team of marketers, developers and designers focused on producing more than just a Web site. FLEX360 builds a complete Internet presence that helps clients communicate more effectively with their customers, vendors, partners and employees.

EquityNet™, LLC provides innovative software solutions and services to the private equity marketplace, including specialized web-based applications that assist entrepreneurs in maturing their business and that allow investors and entrepreneurs to dramatically improve the efficiency of the investment process.

EquityNet offers independent, trusted research and advanced analytical tools that enable market participants to make better decisions in less time and at less cost than with conventional methods. The company’s patent-pending flagship application, Enterprise Analyzer™, is the first in a planned series of novel applications devoted to generating increased market-based efficiencies in the private equity marketplace.