Little Rock is the most populous city in Arkansas, and deservedly the capital of the state. The name originates from a rock formation by the Arkansas River, named Little Rock by the French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe in the 1720s. Today, it is the home of over 700,000 residents. To the female population, Little Rock offers a range of cultural events and institutions, educational services, and business opportunities.
Special Enrollment Periods for Marketplace Health Insurance Plans
Assists unemployed women who have suffered from the loss of work-based health insurance. The loss of work-based insurance is a ‘qualifying life event’ and activates a special enrollment period for a marketplace plan. Licensed navigators provide assistance through the Arkansas Insurance Department number is (844) 355-3262. Services are provided free-of-charge. For more information, visit https://insurance.arkansas.gov/news/2020/apr/07/special-enrollment-periods-marketplace-health-insu/
Arkansas Development Finance Authority
- Low Income Housing Tax Credit
Founded by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, it provides agencies with the authority to receive and issue tax credits for the acquisition, restoration, or new construction of rental housing aimed towards low-income women. The Arkansas Development Finance Authority manages approximately 450 apartment complexes that are comprised of over 20,000 affordable rental units for low-income families and single mothers throughout the state. For more information, visit: https://adfa.arkansas.gov/program/low-income-housing-tax-credit/#programs-content
- Small Business Guaranty Program
Offers financial assistance to women-owned businesses within Arkansas. The Arkansas Development Finance Authority supplies lenders with a loan guarantee of up to 80% of the first $200,000. Lenders then offer capital through loans to women-owned small businesses. More information can be accessed through https://adfa.arkansas.gov/program/arkansas-small-business-guaranty/
- Capital Access Program
Makes financial assistance accessible to lenders who would otherwise have trouble in attaining conventional bank loans. On average, it takes 3 to 5 days for a loan to process. This is a lending incentive for Arkansas businesses such as agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale/retail, construction, and service. In order to enroll, go to https://adfa.arkansas.gov/media/file/Capitol__Access_Program_Enrollment_Form_Exhibit_3.pdf
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
The Arkansas Development Finance Authority, in collaboration with the Levi Strauss Foundation and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, has created an initiative through which a working credit guaranty capital can be offered to women-owned businesses who otherwise cannot finance their working capital requirements. More information can be accessed through the following link: https://adfa.arkansas.gov/program/disadvantaged-business-enterprise/#programs-content
Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Division
Supports the growth and maintenance of minority and women-owned businesses by offering them access to technical and professional assistance, certification, procurement, networking, capital, and contracting opportunities. All of this is organized through the Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Division’s utilization of partners in state and federal government, higher education, lending institutions, and the private sector. Their mission is to help such businesses successfully collaborate with others and increase the economic growth of Arkansas. To register your business in their online directory, go to https://www.arkansasedc.com/community-resources/Minority-and-Women-Owned-Business-Enterprise-Resources/submit-mwob-listing
- Minority Business Loan Mobilization Guaranty Program
Assists women-owned businesses with loan guarantees from $10,000 – $100,000. Attendees of this workshop will learn how to obtain such finances, and how it can help their Arkansas State Certified Businesses grow. Attendees will also gain knowledge on the application requirements and receive professional assistance with the application process. To learn more, visit the link https://www.arkansasedc.com/community-resources/Minority-and-Women-Owned-Business-Enterprise-Resources/detail/minority-and-women-owned-business-enterprise-workshops
Arkansas Student Loan Authority
This is a state agency with a mission to increase access to higher education financing for the students of Arkansas. It offers numerous student loan services, as well as cost-free college planning. To view these offers, click on https://asla.info/Home, or call their toll-free number (804) 443-6030.
- For Undergraduate and Graduate Students
The Undergraduate and Graduate Student’s Loan provides a variety of benefits to women and their children who seek to excel in their careers and improve their professional knowledge. Some of these benefits include fixed rates, numerous repayment options, interest rate reduction for using audio-debit during repayment, and a cosigner release option. To access the complete document, click on https://www.aspireservicingcenter.com/applications/docs/asla-arkansas-education-loan.pdf
Department of Community Programs
Aspires towards continuous administration of funds in order to maintain citizen involvement and a positive community that improves the quality of life of women and children of Little Rock. The link to the official webpage is https://www.littlerock.gov/city-administration/city-departments/community-programs/
- Career Empowerment Opportunity
Through this program, women of Little Rock can progress from unemployment to thriving in their careers. It operates on the belief that providing residents with training, a progressive career, and stable housing creates a more successful local economy. Any Little Rock citizen aged 18 and above is welcome to attend. To register, call (501) 371-4791. For more information, visit https://www.littlerock.gov/city-administration/city-departments/community-programs/career-empowerment-opportunity/
- For Children of Single Mothers – Youth Master Plan
The Youth Master Plan harnesses the belief that all Little Rock children deserve to feel safe in their community, supported, and encouraged to pursue a life of value. It aims to decrease challenges such as poverty, violence, unemployment, and lack of education. These challenges are tackled by creating collaborative and long-term solutions such as using data to recognize and prioritize services that satisfy the needs of children and youth, improving program administration and value, increasing communication to and with the city collective about resources and programs, improving employability in order to prepare youth to contribute to the economy and making a strong future workforce, and involving youth voice in decision-making. For a detailed view of the Youth Master Plan, click on https://www.littlerock.gov/city-administration/city-departments/community-programs/youth-master-plan/