Business Development Programs
The ARK-LA-TEX Regional Export & Technology Center (ARETC) was established by CDC as a means of creating jobs by fostering the success of our area’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. ARETC provides a wide variety of services to the tenants in the Business Incubator and to its Incubator without Walls clients (see below). These services include: management and financial planning, marketing assistance, technology/technical assistance, seminars/training programs, one-on-one counseling, and networking contacts.
In addition, ARETC provides information concerning international trade, tax incentives, legal requirements for start up a business, etc., and serves as the Northwest Louisiana outreach center for the Federal government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program (see below).
Metro/Regional Business Incubator
The Metro/Regional Business Incubator is a business development project of The Coordinating & Development Corporation (CDC), an economic development organization serving ten parishes in Northwest Louisiana, eight counties in Northeast Texas, and four counties in Southwest Arkansas. The Incubator is managed under contract by the Ark-La-Tex Export & Technology Center (ARETC), a CDC affiliate organization.
CDC’s Metro/Regional Business Incubator is a 36,000 sq. ft. facility that provides subsidizes rental space for tenants primarily engaged in manufacturing and warehousing/distribution. In addition to the leased space, tenants have access to conference rooms, a training center, shared office equipment including a copy machine and fax, an employee breakroom, and full access to the Business Incubator staff for any counseling and technical assistance they may need.
To qualify as a tenant, the Business Incubator has an application process that looks at the company’s potential for job creation, sales and marketing prospects, and whether the business is or can be properly financed. Once a business is approved as a tenant, they are entitled to a broad array of services including management and financial planning, marketing assistance, technology and technical assistance, business planning assistance, accounting advice, assistance on financial matters, networking contacts, and employee hiring assistance through CDC’s Division of Workforce Development. The Metro/Regional Business Incubator is located at 7100 West Park Road in West Shreveport.
Mission
The mission of the Metro/Regional Business Incubator is to provide a safe haven environment and a full range of business assistance to entrepreneurs and new and expanding businesses in order to create new jobs and diversifying the economy.
Business Incubator Information
The Metro/Regional Business Incubator facility features 36,000 square feet of space that can be divided to meet individual company needs — with the flexibility to be enlarged as a business grows. In addition, the Business Incubator provides tenants with a wide range of benefits, including the following:
Business Incubator Information
The Metro/Regional Business Incubator facility features 36,000 square feet of space that can be divided to meet individual company needs — with the flexibility to be enlarged as a business grows. In addition, the Business Incubator provides tenants with a wide range of benefits, including the following:
- Flexible and affordable rental space for light manufacturing and warehousing/distribution in a prestigious location
- Day-to-day hands on business counseling
- Conference, meeting and training facilities
- Access to basic office equipment, including a copier and fax, with limited basic office furniture available at no cost to tenants
- Security system with keyless entry for employees
- Loading docks
- Basic utilities and janitorial service
- Parking
- Tenant Access 7/24
- T1 Internet Access is available through ShreveNet and Road Runner Internet Access through Times Warner Cable
Incubator Tenants
AllaMaxx Electric Supply, LLC
Al Lynn, Manager
Phone: (318) 245-1711
Fax: (318) 671-9032
E-mail: allamaxx@sys888.com
Established: 2003
Area Served: Regional
Products/Service: Wholesaler of electrical and lighting supplies for the construction industry.
Bill’s Toys and Games
Bill Hillinghouse, President
Phone: (903) 258-9563
Fax: (318) 671-9032
Established: 2003
Website: www.billstoysandgames.com
Area Served: National, International
Products/Service: Internet e-retailer of collectible toys and games.
DYI, Inc.
Don Young, President
Phone: (318) 347-4462
Fax: (318) 671-9032
E-mail: don_young@msn.com
Established: 2003
Area Served: Regional
Products/Service: Distributor of building construction products and sealants, and manufacturer of foam decorative cornices and designs for the construction industry.
Knema, LLC
Glen Bundrick, Owner
Phone: (318) 393-6151
Fax: (318) 797-9565
E-mail: sales@luminousfilm.com
Website: www.luminousfilm.com
Established: 2002
Area Served: International
Products/Service: Manufacturer of LuminousFilm, which generates light without heat. The film is used in signs, displays for trade shows, architectural accent lighting, and the automotive industry.
Majestic Marketing, LLC
Rose Modica, Managing Member
Phone: (318) 458-8395
Fax: (318) 671-9032
E-mail: rosemodicaone@aol.com
Website: www.crittercover.com
Established: 2003
Area Served: National
Products/Service: Manufactures outdoor faucet protection/ decorative devices.
Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana (MEPoL)
Phone: (318) 671-7675
Fax: (318) 671-7628
e-mail: mepol@bellsouth.net
Website: www.mepol.org
Established: 1997
Area Served: North Louisiana
Products/Service: MEPoL provides a comprehensive source of business, management and technical assistance to Louisiana small to medium size manufacturers throughout Louisiana. They also help member companies implement new techniques and technologies.
Nu-Gro Distribution
Gregory Andrews, President
Phone: (318) 636-9522
Fax: (318) 671-9032
E-mail: info@nugrohairproducts.com
Website: www.nugrohairproducts.com
Established: 2003
Area Served: Regional
Products/Service: Manufactures and distributes hair products
Outdoor Feeders, LLC
John Pope, Owner
(318) 868-8188
(318) 868-7735
E-mail: sales@outdoorfeeders.com
Website: http://outdoorfeeders.com
Established: 2001
Area Served: National and International
Products/Service: Manufactures timed and gravity fed feeders for all types of game. Hanging and leg-mounted models available
PDS Enterprises
Paul and Dorothy Adcock, Owners
Phone: (318) 423-0775
Fax: (318) 671-9032
Established: 2001
Area Served: Northwest Louisiana
Products/Service: Distributes pharmaceutical samples from 15 pharmaceutical firms to sales people who call on doctors.
Pneumosite, LLC
Dr. Howard Lipton
Phone: (318) 617-6029
E-mail: pneumositellc@yahoo.com
Website: www.pneumositellc.com
Established: 2002
Area Served: National and International
Products/Service: Satellite testing facility for experiments to determine structure activity relationship of custom-synthesized peptides on vascular reactivity.
Proactive Services, LLC
Dwayne Baker, CEO
Phone: (903) 399-0102
Fax: (318) 671-9032
Established: 2006
Area Served: Regional
Products/Services: Inspection and light rework of automotive components; light manufacturing for other companies.
Red River Tooling and Sales
Vernon Cooksey, Owner
Phone: (318) 470-7967
Fax: (318) 671-9032
Established: 2006
Area Served: Regional
Products/Services: Sell industrial products, including tools, carbide products, industrial supplies, paint guns, etc. to industrial and manufacturing clients.
Tri State Air & Pumps, Inc.
Mike Roach, President
Phone: (318) 272-9552
Fax: (318) 671-9032
E-mail: tristateairpump@sport.rr.com
Established: 2005
Area Served: Regional
Products/Service: Distributor of air compressors, pumps, and paint spraying equipment.
Your Snack Box by Susie Q
Sussette Lane, Owner
Phone: (318) 843-4273
Fax: (318) 671-9032
Established: 2006
Area Served: Local
Products/Service: Self service snack boxes for small businesses.
Incubator without Walls Outreach Program
The Metro/Regional Business Incubator also actively supports an “Incubator without Walls” Outreach Program to help entrepreneurs and struggling small businesses that are not located in the Business Incubator. There is no limitation on the types of businesses which can be assisted under the Incubator without Walls program Generalized assistance for both Incubator tenants and outside clients is provided primarily by ARETC’s staff, with specialized assistance augmented by a variety of experts from community and government support organizations. Most assistance is provided at no cost, while other assistance is provided either as part of the space rental charge for tenants of the Business Incubator, or on a fee basis (for extended assistance).
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Outreach Program
The Ark-La-Tex Regional Export & Technology Center, Inc. serves as the Northwest Louisiana contact for the Federal government�s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program under contract with the Louisiana Technology Transfer Office.
The SBIR program was established by Congress in 1982. Its dual objectives are to increase the participation of small businesses in federal high technology research and development activities, and to stimulate conversion of government-funded research into commercial applications.
SBIR is a highly competitive three-phase award program that provides qualified small business concerns with opportunities to propose innovative ideas that meet the specific research and R&D needs of the federal government. PHASE I is to evaluate the scientific technical merit and feasibility of an idea. Awards of up to $100,000 with a period of performance of up to six months are involved in the phase. PHASE II is available by invitation only and it is designed to expand on the results of and further pursue the development of PHASE I. Awards of up to $750,000 with a period of performance normally not to exceed two years are involved in the phase.
Services Available through the ARETC’s SBIR Outreach program include:
- Assisting companies search for topics under the SBIR program through use of keywords. ARETC staff also is available to assist in the preparation of an application (fee charged) and review proposals to ensure compliance with an agency’s format requirements.
- Free access to JADE SBIR software that is a powerful, time-saving tool to aid the user in custom preparation of agency-specific proposals and grant requests. The software also provides tutorials to inform/update the user of the many opportunities, challenges and changes found within the SBIR/STTR Programs and offers helpful information to aid a user in preparing improved proposals/grant requests and for SBIR/STTR projects.
Contact Information:
Diana M. Simek
Vice-President, Business Development
Ark-La-Tex Export & Technology Center, Inc.
7100 West Park Road
Phone: (318) 671-1050
Fax: (318) 671-9032
E-mail: dsimek@shreve.net