CED Celebrates a Year in Van Buren

Written By: Rachel Putman

CED Marks One Year at the Van Buren Chamber

One year after establishing a presence at the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Center for Economic Development is celebrating expanded connections with Crawford County entrepreneurs, small-business owners, and nonprofit leaders.

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center began holding office hours at the Chamber in August 2025, giving Crawford County clients easier access to free business consulting, training, marketing assistance, and market research. The Center for Nonprofits later added monthly office hours and quarterly training events at the same location.

For ASBTDC Regional Director Ty Barrett, the Van Buren office has helped remove a practical barrier for people who might otherwise have to travel to Fort Smith for assistance.

“I cover a four-county region [Crawford, Sebastian, Scott, and Polk], so this helps me serve clients in Crawford County a lot easier,” Barrett said when the office opened. “When someone is getting a new business started, and they have another job they’re attending, this location makes it easier for them to access our services.”

Barrett now meets with clients at the Chamber on most Wednesdays by appointment, having already consulted more than 35 entrepreneurs from Crawford County over the past year.

The ASBTDC also partnered with the Chamber’s newly formed Entrepreneurial Support Organization in February 2026 to introduce the Biz Matters training series. The program is built around the ASBTDC’s core small-business startup curriculum.

The first session, “Business Money Management Made Easy,” was held in March and focused on basic bookkeeping. A June session, “Maximizing Your Marketing Strategy,” helped participants create foundational marketing plans. That training was followed by a mini business expo featuring seven marketing-related companies and service providers, including a radio station, a website developer, a social media content creator, a portrait studio, and full-service marketing firms.

Additional training is planned for the fall. The ASBTDC will partner with the Arkansas APEX Accelerator for a government-contracting program on Oct. 20. Barrett will also present “Funding Your Business” on Nov. 18, followed by a lender resource fair.

The Center for Nonprofits has developed its own rhythm in Van Buren. Director Emily Treadaway generally holds office hours at the Chamber on the first Thursday of each month, meeting individually with nonprofit leaders to discuss fundraising, board development, strategic planning, and organizational growth.

Quarterly CNP Lunch & Learn events have created opportunities for training and professional connection. The programs typically attract 25 to 30 participants and have concentrated on fundraising and resource development topics identified as priorities by local organizations.

Treadaway said the response has been encouraging. An upcoming August Lunch & Learn on the donor cycle and development filled almost immediately after registration opened, and a September workshop on Canva Basics will focus on practical marketing, communications, and storytelling skills.

One of the strongest outcomes, Treadaway said, has been the collaboration that happens among participants.

“At one Lunch & Learn, we had a smaller group than usual, but it turned out to be one of the most meaningful conversations we’ve had,” she said. “Participants openly shared some of their fundraising challenges, offered ideas and resources to one another, and made connections that continued after the event.”

Treadaway also credited Van Buren Chamber President and CEO Julie Murray with helping the Center for Nonprofits understand the community and build relationships with local organizations. Murray connected Treadaway with nonprofit leaders throughout Crawford County and introduced her to a community leader who now serves on the Center for Nonprofits Advisory Board.

“Having a regular presence in Van Buren has helped the Center for Nonprofits build stronger relationships across the river and better understand the unique needs of organizations in Crawford County,” Treadaway said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to support nonprofit leaders there and look forward to continuing to grow those connections in the coming year.”

“ We are so grateful for our partnership with the CED as it enables us to bring much-needed resources to the doorstep of our businesses and nonprofits,” Murray said. “That is also the reason we created our Business Resource Center, to make sure our businesses and nonprofits have the resources they need to grow and succeed.   Ty and Emily have just become part of our team, are so easy to work with, and have made such a big difference in a very short amount of time. Even though it has only been a year, I can’t imagine our Chamber without them here, working with our members.”