Free virtual workshop teaches business owners how to sell to the State of Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK — For small businesses looking to expand their clientele, the State of Arkansas could be a potential customer.

The Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center will offer a free virtual workshop, “Selling to the State of Arkansas,” on Feb. 11 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Participants will learn about state procurement regulations and procedures for submitting bids with the state.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/3qEnUC4 .

The Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center is housed at the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. It provides government contracting technical assistance to Arkansas small businesses.

In 2020, the center’s clients received more than $204 million in federal, state, and local government contracts. Of that amount, $9.4 million were from state and local contracts.

“This equates to 4,342 jobs created or retained in the state of Arkansas,” PTAC program director Melanie Berman said. “Arkansas PTAC has worked very hard over the past few years to connect our small business clients to purchasing officials within the federal, state and local government. Sometimes the most difficult part of selling to the government is understanding what each government agency’s preferred process is for vendors.”

At the Feb. 11 workshop, PTAC counselors will teach participants what is needed to sell to the state of Arkansas. Leaders from the Office of State Procurement will also share best practices for vendors, and participants will be able to ask questions.

For more information, visit http://uaex.edu/ptac, email PTAC@uaex.edu, or call 501-671-2390.

To learn more about Division of Agriculture publications, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.edu.

Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

***

SGL Carbon to expand operations in Arkadelphia

ARKADELPHIA — SGL Carbon, a provider of carbon- based solutions for automotives, aerostructures, and other sectors, today announced that it will expand its operations in Arkadelphia, Ark. in order to increase its carbon composites production. The company plans to invest approximately $4.5 million at its existing facility and increase its workforce by

Continued on Page 11 STATE NEWS (cont.)

35 full-time employees within three years.

“Composite battery enclosures fit perfectly to the specific needs of modern ecar chassis,” Steve Swanson, Vice President of Operations at SGL Composites Inc., said.

“Thus, with the ongoing enhancement of our Arkadelphia operations, we also support the great trend towards more e-mobility in the U.S. In addition, our facility produces a variety of carbon and glass fiberreinforced products for a wide range of industrial applications within the automotive and aerospace industries as well as the energy sector.”

The company’s Arkadelphia facility currently produces a variety of carbon and glass fiber-reinforced

wide range of industrial applications within the automotive and aerospace industries as well as the energy sector.

SGL Carbon will expand its Arkadelphia operations by ramping up production of carbon composites to be used primarily in electric vehicles.

“SGL Carbon is not only a global leader and innovator, it is also a valued member of our state’s business community – a position it has held since it began production here in 1996,” Governor Asa Hutchinson said. “It’s a pleasure to congratulate the company for its continued investment in Arkadelphia.

We look forward to many more years of partnership STATE NEWS (cont.)

in the future.”

For decades, SGL Carbon has served as a leading producer of unique graphite and composite materials and manufacturer of products known for their versatile industrial applications. Arkansas Department of Commerce Secretary and Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) Mike Preston praised SGL Carbon’s decision to expand its Arkansas operations.

“The strength of our workforce in southwest Arkansas, partnered with our low cost of doing business, makes Arkadelphia a prime location for SGL Carbon’s new production processes,” Secretary Preston said. “We look forward to our continued partnership with the company as it embarks on this new endeavor.”

The project also received support from local community

to partner with one of our local industries to promote job creation and expansion,” said EDCCC Chairman Celya Taylor.

“This announcement shows our local tax dollars play an important role in encouraging job creation in Clark County.”

Arkadelphia City Manager Gary Brinkley said, “We are thrilled about the news that SGL will be ramping up its production and hiring additional employees.

SGL’s corporate philosophy of partnering with their customers is the same philosophy we follow in Clark County, partnering with our industries for job retention and expansion. The soundness of the Arkadelphia workforce coupled with the quality of life we enjoy in southwest Arkansas is truly a win-win scenario for everyone.”

County Judge Troy Tucker said, “We are excited about the future expansion of SGL Carbon in Clark County and with the future possibilities of this company.”

The company anticipates that the production expansion will be fully operational by the end of 2021.

Employing around 5,100 people, SGL Carbon is a global company with more than 31 high-performing production sites in Europe, North America, and Asia.

The company is a world leader in the development and production of carbonbased solutions: automotive, aerospace, solar and wind energy, semiconductor and LEDs.