ARK-LA-TEX REGIONAL EXPORT & TECHNOLOGY CENTER, INC.

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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 Metro/Regional Business Incubator and to its Incubator without Walls Outreach Program clients.  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 starting a business, and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant program, the only Federal grant program available to small businesses.

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.   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.

CDC’s Metro/Regional Business Incubator is a 36,000 sq. ft. facility that provides subsidized rental space for tenants primarily engaged in light 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, and networking contacts. 

The Metro/Regional Business Incubator is located at 7100 West Park Drive in west Shreveport, at the southwest corner of West 70th Street and West Park Drive one mile west of the intersection of West 70th and the Bert Kouns Industrial Loop (Exit 8 off I-20).

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Business Incubator Information

The Metro/Regional Business Incubator facility features space that can be divided to meet individual company needs -- with the flexibility to be enlarged as a business grows, provided space is available.  In addition, the Business Incubator provides tenants with a wide range of benefits, including the following:

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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.

Dean Industries, LLC

Kimberly Dean, Owner

Phone:   (318) 218-1073

Fax:  (318) 795-9656

E-mail: kldean2@comcast.net and thelocator2@comcast.net 

Established: 2008

Area Served: Regional

Products/Service: Props and wardrobe provider for movie industry; theater productions, floral designer and licensed florist.

DSD Medical, LLC

Dennis Bond

Phone:   (318) 698-3000

Fax:  (866) 373-7728

E-mail: dbond@dsdmedical.com

Website:  http://dsdmedical.com/

Established: 2007

Area Served: International

Products/Service: Full service provider of diabetes blood glucose diagnostic supplies in combination with diabetes shoe support. 

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,™ and low-energy LED lighting systems for commercial and residential applications.

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Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana (MEPOL)

C.J. Smith, Director of Business Development

John Gladney, North Louisiana Project Director

Phone:  (318) 671-6905 and (318) 671-7675

Fax:  (318) 671-7628

e-mail:  cj.smith@mepol.org or john.gladney@mepol.org

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 utilizing the expertise of internal staff, an extensive third party provider network, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s MEP national network. MEPOL’s core services include lean manufacturing, polymer services, and business growth services.

Nu-Gro Distribution

Gregory Andrews, President

Phone:   (318) 636-9522

Fax:  (318) 671-9032

E-mail: gregoryshrev@aol.com

Website: www.nugrohairproducts.com

Established: 2003

Area Served: International

Products/Service: Manufactures and distributes natural 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 pharmaceutical firms to sales people who call on doctors.

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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.

Providence Design and Manufacturing, Inc.

Scott Schober, President

Phone: (318) 377-5898

Fax:  (318) 377-9607

Established: 1995

E-mail:  providencedesign@bellsouth.net

Website: www.canopiescanopies.com/

Area Served: National

Products/Services: Manufactures and designs numerous unique liners and containers, including railroad expulsion bladders, beach erosion liners, nuclear transportation bags, and decorative canopies.

Red River Tooling and Sales

Vernon Cooksey, Owner

Phone: (318) 470-7967

Fax:  (318) 671-9032

Established: 2006

E-mail: vcook2004@yahoo.com

Area Served: Regional

Products/Services: Sells 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: (903) 258-9312

Fax:  (318) 671-9032

Established: 2005

Area Served: Regional

Products/Service: Distributor of air compressors, pumps, and paint spraying equipment.

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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).

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Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

The staff of the Ark-La-Tex Regional Export & Technology Center provides information and assistance for high tech companies interested in the Federal government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.  ARETC staff also are available to assist in the preparation of an application (fee charged) and review proposals (fee charged) to ensure compliance with an agency’s format requirements. 

The SBIR program was established by Congress in 1982, with the dual objectives of increasing the participation of small businesses in federal high technology research and development activities, and to stimulate conversion of government-funded research into commercial applications.  This R&D based program 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 11 federal government agencies.  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 to 9 months are involved in this phase.  PHASE II is available by invitation only and it is designed to expand on the results of and further pursue the development of the research accomplished during PHASE I.  Awards of up to $750,000 with a period of performance normally not to exceed two years are involved in the phase.

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Staff Contact:  

Diana M. Simek

Vice-President, Business Development

Ark-La-Tex Export & Technology Center, Inc.

Manager, Metro/Regional Business Incubator

7100 West Park Road

Phone: (318) 671-1050

E-mail: dsimek@cdconline.org