Arkansas Capital Corporation of Little Rock has been named Arkansas Equity Advocacy Lender of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Arkansas Capital is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution. For nearly 60 years, ACC has collaborated with SBA to promote entrepreneurship in the state’s underserved, minority and rural communities. Last fall, SBA, following a 40-year moratorium, named ACC one of three small business lending company licensees nationwide, allowing the corporation to expand SBA 7a lending services nationally.
“ACC is honored to receive recognition from the SBA, an invaluable partner in our mission to create better communities in Arkansas and across the United States,” said Craig Calafati, executive vice president and director of lending for ACC. “This award marks a major milestone in ACC’s longstanding history of ensuring minorities have equal access to startup and expansion funding to own and operate successful businesses.”
In 2023, ACC helped co-owners Samantha and Kreg Stewart and chef Harlem Wilson open Certified Pies, Little Rock’s first Black-owned pizzeria. It is also the proud sponsor of The Venture Center’s Women Achieve mentorship program, last year’s inaugural Arkansas Latino Business Awards and the Black-Owned Northwest Arkansas Business Expo. Since 2006, in partnership with Economic Arkansas, ACC has fostered youth entrepreneurship with the Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase, a no-cost virtual and in-classroom business plan competition for Arkansas students in grades 5-8.
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