Serve as a voice for America's small businesses. Our district office programs are mostly covered by the first goal of increasing small business success. Nationwide, our economy is stronger than it has been in many years. We created 13 million jobs and unemployment is at its lowest rate in 24 years. The budget deficit has been eliminated.
Exports are up sharply.
SBA and its partners, the Arkansas Small Business Development Center and the Service Corps of Retired Executives, provide thousands of Arkansas entrepreneurs with expert, cost efficient management counseling and training each year. Our District staff conducted an extensive outreach agenda including conferences, circuit rides, meetings and speeches, media releases and networking sessions to ensure that entrepreneurs throughout Arkansas had the best possible access to SBA programs and services. The Little Rock District Office staff is proud of its efforts and we will continue to strive for exceptional customer service in coming years. Together with our lending and resource partners, we will continue to aid Arkansas' economic growth into the 21 st century.