James Lawrence knows how hard it can be to start a business. Last year, he opened Prestige One Landscaping in Jonesboro, Ark., with no equipment or inventory but the dream of being his own boss. Although he made nearly $100,000, he spent three-quarters of it on advertising, franchise fees, and materials. That’s when he turned to Beacons & Bridges (B&B), a local non-profit started in 1998 by the Blessed Sacrament Church. Through its Business Development Center, the organization helps low-income people establish and grow their small businesses. Lawrence received help putting together a business plan and reevaluating his marketing approaches.

This year his business is picking up, even though he no longer operates as a franchise, advertises through word-of-mouth, and trades landscaping services for advertising space. For a state plagued with high poverty rates, Arkansas relies on organizations like Beacons & Bridges to help spur economic recovery and growth. B&B is working to improve training and employment opportunities and create self-sufficiency for people in depressed areas. New and fledgling owners of day care, beauty salon, and restaurant businesses have all found success thanks to B&B. For James Lawrence, he can already see the day he’ll reach his goal of $250,000 annually in business.

James Lawrence received help with the business plan for his new company, Prestige One Landscaping, from a CCHD-funded group in Jonesboro, Ark.
Photo by Rodney Freeman

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