Armstrong State University Assistant Professor of Economics and Director of the Small Business Institute, Dennis Barber, recently secured agreements with five local companies to participate in Armstrong’s spring 2016 Small Business Consulting course. Participants include Flirt with Dessert, LuluCakes Bakery/Lulu’s Chocolate Bar, Rancho Alegre, Mike Holland’s State Farm Agency and the nonprofit Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market.

During the three-month course, Business Economics majors will deliver in-depth consulting reports, which may include marketing plans, financing and budgeting, management consulting and business planning and feasibility studies, to the locally-owned entities.

“The course is highly engaging and provides experiential, service-based learning opportunities for the students,” says Barber. “These types of projects are a great way for business economics students to engage with the Savannah community.”

Students assisting the Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market will additionally gain hands-on knowledge of coordinating vendors, performers and entertainers while those assisting Mike Holland’s State Farm Agency will explore the evolving business of insurance. 

Armstrong’s Department of Economics has experienced 60 percent growth since the B.S. in Business Economics program began in the fall of 2014.