BRIDGE CITY, Texas (August 4, 2026) — The Lamar State College Port Arthur Small Business
Development Center (SBDC), in collaboration with the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce, will
host “From Prompting to Productivity: Practical AI for Small Business,” a Lunch & Learn
designed to help small business owners and entrepreneurs use artificial intelligence to improve
productivity, efficiency, and business performance.
The workshop will be held Tuesday, August 25, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the
Bridge City Community Center, 105 Parkside Drive, Bridge City, Texas 77611. Registration is
required in advance. The registration fee is $29 per person, which includes lunch.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how businesses operate, but the greatest opportunity
for small businesses is not simply adding more AI tools. It is learning how to apply the right
technology to save time, improve productivity, strengthen operations, and support long-term
business growth.
This practical workshop will combine real-world business examples, live demonstrations, and
implementation guidance to help small business owners move beyond basic prompting and
begin using AI more strategically. Participants will explore how to assess their business’s AI
readiness, automate routine processes, protect sensitive business data, recognize when
technical expertise may be needed, and plan for AI-related investments within their financial
projections.
Key takeaways will include:
• Assessing your business’s AI readiness
• Moving beyond prompting to improve productivity
• Identifying opportunities to automate routine business processes
• Protecting business data and reducing AI-related risks
• Incorporating AI investments into lender-ready financial projections
The workshop is designed for small business owners, entrepreneurs, managers, and decision-
makers who are interested in using AI to improve productivity, efficiency, and overall business
performance.
“This workshop is about helping small business owners understand how to move from simply
experimenting with AI to using it as a practical business tool,” said Dana Espinal, MBA, Director
of the Lamar State College Port Arthur SBDC. “As technology continues to evolve, our goal is to
give entrepreneurs the knowledge and confidence to identify where AI can make a meaningful
difference in their businesses while also understanding the importance of data security,
planning, and responsible implementation.”
The workshop will be led by Jasmin Espy Speed, Director of the Prairie View A&M University
Small Business Development Center, and Erick Barreat, Founder and CEO of EB DevTech LLC.
Their combined expertise will provide participants with practical insight into applying AI to real-
world business challenges and opportunities.
The From Prompting to Productivity: Practical AI for Small Business Lunch & Learn is
presented in collaboration with the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce and catering will be
provided by Cajun Ventures
Event Details:
What: From Prompting to Productivity: Practical AI for Small Business
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Bridge City Community Center, 105 Parkside Drive, Bridge City, Texas 77611
Cost: $29.00 per person
Trainers: Jasmin Espy Speed, Director, Prairie View A&M University Small Business
Development Center; and Erick Barreat, Founder & CEO, EB DevTech LLC
For more information, contact Dana Espinal at espinaldm@lamarpa.edu or (409) 984-6531.
The LSCPA SBDC coverage area includes the municipalities of Port Arthur, Groves, Nederland,
Port Neches, Bridge City, Orange and Vidor. All Southeast Texas small businesses are welcome
to contact the center for assistance.
The Lamar State College Port Arthur SBDC is a business advising and training center of the
University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network, serving 32 counties in Southeast Texas.
The SBDC program is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small
Business Administration. The Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network is financed with $3.25 million
(46%) in federal funding and $3.8 million (54%) in nonfederal funding.
