SAVANNAH — Dennis Barber, Armstrong State University assistant professor of economics and director of the Small Business Institute, recently secured agreements with five 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,” Barber said. “These types of projects are a great way for business-economics students to engage with the Savannah community.”

Armstrong’s department of economics has experienced 60 percent growth since the bachelor’s program in business economics began in fall 2014, according to a news release from the school.