February 5, 2016
ARCHBOLD, Ohio — A new Small Business Development Center opens today at Northwest State Community College, as a result of a cooperative partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Ohio Development Services Agency, community college and many economic development organizations throughout the region. Funded in part by the SBA, SBDCs help entrepreneurs realize the dream of business ownership and help existing businesses remain competitive in a complex, ever-changing global marketplace.
“Small businesses in northwest Ohio now have a one-stop shop for assistance and guidance, thanks in part to the strong partnership between the SBA and Ohio, as well as the steadfast support of local economic development institutions,” SBA’s Cleveland Deputy District Director Jim Donato said. “Today is the start of new opportunity for entrepreneurship, small business growth and job creation in this region.”
The Ohio Small Business Development Centers Network is the premier technical assistance program for the state’s small businesses. This addition to the approximately 30 SBDC locations will serve the state’s northwest region, which has been without an SBDC for nearly five years. Staffed by trained business advisors, the center will provide in-depth, one-on-one counseling for small businesses. Additional services will include training, e-counseling, quality-based assessments, technical assistance, loan packaging guidance, and information on federal, state and local regulations and programs. The current Ohio SBDC training calendar can be found here.
Today, federal, state and local partnerships contribute more than $10 million in cash and resources to support Ohio small business development. Additional organizations involved in the new SBDC’s development include: Defiance County Economic Development, Fulton County Economic Development Corporation, the Community Improvement Corporation of Henry County, Pauling County Economic Development, Inc., and the Williams County Economic Development Corporation.
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