SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
David McLaren, Director
1501 West Townline Street
Creston,  Iowa 50801
641-782-1483

The South Central Iowa SBDC provides individualized and confidential small business counseling and consulting services to startup and existing small businesses.

Upcoming SBDC Classes and Offerings in Creston

Networking Events for Union County Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Sponsored by: Grow Rural Opportunities from Within - GROW

Let’s Talk Marketing
October 28, 2008, 11:30-1:00 pm
Room 120, SWCC Instructional Center

 
Marketing use to be EASY – “Whatever color you want as long as it is black” (Henry Ford about the Model T).  Today automakers look at a car through the eyes of the consumer; they look at attributes including price, status, fuel economy, color, comfort, etc.  Let’s Talk Marketing will include a panel of local marketing professionals discussing their marketing successes and failures.  Join us for a free lunch and join in the discussion.  Registration is FREE. To register, contact SWCC Adult & Continuing Education at 641-782-1449, or cwhite@swcciowa.edu.
 

Let’s Talk Employees
November 25, 2008, 11:30-1:00 pm
Multi-purpose Room, SWCC Performing Arts Center

 
Can’t afford to pay high cost benefits?  Tired of training employees to see them leave for higher paying jobs or benefits? Looking for innovative and creative ways to bring potential employees into Union County?  Let’s Talk Employees will include a discussion of the generational differences of employees and how to capitalize on those differences.  Join in the discussion and enjoy a free lunch.  Registration is FREE.  To register, contact SWCC Adult & Continuing Education at 641-782-1449, or cwhite@swcciowa.edu.
 

Let’s Talk Profits
Accounting & Finance for Entrepreneurs
Class meets 3 times, November 11, 13, and 18, 2008, 2:00-5:00 pm
 Computer Lab Room 206, SWCC Instructional Center

 
Why financial statements?  Can you use them to make better and more profitable decisions?  This hands-on class will take you through financial statements from how they are prepared to seeing how they talk to each other and most importantly how you can use them to make better decisions and achieve your financial goals.  Registration is FREE for Union County businesses and entrepreneurs. Registration is $90.00 for Non-Union County businesses and entrepreneurs.  To register, contact SWCC Adult & Continuing Education at 641-782-1449, or cwhite@swcciowa.edu.
 
For more information contact:
 
Wayne Pantini, Union County Development Association, 641-782-2003
Ellen Gerharz, Creston Chamber of Commerce, 641-782-7021
Dave McLaren, South Central Iowa Small Business Development Center, 641-782-1483
 


Grow Rural Opportunities from Within (GROW)
(Cost sharing of professional technical assistance)

GROW is a one year SBA/SBDC funded program dedicated to facilitating the growth of entrepreneurial activities in Union County managed by South Central Iowa SBDC, Union County Development Association, and Creston Chamber of Commerce.

Union County Development Association/MyEntreNet and South Central Iowa SBDC have developed a Grow Rural Opportunities from Within (GROW) Cost Share Program for Union County businesses and entrepreneurs.

GROW provides cost sharing of local professional technical assistance for Union County businesses and entrepreneurs.  GROW will share the cost of hiring a local resource provider at a dollar for dollar match up to $400.  For example, total cost of $1,000 - GROW pays $400, total cost of $800 - GROW pays $400, total cost of $600 - GROW pays $300. Types of eligible local technical assistance include:

1. Website development/modifications
2. Accounting/Business consulting
3. On-site software training such as QuickBooks
4. Other technical assistance with SBDC approval

Cost Share:  Dollar for Dollar match up to $400 per business/entrepreneur
Target:  20 Union County business/entrepreneurs
Total Fund Available: $7,500

Eligibility and Application Procedures

Eligibility:
1. Applicant must be located in Union County
2. Applicant must be registered with MyEntreNet System
3. Applicant must be a SBDC client (complete and sign SBA Form 641)
4. Applicant must make a commitment to attend/participate in at least 2 Union County/MyEntreNet activities such as the January 24th Doing Business On-line lunch

Application Procedures:
Submit a written description of technical assistance needed, estimated costs and how the assistance will provide economic benefit such as increase sales, decrease cost, retain employees, increase jobs, etc.

Submit application to:
Dave McLaren
GROW/SBDC
1501 W. Townline
Creston, IA 50851
mclaren@swcciowa.edu

Applications will be reviewed in the order received.  Upon approval, applicants must submit a work plan, signed by the applicant and technical assistance provider, identifying work to be completed and costs.

Completed Projects:
Upon completion, the technical assistance provider, not the applicant, must submit an invoice to South Central Iowa SBDC, 1501 W. Townline, Creston, IA 50851, for agreed upon cost share.  The SBDC will not be responsible for any charges that exceed the 1:1 cost share or total cost share exceeding $400.

For more information, contact Dave McLaren 641-782-1483, mclaren@swcciowa.edu