About Us
Who We Are
The SBDC is the product of a unique partnership between the Regional Development Company and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Its mission is to create, or keep, jobs in Northwest Indiana by assisting small to mid size businesses. We are developing Northwest Indiana one business at a time.
Impact Analysis
As of December 31, 2006 261 Clients have been counseled this year for a total of 1192 Session Hours. We have also presented 91 training session attended by 1332 participants. We have taken 2499 calls/contacts for information that did not develop into a case, and approx 996 Business Information Kits have been mailed out or given out at presentations. With our assistance our clients have received $4,546,352. in loans and funding assistance.
What We Do
The Small Business Development Center counsels existing companies, as well as start-ups, on a wide range of business topics. The Centers can assist your organization in writing or updating its business and marketing plans; help you analyze your financial needs and show you how to raise funds for your business. The SBDC also holds specialized seminars from "How to Start A Business," to "Record-Keeping," to "Business Planning," to "Marketing/Advertising." Call for a calendar of upcoming seminars. There's usually a small fee for attendance, but most of the thousands of people who've attended our seminars tell us they got much more than their money's worth. The SBDC's staff of business professionals can probably answer your questions. But if not, they can connect you with someone who can. Most of SBDC's services are delivered at no cost whatsoever and our outside volunteers will provide at least their initial assistance for free, too. We don't lend money...but we can help! Whether you need more of it, or just need a more effective way to allocate what you have, we can probably play a key role. We'll help you prepare the material needed by bankers, investors, or other financial resources. We know what you're looking for, and we can usually tell you what it will take to get your funding. Sometimes we can direct you into special financing programs offered by the SBA, state or local governments, and other entities.