Thank you for your support!
Thank you for your support of the McLean County SBDC at Illinois State University...
SnapShot Data
Our updated numbers regarding economic impact in our community based on SBDC assistance...
2006 Lender's Forum
For those in "the trenches" to learn about the latest rules regarding various loan programs from our distinguished panel...
Bakery Rises with SBDC Help
Meet one of our early success stories...
Training for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Intensive training in small business management made possible with a grant from the US Department of Labor...
Contributing Sponsor Hightlight
The Economic Development Council has been one of the many businesses and organizations within our community to provide needed financial support for our free-of-charge services to the small business community...
Profiting from the Value Shift
Most business people run their companies by thinking about products...
From the McLean County SBDC Director...
Thank you for supporting the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Illinois State University at Illinois State University. We passed our first year anniversary and would not have made it without support from many of you!
Thanks to all those who attended our first anniversary celebration on Friday, March 31st. Our first annual report, which provided highlights on some of our first year success stories and goals for 2006, was mailed in early April.
Snapshot Data
While the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Illinois State University is here to help all businesses in McLean, DeWitt, and Livingston Counties, we are ultimately judged by the positive economic impact created in our area.
The following are our updated statistics regarding economic impact in our community based on SBDC assistance.
2006 Lender's Forum
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Illinois State University is hosting a Forum for local small business commercial lenders on June 21st at 8:30 AM in Community Room 1407 at Heartland Community College.
Designed for local lenders, the Lender’s Forum will provide information about government financing programs for small businesses. Presenters include government representatives from The U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Small Business Growth Corporation, Illinois Business Financial Services, the Office of Judy Baar Topinka, Illinois State Treasurer, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the Economic Development Council of Bloomington-Normal.
Bakery Rises with SBDC Help
Kelly’s Bakery and Café opened in November 2005 after seeking help from the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Illinois State University. The principle owners, Kelly and Jamie Mathy, sought assistance in analyzing the previous owner’s finances to find ways to operate more efficiently.
"They helped us trudge through (the finances) and see what the strengths and weaknesses were. The SBDC helped us compare where (Pumpernickel's) was in comparison to other like businesses and what we needed to do in order to be financially stable and successful," Mathy said.
Training for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Illinois State University has been awarded a $50,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Labor to help train dislocated and underemployed workers in Central Illinois.
The SBDC will provide training to displaced Mitsubishi Motors workers this summer, and another training session for workers next summer. The training will consist of more than 40 class hours on subjects such as business management, human resources practices, tax issues, and marketing. The training will allow workers who have shown an interest in starting their own businesses or working in small businesses to gain the advantage they need to succeed in a new career path.
Contributing Sponsor Highlight: The Economic Development Council of Bloomington-Normal
As an organization whose mission is to attract new and retain existing business and industry for McLean County, IL, it makes sense that the Economic Development Council (EDC) of Bloomington-Normal would be a supporter of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Illinois State University.
“The EDC has been a strong supporter of the SBDC since its inception,” stated EDC CEO Marty Vanags. “Small and locally created business is the cornerstone of economic development and job growth in McLean County. Our partnership with the SBDC only serves to strengthen both organization’s ability and capacity to serve our clientele.”
Profiting from the Value Shift
There’s a subtle shift that goes in companies who are strongly positioned for growth versus average companies on the path of mediocrity. The change is called the “value shift” and takes the company's focus away from selling products or services and shifts it over to creating real value for customers.
Ultimately customers do not buy what your products or services are; they buy what they will do for them. Profits are the rewards for creating value for customers. Growth firms will have a strong emphasis on understanding and increasing the value customers get from what they sell.
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