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Last updated on Tuesday, December 9, 2014
(BLOOMINGTON) - The City of Bloomington has partnered with Monroe County, Indiana University (IU) and Ivy Tech to support the Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) that serves Bloomington, Monroe County and the surrounding region.
This partnership will ensure local support to the ISBDC and promote growth and sustainability to the small businesses in Indiana.
The mission of the ISBDC is to support the "formation, growth and sustainability of small businesses in Indiana and to help Hoosier Entrepreneurs start stronger, grow faster and work smarter." In November, both the Bloomington City Council and Monroe County Council approved 2014 - 2015 budgets, which included funding support for the ISBDC.
For several years, Indiana University has provided $10,000 in annual support to the ISBDC. For the ISBDC's 2014 - 2015 budget year, both the City of Bloomington and Monroe County are adding $10,000 each to support services specifically for Bloomington and Monroe County businesses. Ivy Tech Community College's Gayle and Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship also added its support this year by providing free office, meeting and training space for the local ISBDC.
"We are pleased to be able to partner with the City of Bloomington, IU and Ivy Tech to keep these services available to local residents who want to start and grow their businesses," said County Commissioner Iris Kiesling.
County Council President Geoff McKim said that giving small businesses the tools to thrive and grow is critical to sustaining our local economy.
Troy Phelps, ISBDC Region 8 interim director, says as funding continues to be reduced at the State level, the additional financing and support from these local partners will provide the ISBDC with the resources to continue providing services to small business in the area.
"We are grateful that the City of Bloomington and Monroe County understand the need for assisting small businesses locally," said Phelps. "As partners of Indiana University and Ivy Tech Community College, they will help small businesses move forward and grow in the community."
Danise Alano-Martin, Economic and Sustainable Development Director for the City of Bloomington, said that the ISBDC is an important component in the City's overall entrepreneurship ecosystem.
"The ISBDC provides entrepreneurs with critical pathways as they seek to launch and grow their small businesses," said Alano-Martin. "By joining with our partners to ensure that the local ISBDC office has the resources it needs, together we ensure that our area's entrepreneurs will continue to have this critical support available to them."
Jeb Conrad, Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, said the addition of City and County support is important.
"The Chamber is and has been a strong advocate for the services provided to small business through the ISBDC, and financial support from our City and County will allow that asset to remain here," said Conrad. "It is rewarding to see our local government officials' commitment to provide business growth support for local small business."
"Combining the resources of local government with academia will give our region's small businesses the tools for success, which will translate to strengthening our economy and better job opportunities. It is one of the best investments that local government can make," said Kirk White, Indiana University's ISBDC board member and former Monroe County Commissioner.
The local ISBDC office is eager to work with local businesses and entrepreneurs. The office is located at Ivy Tech's Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship, 2088 S. Liberty Dr., Suite 114. For more information, please visit http://isbdc.org/locations/west-central-isbdc/.
About the Indiana Small Business Development Centers
The Indiana Small Business Development Centers (ISBDC) support the formation, growth and sustainability of Indiana's small businesses by providing entrepreneurs expert guidance and access to a network of resources. Funding for the regional ISBDCs comes from state universities, chambers of commerce, local government offices, and banks. Statewide financial support is provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of Indiana and Ivy Tech Community College. Administratively, the ISBDC Lead Center is operated by the Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (OSBE), an agency of the Office of Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann. To learn more about the ISBDC and to become a client, please visit http://isbdc.org.
For more information on the ISBDC, please visit http://isbdc.org/locations/west-central-isbdc/.
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