Illinois Small Business Development Center Network celebrates 30 years
Illinois Small Business Development Centers, which have been providing business assistance to new and existing businesses throughout the state of Illinois since 1984, are recognizing the milestone with the theme, "Celebrating 30 Years of Small Business Success." Since its inception, the Illinois SBDC Network has served over 1,063,416 pre-venture and existing small businesses and has assisted clients secure access to over $3.25 billion in debt and equity business financing.
The Illinois SBDC at the College of Lake County, based in Grayslake with offices in Vernon Hills and Waukegan, has served the Lake County area since 1985.
"The Small Business Development Center at CLC has positively impacted the economic vitality of Lake County since it began," said Roneida Martin, executive director of the Workforce and Professional Development Institute at the college. "Through one-on-one counseling, training, loan package preparation and many other services, the SBDC has assisted in the creation of hundreds of businesses that employ Lake County residents who spend their dollars in the county and their communities. In 2014, the Small Business Development Center added an International Trade Center to assist businesses in their quest to participate in the global economy. The college is proud to be a partner."
Small businesses significantly impact the Illinois economy. Defined as those with fewer than 500 employees, these businesses represent 98.3 percent of all employers in the state and employ 48 percent of the private-sector labor force. Small businesses are crucial to the fiscal condition of the state and numbered nearly 1.2 million in 2011.
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program was created by the federal Small Business Act of 1980 and the first centers were opened in Illinois in 1984. The Illinois SBDCs are funded through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and a cross section of local/regional hosts focused on education and business development including universities, community colleges and non-profit organizations. In Lake County, local funding is provided by the College of Lake County.
The program provides no cost one-on-one, confidential business consulting services to businesses at all stages of development. Individuals considering a business start-up can contact their local SBDC for help with organization, business structure and financial projections. Existing businesses may also use the program's services as they relate to operations and customer relations. Small business owners even consult with an SBDC when transitioning their business to a new generation of ownership.
SBDC offices also provide low-cost workshops providing speakers on a variety of business-related topics. This month offerings at the Illinois SBDC at the College of Lake County include: Starting your Business in Illinois, Start Strong Business Boot Camp, Growing Your Business/Keeping Your Money series and Introduction to QuickBooks. For more information, call (847) 543-2033, email illinoissbdc@clcillinois.edu, visit www.clcillinois.edu/sbdc-itc or visit the office at 19351 W. Washington St., Room T302, Grayslake, IL 60030.
To find out more about Illinois SBDCs, call (1-800-252-2923) or visit www.ilsbdc.biz. The Illinois SBDC is an accredited member of America's SBDC.
The Workforce and Professional Development Institute of the College of Lake County provides training, consulting and cutting-edge courses for businesses, professionals and the community through its five areas: Center for Personal Enrichment, Client Solutions, Continuing Professional Development, IL Small Business Development and International Trade Center and Judicial Services.
CLC Success story:
Pigtale Twist is a manufacturer and distributor of gourmet salad dressings and toppings. Owner Meg Dahmer consulted with the Illinois SBDC at the College of Lake County originally for assistance with cash flow projections in preparation for obtaining a bank loan to grow sales. Today, she is meeting with investors to provide additional capital to allow the company to expand into Wisconsin as well as to increase the number of local vendors who will carry her products.