Northwest Indiana's Small Business Development Center, which has been
providing services for 20 years, recently redeveloped its programs and
moved to a new home.
Purdue University Calumet has became the
host of the group, which is a resource for existing small business
owners and for those considering to start a business. The SBDC now is
located at the Purdue Technology Center, 9800 Connecticut Drive, here
and also has a satellite office in Michigan City with business advisers
available at both locations.
A celebration of the Crown Point location is planned at an
invitation-only program Thursday at Avalon Manor Banquet Center in
Hobart. The SBDC is a funded partnership between the U.S Small Business
Administration, Indiana Economic Development Corp. and Purdue.
The
program offers a range of services, such as free one-on-one
confidential consulting with a personal advisor, on-hand reference
materials, comprehensive training opportunities and software programs
(designed for business plans, financial diagnostic and strategic
analysis) at a minimal cost, informative business seminars and
workshops, according to a press release.
Courses and seminars
are instructed by leaders from higher education, government,
professional associations and include topics that teach basic and
advanced business skills.
"Our focus is to have a positive and
measurable impact on the formation, growth, and sustainability of small
businesses and develop strong entrepreneurial communities in the
Northwest Indiana region,'' said Joshua Lybolt, SBDC regional director.
The
new SBDC team is made up of six business advisers with combined
professional and educational background in Business Management,
Marketing, Economics, Finance and earned MBA degrees: Joshua Lybolt,
LeAnn McCrum, Todd Dickard, Garry Bradley, Cindy Bertram and Jacquie
Spearman. The staff also includes Administrative Assistant Maggie
Havens, two interns and one student worker from Purdue University
Calumet.
For more information, visit
www.nwisbdc.org or call (219) 644-3513.