Two organizations are using their combined strengths to offer extensive quality training and assistance to start-up businesses. The Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) of Ohio are partnering with SCORE's Southern Ohio District to offer services that will encourage small businesses to grow, expand, and increase productivity, providing long-term sustainable success.
The Small Business Development Center of Ohio Network was created in 1985 through a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Ohio Department of Development. The SBDC provides quality in-depth business management consulting, training and technical assistance.
SCORE was organized in 1965 and is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. It is a nonprofit organization whose 13,000 national volunteers are successful entrepreneurs and executives who share their "no cost" expertise to start up and in business clients. Some volunteers have mentored their clients for more than 10+ years.
Article Photos
From left, Mary Jane Good, Southern Ohio SCORE district director; Barbara Handschumacher, Mid-Ohio Valley SCORE; Tom Mueller, SBA Columbus district director, Pamela Lankford, Marietta SBDC director; Doug Sweazy, SBA Columbus district business development specialist; Karen Shauri, Ohio SBDC state director.
Both Ohio's SBDC's and SCORE's Southern Ohio District will provide counseling and mentoring to individuals and groups where knowledge and guidance are shared from previous experiences, and will host informational seminars and workshops coaching and educating businesses about available services and resources, maximizing business potential.
"Our focus is to educate and guide businesses about the opportunities and resources available, putting the right tools in their hands and allowing company owners to benefit and strengthen their bottom line," said Karen Shauri, State Director of SBDC of Ohio. "This partnership increases our network reach and maximizes both organizations' strengths and talents."
To accomplish these objectives, the Ohio SBDC program links federal and state government resources and local public/private nonprofit resources to meet the needs of the small business community.
"The combined business objective of our partnership is to help strengthen our clients' opportunities for successful growth and profitability" said Mary Jane Good, SCORE's Southern Ohio District Director.
The focal point of the collaboration is small business development. This joint effort will enable the organizations to maximize resources to best reach goals. By partnering two organizations, Ohio's business community can have access to a wide variety of resources, furthering economic growth and success.
The Ohio SBDC at Marietta and the Mid-Ohio Valley SCORE have partnered for several years to provide the most comprehensive services to small businesses in the area. Joint counseling sessions with a SCORE mentor and SBDC Certified Business Advisor will impart to the client multiple sources of information.
The SBDCs foster a strong climate for small business growth with many local community partners including colleges and universities, economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, and other community organizations. In 2010, SBDCs served more than 25,000 clients and assisted with 432 business starts.
SCORE has strong business partnerships with Chambers of Commerce, various universities, schools, libraries, city officials, and organizations. Since October 1, 2010 the Southern Ohio District has provided more than 2,695 services to interested individuals in the form of face to face, online counseling, and seminars. The District has Chapters in Columbus, Dayton, Greater Cincinnati, Newark, Chillicothe and Marietta.
To receive no-cost assistance from the Ohio SBDC at Marietta and SCORE, contact 373-5150 or info@sbdcmarietta.org. To request SCORE counseling specifically, www.eastcentralohioscore.org. For more information on joining SCORE as a counselor, contact any of the above. Meetings are at 10 a.m. on the last Thursday of each month at the SBDC office at 308 Front St., Marietta.
