April 27, 2017(Springfield, OH) –Clark State Community College and the Springfield Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are excited to announce a new partnership between the two organizations. As a result of this collaboration, SBDC will be relocating its offices to the Brinkman Educational Center in downtown Springfield effective June 1.
By co-locating, the SBDC will be better positioned to partner with Clark State’s faculty and workforce development staff to provide high quality services to the business community in Springfield and Clark and Champaign counties.
“My goal is that when someone talks about wanting to start or grow a business, two or three people encourage them to reach out to the Small Business Development Center at Clark State,” said Rob Alexander, the newly-appointed executive director of SBDC, Inc. “This joint effort that we’re announcing today is a huge step toward a more vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Springfield and the surrounding area.”
“Clark State is excited about this new partnership with SBDC,” said Toni Overholser, director of workforce and business solutions at Clark State. “The Clark State workforce development staff can offer members of the business community an additional layer of customized training and consulting that consists of a broader array of services, including employee training and pre-screening. We look forward to working with SBDC staff to support the growth of local business in our community.”
“The Chamber of Greater Springfield applauds the SBDC and their board’s decision to relocate their facilities to Clark State’s campus in downtown Springfield. Their new location at the Brinkman Educational Center will give them more visibility and make them more accessible to the business community,” said Horton Hobbs IV, vice president, economic development for The Chamber of Greater Springfield. “They will be in the heartbeat of where things are changing in our community. We count SBDC as a strong partner and look forward to working with them in their new location.”
“Small businesses are the job creators and innovators of Ohio’s economy,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. “We are excited this new partnership will continue to develop and grow Ohio small businesses in the region.”
Within the last five years, SBDC consultants have spent nearly 7,500 hours meeting with clients, which played a direct role in the creation of 56 new business startups and 342 new jobs. Over 33 years, SBDC has made 335 loans to business owners totaling around $20 million, which has leveraged an additional $45 million in commercial lending from area banks.
The SBDC was founded by the City of Springfield in 1984, and the City Commission provides annual support for the mission of the SBDC to enhance the business environment within the City.
About the Small Business Development Center
The SBDC provides training and consulting services to local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs at no cost to them. They also manage a variety of business loan programs designed to increase access to startup and expansion capital.