The Small Business Development Center (SBDC)at Central Oregon Community College (COCC)has seen the local business climate continue to improve throughout 2014. The center’s clients are about half pre-venture and half existing businesses.
The Central Oregon SBDC is one of nineteen centers throughout the state that work with many businesses from start-up to larger traded sector companies offering many programs that include training and one-to-one advising. In the past year the local center has worked with 396 clients who have created or retained 88 jobs, adding$2,278,500 in capital infusion to their businesses while they saw an increase in sales of $1,716,642.The goal of the SBDC is to have a positive impact on the growth and sustainability of Central Oregon businesses.
The outlook for many of these businesses continues to improve as the economy grows and businesses spend more dollars on new product development, expanding into new markets and improving their business processes. Availability of capital is also playing a role in this growth.
Oregon has just opened up a new source of capital for small businesses with the Community Public Offering. This allows Oregon residents to invest up to $2,500 in Oregon businesses without being an accredited investor.
“We are seeing more businesses be intentional about getting to that next level as they are investing in activities that are expanding their opportunities for growth,” said Steve Curley, director of the center at COCC. “This is great news for the Central Oregon economy as it will provide more jobs for our region over the long term.”
In this improving climate of growth, the SBDC is available to help businesses take advantage of these opportunities. They have many resources that will help them right where they are and create a plan to get to the next level. Seven staff advisors are available to meet with businesses by appointment throughout the tri-county region, from Madras to La Pine and Sisters to Prineville.
The Small Business Development Center at Central Oregon Community College is focused on helping build Oregon’s best businesses. They offer no-cost one-to-one business advising, business planning, educational workshops, market research and assistance in accessing capital for businesses.
The goal of the SBDC is to have a positive impact on the growth and sustainability of Central Oregon economy.
For more information on available services, contact the SBDC at 541-383-7290 or www.cocc.edu/sbdc.
