Today is SBDC Day. It is a day to celebrate Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) nationwide for all of the work they do in assisting small businesses. America's SBDC Iowa is part of a nationwide network of SBDCs that provides confidential, customized business counseling services at no charge to business startups and existing businesses in all 99 counties.

 

In Iowa, there are 266,382 small businesses employing 641,288 individuals. Nearly 50% of all workers in the state are employed by a small business, and the SBDC in Iowa helps add to these numbers each year. During the last year, clients of the SBDC:

Small business ownership and entrepreneurship is strong in Iowa. Each year the Iowa SBDC selects two small businesses for the Neal Smith Entrepreneur Award and the Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneurial Award. On March 8, the 2018 Neal Smith Entrepreneurs of the Year, Brad and Angie Barber (Cabin Coffee), and the 2018 Deb Dalziel Woman Entrepreneurial Award winner, Doreen Roy (Wholesome Basket, Gypsi, and Red Screen Door), were recognized by the Iowa SBDC and their legislators for their contributions to Iowa with a special ceremony at the State Capitol. The awardees also received formal recognition in both the House and Senate chambers. 

There is a long history of support for small business in the state. L ongest-serving Iowan in the U.S. House of Representatives  Neal Smith was instrumental in the development of the SBDC program at the federal level. He introduced legislation to establish a pilot program of the SBDC. As a result, the Iowa SBDC was launched in 1981 as one of the first 20 programs in the country.

 

The SBDC works to understand the issues and challenges that small businesses face each day. One of the issues increasingly faced by business owners is cybersecurity. The SBDC has developed a cybersecurity workbook to help small businesses understand what to be aware of and how to protect themselves. The SBDC also offers a website where individuals can  assess their knowledge of cybersecurity and access resources to help keep their businesses safe.

 

If you are looking to start a business or expand an existing business, or if you are ready to make plans for a new owner of your business, the Iowa SBDC can help. There are 15 locations throughout the state ready to offer assistance. Visit www.iowasbdc.org to find out more and to start working on your small business. Also join the fun and support #SBDCDay on twitter!

Cabin Coffee business owners Brad and Angie Barber are awarded the 2018 Neal Smith Entrepreneurs of the Year at the State Capitol. From left to right: Iowa SBDC Director Lisa Shimkat, Representative Mary Ann Hanusa, NIACC Pappajohn Center Director Tim Putnam, Senator Amanda Ragan, NIACC President Steve Schultz, Speaker of the House Linda Upmeyer, Angie Barber, Brad Barber, Senator Bill Dotzler, North Iowa Business Incubator Director Dan Winegarden, and North Iowa Area SBDC Regional Director Brook Boehmler.