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South Centers

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

Summer means SOACDF Grant season for SBDC

Brad Bapst
SBDC Director

With the summer months quickly passing by, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is busy serving the needs of clients in Southern Ohio.  
One of the key services the center provides is assistance with applications to the Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation (SOACDF) for the Ag Development Grant and the Young Farmer Grant programs. 

This is a program where our SBDC counselors work closely with area farmers to write business plans for projects that will be submitted to the SOACDF for potential grant funding to assist with their project. Our counselors assist individuals in exploring, completing, and submitting applications for these programs. You can see details and deadlines about the program at soacdf.net.  Eligible parties must submit their completed application by August 31, 2019.

This service aligns with the key services the SBDC provides to entrepreneurs in Southern Ohio.  The center continues to grow through its successes in assisting business achieve their goals. The SBDC provides business counseling and assistance to individuals who are either starting or growing their business. The Piketon center is staffed with highly-trained, Certified Business Advisors® (CBA) to help small businesses and entrepreneurs with development and growth to increase sales and create jobs in their local communities.

These services are provided free of charge with funding provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA).  A sample listing of the services offered is below.  Additional service offerings may be available through other business development programs located at the South Centers or through our wide network of regional partners. 
Services Include:

  • One-on-One business counseling
  • Strategic business planning
  • Cash flow analysis
  • Financial projections development
  • Identifying sources of capital
  • Workshops and training programs
  • Marketing strategy development
  • Market feasibility and research
  • Business assessment evaluation
  • Export Assistance


To schedule an appointment to meet with one of our highly trained counselors, contact Brad Bapst, SBDC Center Director at 740-289-2071 ext.230, or bapst.4@osu.edu