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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

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SBDC helps businesses grow, increase sales, create and retain jobs in 2018

By Brad Bapst
SBDC Director

One of the core components of the Business Development Network at The Ohio State University South Centers continues to be the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). SBDC 

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.  

A vital component of the SBDC is the Export Assistance Network (EAN). International markets provide opportunities for businesses to increase sales and create jobs. Many small companies do not have the expertise or resources to expand their business into international markets. The EAN helps companies to expand globally through counseling in the areas of market research, due diligence, general export education, export readiness assessments, and trade missions.

During fiscal year 2018, the SBDC at the OSU South Centers provided the following assistance to entrepreneurs and businesses in the Southern Ohio region:

  • Provided consulting to 334 clients, of which 229 received five or more hours of consulting
  • Assisted with starting 25 businesses
  • Helped clients obtain $10,214,900 in capital
  • Logged 4,323 consulting hours
  • Held 19 training events with 344 attendees
  • SBDC Clients created 106 new jobs and retained 532 jobs
  • Recorded $4,944,400 in general sales growth for clients 

Regional partnerships are the primary source of referrals for the SBDC at South Centers.  Collaborative efforts with local chambers of commerce and economic development offices serve as the primary conduit to connect entrepreneurs with the services of the SBDC. South Centers also maintains formal agreements with local universities for regional economic development collaboration.  Pike County Community Action and the Minority Business Assistance Center are also key partners with the SBDC.  These relationships help the region’s entrepreneurs, business owners and small manufacturers with technical assistance and training.

Core SBDC Services Include:

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