The Iowa Small Business Development Center is based in Ames. | facebook.com/IowaSBDC/photos/10158717073118737
The Iowa Small Business Development Center is based in Ames. | facebook.com/IowaSBDC/photos/10158717073118737
An outreach program at Iowa State University received a national award for helping local small businesses during the pandemic. The Iowa Small Business Development Center is a program operating out of the College of Business and the Iowa State University Office of Economic Development and Industry Relations.
The organization was awarded the 2021 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Place Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities for creating and distributing photo boxes to every single community in the state of Iowa so businesses can take professional photographs of their products for marketing purposes, KCCI News reported Dec. 6.
The center's mission is to support the economic development of Iowa by providing entrepreneurs and businesses with the individual consultation and educational resources necessary to succeed.
The organization was serving about 5,000 businesses before the pandemic, according to KCCI News. That rose to 70,000 in the first three months after COVID-19 arrived.
"What a great feature from KCCI on an organization that does so much to assist Iowa small businesses! Thanks for all you do, America's SBDC Iowa!" Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses of Iowa wrote on its Facebook page.
While the award is welcomed, Lisa Shimkat of the Iowa Small Business Development Center, said the organization is looking for other ways to help businesses face the challenges of surviving the pandemic, KCCI News reported Dec. 7.
“As consumers, you’ve seen it as well because restaurants have changed hours of operation because of staffing shortages,” Shimkat said. “Manufacturers are having a hard time getting some of their employees.”
The center's service is free to anyone looking to start a business or even current small business owners. Founded in 1981, the organization also offers affordable workshops that teach practical skills and techniques, conduct research and provide comprehensive information services.
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