Success Stories

Success Story: Iowa

• Northwest Iowa SBDC
• SBDC Counselor: Kelly McCarty
• Client: The Bear Coffeehouse + Wine Bar – SBDC client since 2009

“Kelly lent tremendous expertise and provided resources and support as we were creating a business plan and searching for best practices.” – Leann and David Jacobsen, Owners of the The Bear Coffeehouse + Wine Bar

Impact of working with the Northwest Iowa SBDC: With an incredible amount of community support and some help from Kelly McCarty, director of the Northwest Iowa SBDC, Leann and David were able to create The Bear. Kelly assisted the experienced business owners by helping with market research, financial planning and loan applications.

Read the whole story, and learn more about the Iowa SBDC and The Bear Coffeehouse + Wine Bar.

Success Story: Iowa

•  Southeastern Iowa SBDC
•  SBDC Counselor: Janine Clover
•  Client: Majestic Estate, LLC – SBDC client since 2014

“When you start a business you don’t know what you need in terms of permits, licensing, and forms. The SBDC is a great guidance . . .” — Tammy Adams, co-owner, with sister Lorraine Guerra, of Majestic Estate, LLC.

Impact of working with the Iowa SBDC: The sisters took a business plan writing class offered by Janine Clover, director of the Southeastern SBDC in Burlington. With her guidance, they were able to put together a detailed business plan that they entered into the 2015 Des Moines County Business Plan Competition in May. Lorraine and Tammy were the overall winners of the competition and received a $5,000 seed capital grant intended to support their company’s start‐up costs.

Read the whole story, and learn more about Majestic Estate, LLC and the Iowa SBDC.

Success Story: Missouri

• Howell County, Missouri SBTDC
• SBTDC Counselor: Willis Mushrush
• Client: Theodosia Family Medical Clinic, LLC – SBTDC client since 2012

“Willis helped so much to meet our goal. He’s been really good.”- Lisa Schofield, owner, Theodosia Family Medical Clinic, LLC

Impact of working with Missouri SBTDC: To say there’s a shortage of healthcare providers in rural Ozark County is an understatement — There isn’t one resident physician in the entire county and only one ambulance. Mushrush helped Schofield through the arduous process of applying for formal federal rural health clinic certification, required to receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. Schofield estimates 90 percent of the clinic’s income comes from Medicare and Medicaid. In just three years, Schofield has transformed an idea for a desperately needed service to a reality with revenues topping $400,000, employing seven people in a chronically economically depressed area.

Read the whole story, and learn more about the Missouri SBTDC.

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southeastern has been selected to receive the 2015 SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award, making it the top center in the United States.

The award will be presented at the White House by the U.S. Small Business Administration on May 8, during National Small Business Week.

“Over the years, our SBDC has provided invaluable advice and assistance to businesses and entrepreneurs in the region we serve,” said Southeastern President John L. Crain. “Their work to enhance the economy of our region is a testament to the vital role Southeastern plays as a regional university.”

Crain said the efforts of the Southeastern SBDC staff have been recognized previously with state and regional awards, primarily for developing innovative ideas and providing excellent service to its clients.  (more…)