In tough economic times, knowing where to turn for help can mean the difference between a business and an empty storefront.
Join us for a free seminar featuring representatives of many of the organizations providing resources to the business community in McLean County. This is your opportunity to learn about the loans, grants and direct assistance programs that can help keep your business viable. Get answers to your specific questions. Arrange a consultation targeted to your individual business needs.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 8am-10am
Central Illinois Regional Airport, 3201 CIRA Drive, Bloomington
Organizations and Resources Represented include:
- Career Link
- Economic Development Council of Bloomington-Normal
- Illinois Business Financial Services
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- Illinois Department of Employment Security
- Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center
- Mclean County Chamber of Commerce
- Professional Technical Assistance Center at Illinois Central College
- SCORE of Central Illinois
- Small Business Development Center at Illinois State University
- State of Illinois Treasurer’s Office
For More Information and how to register…
This is a great article that details the tell-tale signs that your plan is going into your banker or investor’s recycle bin.
“Successful business plans that impress investors are seldom written on the back of a napkin. They include a logical statement of a problem and its solution; hard evidence; and straight talk about the risks and challenges involved. Follow these…..”
How to Write a Good Business Plan - WSJ.com
Date: October 21, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: College of Business Building - Room 147
Fee: FREE!
This seminar is intended for those not yet in business. It covers topics including registering a business name, licenses or permits, obtaining a tax ID number, forms of insurance, recordkeeping, choosing a legal form of ownership, tax issues, and how to compute a break even point.
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, registration is required.
All seminars will be held in the College of Business Building on the Illinois State University campus unless otherwise noted. An email confirming your registration and listing the exact classroom number will be sent within 1 business day of your registration.
Deadline for registration is two days prior to the seminar. If minimum enrollment is not met two days prior to seminar date, the class will be cancelled and registrants will be notified.
Note: To register for any fee-based seminars, please call the Illinois Small Business Development Center at 309-438-3610 or register on-line at www.sbdc.ilstu.edu
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the Illinois Small Business Development Center at 309-438-3610 to request any accommodations.
This Program has been developed through a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois SBDC at Illinois State University as a service to Illinois small businesses. The funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. For further information or to make appropriate arrangements if you require special accommodations, please contact the center two weeks in advance.
Date: August 11 , 2009
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: College of Business Building - Room 147
Fee: FREE!
This seminar is intended for those not yet in business. It covers topics including registering a business name, licenses or permits, obtaining a tax ID number, forms of insurance, recordkeeping, choosing a legal form of ownership, tax issues, and how to compute a break even point.
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, registration is required.
All seminars will be held in the College of Business Building on the Illinois State University campus unless otherwise noted. An email confirming your registration and listing the exact classroom number will be sent within 1 business day of your registration.
Deadline for registration is two days prior to the seminar. If minimum enrollment is not met two days prior to seminar date, the class will be cancelled and registrants will be notified.
Note: To register for any fee-based seminars, please call the Illinois Small Business Development Center at 309-438-3610 or register on-line at www.sbdc.ilstu.edu
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the Illinois Small Business Development Center at 309-438-3610 to request any accommodations.
This Program has been developed through a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois SBDC at Illinois State University as a service to Illinois small businesses. The funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. For further information or to make appropriate arrangements if you require special accommodations, please contact the center two weeks in advance.
Brad Barker Honda
Bloomington, Illinois
Opened: November 1982, moved to present location in February of 1988
Principle owners: Brad Barker, president; William Barker, vice president; Al Barker, secretary/treasurer
Number of Employees: 40
How would you describe your services/products?
We are a Honda automobile dealership that focuses on new and used vehicles sales, Honda parts and accessory sales, Honda vehicle service and repairs.
Three management employees from Brad Barker Honda have utilized training from the Illinois SBDC at Illinois State. The Certificate in Small Business Management has refreshed our overall management skills, particularly in the areas of human resources and marketing. The information presented gave our management team fresh ideas for overall dealership improvement as well as planning ideas for future growth. Large or small, every business can benefit from the ideas presented through the Illinois SBDC training program.
Chem Dry Clean Masters
Bloomington & Peoria, Illinois
Opened: July 2003
Principle owners: Stan & Margie Huff
Number of Employees: 3 full- time & 3 part-time
How would you describe your services/products?
Chem-Dry: Residential & Commercial Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning. The company emphasizes hot-carbonated extraction, which cleans with less than 20% of the moisture of the traditional steam-type cleaner. The process is 100% non-toxic and dries much more quickly than other cleaners, usually 2-3 hours.
“Working with the students allows me to do two things: 1) Polish and shape ideas for organized growth of our companies, while 2) revisiting and checking ourselves regarding what we have been doing in the recent past. It develops both direction and accountability for our companies and actions through honest, subjective evaluation of our activities and goals. ”
Quote from The Pantagraph 3/21/2006 article:
Stan Huff, owner of Chem-Dry CleanMasters, which has offices in Bloomington and Peoria, said his business jumped 30 percent after consulting with Binning last year.
Through the center, Huff tested his ideas and expanded the market area of his residential and commercial carpet and upholstery cleaning business.
“It’s a great tool for a small business that doesn’t have the manpower or the hours in the day to do the research,” he said. “It’s paid off tangibly. It’s helped our tangible growth and it’s helped in terms of saving time and money.” - Stan Huff, Chem-Dry CleanMasters
Prairie Signs
Bloomington, Illinois
Opened: 1986
Principle Owners: Earl Anderson, Suzanne Anderson, Andrew Carby
Number of Employees: 13 full-time
How would you describe your services/products?
Full service & custom sign shop
Through a short interview, Elizabeth assessed our needs and took with her several years of financial records. She organized and analyzed the information and helped us pin-point our focus. She also made recommendations on how to improve the profitability of our products as well as the company as a whole. She maintained a steady contact with us to track our progress.
Using many of her suggestions, we enjoyed an excellent 2005. As a small business owner it is very comforting to know a service such as the Illinois Small Business Development Center existing locally and that there is someone who genuinely cares about helping you prosper.
Updating this previous post about SBA ARC Loans with more information:
Update from SBA:
The ARC loan is designed for a business that recently experienced financial hardship due to the downturn in the economy–for example, last fall or winter/spring 2009. It is not designed to prolong the life of a business that will eventually close, but to assist businesses that can show they have been profitable and that through reasonable projections, will show continued profitability and positive cash flow.
The applicant needs to show they have been profitable/had positive cash flow in at least one of the two past years. Also, two year projections would show repayment ability on all business expenses and debt payment.
There is a 12 month payment deferment followed by a five year term repayment period. It is hoped that during the 12 month deferment period the business will re-visit their business plan and see where they may trim expenses, increase revenue, etc. - Val Ross, SBA Branch Manager.
Everything you need to know about the SBA’s new loan program., More information about the SBA ARC loan plan: http://tinyurl.com/lxk7e4
Date: July 21, 2009
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: College of Business Building - Room 147
Fee: FREE!
This seminar is intended for those not yet in business. It covers topics including registering a business name, licenses or permits, obtaining a tax ID number, forms of insurance, recordkeeping, choosing a legal form of ownership, tax issues, and how to compute a break even point.
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, registration is required.
All seminars will be held in the College of Business Building on the Illinois State University campus unless otherwise noted. An email confirming your registration and listing the exact classroom number will be sent within 1 business day of your registration.
Deadline for registration is two days prior to the seminar. If minimum enrollment is not met two days prior to seminar date, the class will be cancelled and registrants will be notified.
Note: To register for any fee-based seminars, please call the Illinois Small Business Development Center at 309-438-3610 or register on-line at www.sbdc.ilstu.edu
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the Illinois Small Business Development Center at 309-438-3610 to request any accommodations.
This Program has been developed through a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois SBDC at Illinois State University as a service to Illinois small businesses. The funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. For further information or to make appropriate arrangements if you require special accommodations, please contact the center two weeks in advance.
