CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (August 12, 2016)-The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) managed by Kirkwood Community College is on track to outperform last year’s record-setting performance in their mission to help small businesses.
As of the beginning of August, the SBDC has helped area businesses make $1.9 million in capital investments, achieve $4.4 million in sales revenue growth and create 132 jobs. At the present rate, the center predicts that it will help 320 businesses this year, a 39 percent increase. In addition, the number of new startup clients will increase from 19 to 25.
The increases come on the heels of a very successful 2015 campaign where the center exceeded performance goals established by the state. These targets are established for all SBDCs in new businesses created, jobs created, capital infusion, sales increases and clients counseled. Last year, Kirkwood surpassed the goals in every area, excelling as high as 165 percent in counseling hours.
Iowa’s SBDC was established in 1981. It is a public-private partnership that leverages the resources of government, higher education and the business community to assist Iowa’s businesses to grow and be successful. SBDCs provide free, confidential, customized, professional business advice in all 99 Iowa counties to entrepreneurs and existing businesses with 500 employees or less. Kirkwood’s SBDC, the second largest population region in the state to Des Moines, serves Benton, Jones and Linn counties.