September 20, 2016

‘Veterans Small Business Roadshow’ planned at SIU

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Veterans of all branches and eras are welcome to attend a special workshop at Southern Illinois University Carbondale designed to help those who want to start a new business or enhance an existing business.

The Veterans Small Business Roadshow is coming to the Illinois Small Business Development Center, located at 1740 Innovation Drive in Carbondale, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Workshop topics include:

  • “Entrepreneurship for You! -- Veterans Edition,” covering the concepts of small business ownership
  • “Financing Your Small Business,” with information from the United States Small Business Administration
  • “Kickstart Your Business,” introducing ideas for increasing the profitability of an existing business at little or no cost

The event is open to active-duty service personnel, members of the National Guard and the reserves as well as to military family members. Representatives from the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU will be on hand to provide participants with an overview of business development services available to them.

There is no charge to attend and lunch is provided. However, space is limited and you must pre-register at http://vbocroadshow.eventbrite.com. For additional details, call 618/536-2424.

The Carbondale event is one of three the Veterans Business Outreach Center in Chicago, with sponsorship from Allstate Insurance, is offering this month in Illinois. Another is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 28 at 2500 Carlyle Avenue, Room 2311/13, in the Liberal Arts Building at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. The final session is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Madden Auditorium in the Decatur Public Library, located at 130 N. Franklin St. in Decatur.

The Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and hosted by SIU. For more information about the center and the many services it provides to new and expanding businesses, visit www.sbdc.siu.edu, call 618/536-2424 or email sbdc@siu.edu