September 14, 2017

‘Veterans Small Business Roadshow’ coming to SIU

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Veterans Small Business Roadshow, an event especially for veterans and military personnel who are interested in starting a new business, or improving or expanding an existing business, is coming to Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The workshop will take place at the Illinois Small Business Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive in Carbondale, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 26.

Workshop topics include:

  • “Entrepreneurship for You! – Veterans Edition,” introducing the concepts and valuable information regarding small business ownership
  • “Financing Your Small Business,” featuring information from the United States Small Business Administration office in Springfield
  • “Kickstart Your Business,” introducing low- or no-cost ideas for improving the profitability of a business  

The event is open to active-duty service personnel, all veterans, and members of the National Guard and 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 information about the business development services available to them.

There is no charge to attend and lunch is provided. However, space is limited and pre-registration is required. To sign up, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-veterans-small-business-road-show-tickets-36697878342.

The registration deadline is Sept. 22. For more information, call 312/888-6620.

The workshop at SIU is one of three that the Veterans Business Outreach Center in Chicago, with sponsorship from Allstate Insurance, is offering this month in Illinois. Another workshop is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 27 at Southwestern Illinois College’s Liberal Arts Building, 2500 Carlyle Ave., Room 2311/2313, in Belleville. The final session is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sept. 28, in Minor Meyers Jr. Welcome Center Auditorium 1 at Illinois Wesleyan University, 211 Park Street in Bloomington.

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. To learn more about the center and the myriad services it offers to new and expanding businesses, visit www.sbdc.siu.edu, call 618/536-2424 or email sbdc@siu.edu.