December 23, 2014
Workshops planned for small businesses
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Anyone who is interested in starting a new business or expanding and enhancing an existing enterprise will find valuable information at a series of workshops sponsored by the Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The center is hosting several sessions of the “Starting a Business in Illinois” workshop between Jan. 13 and July 15, 2015. Each of the sessions will cover key elements of starting a business including legal structure, locating financing, business start-up requirements and the basics of new business planning.
The $15 seminar registration fee covers the instruction as well as a Business Start-up Kit, available in print and electronic formats. The kit includes a business start-up checklist, the presentation slides, a question-and-answer packet about financing businesses, a sample business plan, federal and state tax identification applications and much more.
The spring/summer 2015 “Starting a Business in Illinois” workshop schedule includes:
- Tuesday, Jan. 13, 5-7 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale.
- Wednesday, Feb. 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Carterville Community Center, 120 N. Greenbriar Road, Carterville.
- Thursday, March 19, 1-3 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale.
- Thursday, April 16, 5-7 p.m., Davis McCann Township Center, 1410 Walnut St., Murphysboro.
- Thursday, April 30, 10 a.m.-noon, Randolph County Courthouse, 1 Taylor St., Chester.
- Tuesday, May 12, 9-11 a.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale.
- Wednesday, June 17, 5-7 p.m., Marion Chamber of Commerce, 2305 W. Main St., Marion.
- Wednesday, July 15, 1-3 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale.
Officials from existing businesses who are interested in exporting their food products will find another SBDC workshop of interest.
“Exporting Your Illinois Food Product” is a workshop coming April 14, 2015, to the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Room 150. The presentation is from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes lunch.
Kim Hamilton, international marketing representative for the Illinois Department of Agriculture, will be the guest speaker, offering information about industry-specific resources businesses may utilize to expand their sales in the global marketplace. She will highlight opportunities and export resources available to food and beverage companies including specialized market entry assistance and grant programs.
There is no cost to attend the “Exporting Your Illinois Food Product” workshop but pre-registration is required.
To register for any of the workshops, call 618/536-2424 or visit www.siusbdc.com.
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.
The SBDC is celebrating 30 year of helping new and growing businesses throughout the region. Since its inception, the center has provided about 90,000 hours of free, individualized counseling and consultation services to approximately 6,500 business clients.
For more information about the SBDC or the many services it offers to new and growing businesses, contact Robyn Laur Russell, director of business development and international trade, at rrussell@biz.siu.edu or by calling 618/536-2424.