Small Business Centers grow Iowa jobs

Iowa’s small businesses are the heart of our state’s economy. According to the Small Business Administration:

• Small businesses represent more than 97 percent of all firms in Iowa.

• There are more than 260,000 small businesses in our state.

• More than half of all Iowans work for small business.

We need to maintain and expand our efforts to support Iowa small businesses as they rebound from the national recession. With policies that encourage their start-up and growth, we can create local jobs and help our communities thrive.

Iowa’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are a great example of wise investment in jobs and economic growth. Since 1981, SBDCs have conducted research, provided counseling and trained Iowa business people in management, financing and operating small businesses. Today, there are 16 Small Business Development Centers throughout the state. They have stayed busy helping clients in good and sluggish economic times.

In 2013, Iowa SBDCs:

• Counselled 2,552 clients

• Saved 1,545 jobs

• Started 209 new business

• Raised $48.9 million in new capital

SBDCs receive federal and state funding. For every $1 invested in the program in 2013, Iowa saw a return of $2.33 in new sales and income taxes because of SBDC assistance to clients. This is a good return on investment, and we can expect even better returns as the economy continues to improve.

Are you interested in starting or expanding a small business? Be sure to work with your local Small Business Development Center. SBDCs provide practical business expertise, free one-on-one counseling and affordable workshops on financing opportunities, market research, cash flow projections, accounting, writing a business plan and much more.

Go to www.iowasbdc.org to see what SBDCs can do for Iowa small businesses.

Source: Iowa SBDC WebCATS Client Database for Federal Fiscal Years 2009-2013

The totals of the individual counties may not equal the state totals exactly due to clients moving or a pre-client may live in one county and open a business in another county.