TSBDC at ETSU Provides Free Assistance to Rural Business Owners
August 06, 2013
Kingsport Office of Small Business Development & Entrepreneurship (KOSBE)
News Release
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Dana Glenn
Administrative & Marketing Coordinator, TSBDC at ETSU Kingsport Affiliate Office
Kingsport Chamber of Commerce
Ph: (423) 392-8811
dglenn@kingsportchamber.org
TSBDC at ETSU Provides Free Assistance to Rural Business Owners
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Aundrea Wilcox, Senior Business Counselor with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at East Tennessee State University Kingsport Affiliate Office, has developed a free Rural Outreach Counseling Program to serve small business owners in Sullivan, Hancock, Hawkins, Hamblen and Grainger counties. Business owners can meet with her one-on-one in a private, confidential setting —usually at a local Chamber of Commerce—to discuss anything from starting or managing a small business, marketing, operations, sources of capital, advertising, writing a business plan, to evaluating a company’s export readiness.
According to Wilcox, “As part of our cooperative agreement with East Tennessee State University, we are committed to provide more technical assistance in currently underserved surrounding rural areas, addressing a need for no-cost, confidential consulting and training on important topics for entrepreneurs and small business owners. This is definitely not a case of you get what you pay for. Since this program is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, individuals do not have to pay for services out of pocket that could be very prohibitive cost-wise.”
Free counseling will be available at the Morristown Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, August 8, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and at the Rogersville Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, August 20, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Rural Outreach Counseling Schedule
8/8—Morristown Chamber – 10 am – 3 pm
8/20—Rogersville Chamber – 10 am – 4 pm
9/19—Morristown Chamber – 10 am – 4 pm
9/26—Rogersville Chamber – 10 am – 4 pm
10/24—Morristown Chamber – 10 am – 4 pm
10/31—Rogersville Chamber – 10 am – 4 pm
11/21—Morristown Chamber – 10 am – 4 pm
11/27—Rogersville Chamber – 10 am – 4 pm
12/12—Morristown Chamber – 10 am – 4 pm
12/19—Rogersville Chamber – 10 am – 4 pm
The TSBDC Network is comprised of over 16 locations throughout the State of Tennessee, whose primary function is to provide counseling services and education opportunities to entrepreneurs and “for profit” new and existing small businesses. In 2012, TSBDC assisted over 20,000 businesses with counseling and training. The economic impact for TSBDC was 1,309 jobs created, 998 jobs retained, and $89M in capital formation verified by clients.
Schedule your free confidential counseling appointment in a private setting by TSBDC-certified counselors in person, online, by phone or via e-mail. Contact Dana Glenn at (423) 392.8825 or via e-mail: dglenn@kingsportchamber.org. On-going counseling is by appointment only. However, initial appointments/consultations typically occur during walk-in hours from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The cooperative agreement between KOSBE and East Tennessee State University is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Additional funding is provided by the Tennessee Board of Regents and the state of Tennessee.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested in advance.
For more information about the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at ETSU Kingsport Affiliate Office and your Kingsport Office of Small Business Development & Entrepreneurship (KOSBE), visit tsbdc.org and kosbe.org or call (423) 392.8825. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook, Kosbe – The Small Business Connection and Twitter, @KOSBEConnection.
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