Ivy Tech to Host Small Business Development Center

May 3, 2006

Bloomington, Indiana-Officials at Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington announced today that the college has entered into an agreement to serve as the "host" for the South Central Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The SBDC has grown and changed tremendously over the last four years through an expanded service area, and enhanced the services and products it makes available to small businesses.

The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce has hosted the region's SBDC since 1988. Nationally, SBDCs are typically hosted by community colleges and universities. In Indiana, Purdue and Indiana State University host SBDCs in their areas. The South Central Indiana SBDC works in support of the development and growth of small business activities and serves Bartholomew, Browne, Decatur, Greene, Jackson, Jennings, Monroe, Owen and Lawrence counties.

John Whikehart, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington, says the opportunity to host the Small Business Development Center aligns with the mission of Ivy Tech and is appropriate given the state of Indiana's economic development plans. "Ivy Tech - Bloomington made responding to community workforce and economic development needs part of our strategic plan several years ago. The state of Indiana has recently released a Strategic Economic Development Plan that encourages the alignment of education in Indiana with workforce preparation. I can think of no better culmination of our regional mission and the state's strategic plan than to host the local Small Business Development Center."

SBDC's three full-time and two part-time employees will become Ivy Tech employees under grant funding through the Small Business Administration, a federal program, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, a state program. The college's hosting relationship will exist under an annual contractual agreement, conditional on grant funding. The SBDC offices will remain at its current location in the IU Research Park at the Showers Building, 501 N. Morton Street, Suite 106.

Brian Kleber, Regional Director of the SBDC, says that this new relationship with Ivy Tech - Bloomington will enable the organization to continue growing and to remain a leader in innovative services to entrepreneurs. "We are very excited about this new relationship and the opportunities it brings to our clients, existing partners, and our own internal operations. The goal is to build the very best SBDC for the community and this partnership helps us take the next step."

The local SBDC was recognized in 2005 as one of the top regional centers in the nation by the Association of Small Business Development Centers.