Is Your Business Missing Out? Uncovering Hidden Funding & Other Support Opportunities

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Chamber Amplified from the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, host Doug Jenkins looks into the core needs of local businesses: access to resources, particularly funding. With guest Nicole Scott, the director of the Small Business Development Center at Rhode State College, the conversation opens doors to different avenues of available business supports.

The discussion takes on on common misconceptions about 'free money' in business funding and underscores the reality of viable financial resources. Doug and Nicole examine how even relatively large entities can qualify for small business resources, debunking myths surrounding size and eligibility. 

Key Takeaways:

• Small businesses have access to a variety of funding options beyond the elusive and rare 'free money'.
• The Small Business Development Center provides extensive resources even for companies that might not consider themselves small based on employee count.
• Developing a solid business plan is a cornerstone for accessing funding and other growth resources.
• Collaboration with trusted entities like chambers of commerce and small business development centers can significantly bolster business success.
• Understanding the eligibility for small business assistance can unlock unrecognized opportunities, even for larger businesses.

Music and sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Transcript

0:00:03 - (Doug Jenkins): Hello and welcome to the show. I'm Doug Jenkins from the Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce. On each episode of Chamber Amplified, we're examining issues impacting the local business community. Whether that's employee recruitment and retention, marketing, it issues. It's really anything that can impact your business. Our goal is to give our members tips each week on at least one way they can improve operations and thrive in the current business environment.

0:00:25 - (Doug Jenkins): So one of the biggest things that we get asked about is access to resources. Now, a lot of times, that's access to funding. We're gonna talk about all that today. Now, here's the thing on funding. There's no free money or there's very little free money and it's very tough to get. But there are good options for funding outside of that. My guest today is Nicole Scott. She's the director of the Small Business Development center at Rhode State College in Lima. They have a suite of resources available for your business, and chances are your business qualifies.

0:00:57 - (Doug Jenkins): Even if you don't really see yourself as a small business. Maybe you have a 100 employees in this area. That's not that small of a business. But in the eyes of the Small Business Development center, you do qualify. So there could be some options available for you. We're gonna talk about funding a lot, but it's much more than that. We'll talk about business plans and beyond. The important thing is you want a trusted resource to collaborate with. Certainly a Chamber of Commerce is helpful on that, but the Small Business Development center is huge in getting those types of access.

0:01:27 - (Doug Jenkins): We'll hit all that today. Thanks again for tuning in. Remember, if you're listening on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, you can rate and review the show. It really does help spread the word. Now let's get into it.