The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Waubonsee Community College has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) to help more Hispanic/Latinx entrepreneurs.
“This grant provides critical resources to expand our existing services and helps us create even more robust programs for our Spanish-speaking clients,” said Harriet Parker, SBDC Manager at Waubonsee. “With this grant, we will now be able to pull in additional resources to help entrepreneurs create business plans, develop marketing strategies, introduce innovative technologies, identify funding opportunities, or plan growth strategies.”
The SBDC, located at the Aurora Downtown Campus, serves over 400 entrepreneurs, small, and mid-size businesses across Kendall, Kane, and DuPage counties each year. The center offers free peer-to-peer business coaching and mentorship on business growth and development topics. SBDC advisors and instructors have significant expertise in running small businesses and assisting their clients to achieve results from shared experiences.
Last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were more than 5.4 million new business applications, outpacing the record of 4.4 million set in 2020. Among those applications were Saint Charles residents Chris and Mary Grinder, Owners of Gindo’s Spice of Life. Before becoming an SBDC client, the family business faced limitations by having to rent kitchen spaces to create its core business product. With the guidance they received from SBDC advisors, Gindo’s Spice of Life was able to procure funding and stay afloat during the pandemic. In December, the company celebrated the grand opening of its new manufacturing facility, and was recently named Illinois Business Persons of the Year by the Small Business Administration.
In FY 2021, the SBDC provided close to 2,000 advising hours, with 30% of programming delivered to Spanish-speaking clients in the greater Aurora area. In addition to business coaching, the SBDC offers a wide variety of affordable events and workshops to assist businesses in the community.
If you are a business owner and are looking to start, grow, improve, buy, sell, or seek funding options, the SBDC is available to help you succeed. To schedule an appointment with the SBDC or learn more about services available, visit waubonsee.edu/sbdc or call (630) 906-4143.
