News

When selecting holiday gifts this year, area residents are encouraged to shop at a small business this weekend as part of Small Business Saturday.   Often, people who shop at small businesses get improved customer service as well as the satisfaction of knowing the dollars will be re-invested in the...

Prairie Queen Bakery had been in existence in Sheldon, Iowa, for several years when Amy Strouth decided to purchase it. In November 2005, Strouth first met with Kelly McCarty, regional director of the Northwest Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC), to begin the process of purchasing the bakery. Strouth and...

A new International Trade Center has been added to the Iowa Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) which are co-located at 2829 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines with the Mid Iowa Small Business Development Center and the West Des Moines Business Incubator. The new International Trade Center Director, Debbie Franklin,...

Area inventors are encouraged to learn the key steps to success at a meeting planned in Spencer in late April. “Obviously, we want to encourage people to attend if they have a ‘product’ that they want to promote,” said Kelly McCarty, Regional Director of the Northwest Iowa Small Business Development...

The Small Business Development Centers of Iowa are reaching more clients, businesses and entrepreneurs than in previous years. In figures released for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2010, the SBDCs show that 1,855 jobs were either created or saved in the state.  In addition, 155 ‘new’ business startups were...

How fast is the wind blowing? How often does the wind blow? These are but a couple of the questions investors what to know before planning the installation of a wind turbine generator. One of the most important steps in the planning of a wind site is the collection of...

Baking bread has been a family tradition for Alison Hill. A bread starter has been handed down in her family for over 150 years. It was this tradition that first inspired Hill to bake bread for family, friends and as gifts while she was in college. With a desire for...

Spencer, IA – April 28, 2010 The Iowa Lakes Community College and the Northwest Iowa Small Business Development Center is pleased to announce the graduation of thirteen area business owners and entrepreneurs from the FastTrac1 GrowthVenture entrepreneurial training program. The FastTracT GrowthVenture™ program develops the skills and strategies needed to...

The Iowa Small Business Development Center network has received word of its re-accreditation.  The Northwest Iowa Small Business Development Center is part of the statewide network.  The Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) conducted the review.  Based on the outstanding progress of the network and the findings and recommendations...