The Southwestern Entrepreneurship Center serves as an umbrella organization to facilitate the interaction between entrepreneurs and existing resources. In addition to providing in-depth assistance and accelerated services to entrepreneurs, the center promotes an entrepreneurial culture throughout the region. The Center works with entrepreneurs and small businesses from start-up phase through the transition/exit phase. The Southwestern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center provides the following services: coordinate support services for clients that address gaps and limitations in client's current operations; conduct business assessments that identify gaps and limitations in the client's current operation; provide business coaching services to assist clients in developing professional funding pitches for investor meetings; provides advanced financial assistance and planning including determining capital needs and making investor introductions; provide targeted accelerated services for clients that have high growth potential.
The International Trade Center is one of six trade centers located throughout the State of Illinois. Our trade center serves businesses in the 47 southernmost counties by providing: individualized, free export consultation to Illinois businesses; international market analysis to identify the most advantageous trading opportunities; identification of foreign buyers, agents and/or distributors through trade leads; seminars on international business strategies, export procedures, distribution practices, and methods of payment, as well as the latest exporting trends; export finance assistance in coordination with EX-IM Bank and SBA's Export Working Capital Program; access to extensive export trade reference material and the International Trade Data Bank.
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) conducts nearly 50 seminars and workshops throughout the year that address topics important to all business owners. The SBDC also provides one-on-one counseling services to new and existing businesses at no charge. We will review business plans and discuss financing options, bank loans, SBA and state-backed loan programs, marketing, management and other topics of concern to our business clients. For companies that require specialized attention, the SBDC can act as a referral source for a variety of specialized professionals and consultants. Many provide free or low-cost initial consultation meetings. Areas of expertise include business plan development, cash flow analysis, marketing plan development, database searches for financing sources, mailing lists and more. SBDC clients may visit our resource room containing computer programs, video tapes and reference material on a variety of business topics.
