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Business Development |
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Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center |
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The Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center provides general business counseling, technical assistance, training workshops, marketing research, and business plan development for small businesses in a 95 county area. The SBDC has proven its ability to promote growth, innovation, profitability, increased productivity, and improved management. Confidential counseling sessions are by appointment - (806) 745-3973. Visit their website at www.ntsbdc.org. |
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Fast Trek: The Business Shop Micro-Enterprise Incubator Project Selected for $250,000 Grant Award |
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In partnership with the South Plains Workforce Development Board (now WorkSource of the South Plains) directed by Mary Ann Rojas, and the College of Human Sciences (Ben K. Goh, Ph.D., Interim Associate Dean of Operations, and Shane C. Blum, Ph.D., Assistant Professor/Assistant Chair ENRHM), the TTU Office of Economic Development was instrumental in forming the Micro-Enterprise Development Consortium. The Consortium was awarded a $250,000 competitive grant through the Texas Workforce Commission to establish a Micro-Enterprise Incubator to assist current and former Welfare-to-Work clients in creating micro-businesses. Housed in the former Posey Elementary, the Incubator is co-located with and supported by the Texas Tech University Community and Workforce Academy, directed by consortium member Alfonso Sanchez, Ph.D. Under the management of Regji Davis, M.B.A., the incubator provides tenant space and access to office equipment for start-ups. Business counseling and training are provided by the Texas Tech University Small Business Development Center, directed by Steve Anderson, and the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) through the assistance of Calvin Davis, District Counsel and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. Clients are counseled in applying for loans from private lenders and from the City of Lubbock's Micro-Enterprise Loan Program, directed by Bill Howard; ACCION Texas; and the SBA's guaranteed LowDoc loan program. Dr. Coy Callison's PR4312 PR Campaigns class in the School of Mass Communications is developing public relations campaign concepts for Fast Trek: The Business Shop. TTUOED Director Robert McComb, Ph,D., believes, "The Incubator will spur economic development activities in East Lubbock and have a positive impact on the greater community. We anticipate that some clients who will enter the incubator program will be Workforce Academy graduates who will be interested in starting small catering, child care, lawn care, and janitorial businesses." The incubator assists TANF/CHOICES clients residing in Lubbock and in the region who are interested in pursuing business ownership. You may contact Regji Davis at (806) 742-2942 or 742-4104. |
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The High Plains Rural Business Assistance Network |
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