Loudin Attends ASBDC Conference and Hill Visits
May 10, 2013
Loudin Attends National ASBDC Conference and Capitol Hill Visits
The Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) held their annual spring conference in Washington D.C. from April 14-18, 2013. As a member of both the regional and state advisory boards, Kellie Loudin, Vice President of Rumer-Loudin, Inc., was in attendance along with Daryl Hennessy, Assistant Chief, and Karen Shauri, SBDC State Director, Business Services Division of the Ohio Development Services Agency.
Small Business Development Centers are funded, in part, by the Small Business Administration and are located throughout all fifty states plus U.S. territories. The purpose of the SBDCs is to help small business owners start, grow, and sustain their businesses with education, free counseling, and assistance with funding procurement. Each state typically contributes funding to the SBDCs for operation, as well as regional partners.
During the conference, attendees heard from the Small Business Administration regarding how sequestration is affecting funding for fiscal year 2014, possible new funding for veteran business startups, and a new entrepreneurial education program. A new logo was also revealed, various committees reported on their activities, and members were updated on revisions to the reporting software used to provide impact data. Representatives from Google presented information on their business outreach efforts and what tools are available for businesses to use for launching a website or elevating their position in search results.
Hennessy, Shauri, and Loudin met with staff of 13 out of the 16 Ohio Congressional districts and both Senators to share information about the impact the Small Business Development Centers have made for businesses in their area. Congressman Bill Johnson personally met with the three to discuss the Centers and their benefit to the state. For Congressional District 6, representing in whole or part of 18 counties, the SBDCs created or retained 1,729 jobs, helped 54 businesses start, infused $8,180,356 of capital into the area, and provided 7,490 hours of counseling representing 791 clients.
The SBDCs serving our area are located at Zane State College, Willet-Pratt Training Center and Kent State University at Tuscarawas. Cindy Voorhies and Stephen Schillig are the directors, respectively.
