Business Toolkit - Business Assistance and Training

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING

The City of Storm Lake prides itself on being business friendly. The Development Services Specialist focus is to support new and existing businesses as they start out or expand. The city wants to help you from beginning to opening to ensure your experience is as smooth as possible. The information and resources below are a way to help you as you begin your venture in Storm Lake.

IEDA | Iowa Economic Development Authority | Small Business Programs

The Iowa Economic Development Authority's (IEDA) mission is to strengthen economic and community vitality by building partnerships and leveraging resources to make Iowa the choice for people and business. through two main divisions - business development and community development - IEDA administers several state and federal programs to meet its goals of assisting individuals, communities and businesses.

IOWA SBDC | Iowa Small Business Assistance & Training

America's SBDC Iowa offers personalized, confidential, and no-cost business counseling to small business owners and entrepreneurs in Iowa. Established in 1981, America's SBDC Iowa (SBDC) provides no cost, confidential, customized, professional business advise in all 99 Iowa counties to entrepreneurs and existing small businesses. They also present affordable workshops that teach practical skills and techniques, conduct research, provide comprehensive information services, and offer access to subject matter experts in a variety of fields. Their program is a public-private partnership that leverages the resources of government, higher education, and the business community to assist Iowa's businesses to grow and be successful. Their 15 regional business assistance centers are hosted by three Iowa Regent institutions, and eleven community colleges, all coordinated through the state center at Iowa State University. Each regional center encourages unique local efforts, region to region and community to community, to meet small business needs throughout the state. The North Central Iowa SBDC center serves entrepreneurs and existing businesses in Buena Vista County. Learn more and request counseling here.

WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER | A Program of Iowa Center for Economic Success

The Iowa Center Women’s Business Center is dedicated to helping Iowa women business owners launch and grow their businesses. They work to inspire women to start businesses and support them in their entrepreneurial journey. Men are welcome too! Offering comprehensive training and counseling on a variety of topics in several languages. The Iowa Center Women’s Business Center is funded in part by U.S. Small Business Administration.

LSI Immigrant and Refugee Community Services, along with the partner organizations highlighted below, is connecting business owners with resources. Focusing on businesses owned by immigrants, refugees, and underrepresented populations, this project will support up to 600 diverse small businesses over two years by providing counseling, technical assistance, and support in accessing up to $5 million in small business relief. Pandemic-specific loan products with favorable interest rates to small and diverse Iowa businesses are also available.

CIRAS | Iowa State University Center For Industrial Research and Service

The Center for Industrial Research and Service was created in 1963 to improve the quality of life in Iowa by helping businesses and their communities prosper and grow. CIRAS individually tailored strategy Engage. Educate. Embed. means they work with companies to fashion solutions specific to their individual needs. Over the past five years, CIRAS and their partners have helped more than 4,100 businesses in every Iowa county, creating an economic impact of more than $3 billion.

BIZBATON | Business Succession Planning

BizBaton is a non-profit organization that connects owners with entrepreneurs and guides stakeholders through the stages of valuation, negotiation, acquisition and transition. BizBaton uses a sophisticated data-driven approach to confidentially connect business owners planning to sell, retire or transition out of a leadership role with entrepreneurs looking for an acquisition or expansion opportunity.

ADVANCE IOWA | Solutions for Business Growth & Transition

The University of Northern Iowa Business and Community Services (BCS) represents distinct outreach programs committed to improving the economic vitality and the UNI Center for Business Growth & Innovation, ADVANCE IOWA, and the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) are part of that. Together, they are committed to supporting small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) by delivering facilitated services, resources, and programming in the key areas of innovation, strategic growth, and business transition.

USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT | Business Programs

Business Programs provide financial backing and technical assistance to stimulate business creation and growth. The programs work through partnerships with public and private community based organizations and financial institutions to provide financial assistance, business development, and technical assistance to rural businesses. These programs help to provide capital, equipment, space, job training, and entrepreneurial skills that can help to start and/or grow a business. Business Programs also support the creation and preservation of quality jobs in rural areas.

GOLDMAN SACHS | 10,000 Small Businesses Program

Goldman Sachs, 10,000 Small Businesses is an investment in the growth of small businesses. They help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital and support services. With a curriculum designed by Babson College, the nation’s top-ranked school for entrepreneurship, you’ll engage in an intensive multi-week business education program with like-minded small business owners and receive one-on-one business advice while learning valuable skills to help you grow your business. The program is 100% funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation – $0 cost to participants.

SHOP IOWA | Sell on Shop Iowa

Shop Iowa is a statewide online marketplace selling products from hundreds of Iowa's small businesses to customers throughout the United States. Shop Iowa is an initiative of the Iowa Economic Development Authority as free resources for Iowa's small business to start or expand their sales online. Become a vendor on Shop Iowa today!