Empowering Communities: Understanding Ohio’s Economic Development Funding
Typically the Growth Capital blog highlights programs and topics that we feel small business owners should consider utilizing for their own growth and development. But this month we want to take a higher-level look at development initiatives happening across the state. Ohio is rich with opportunities for community development, but accessing the necessary funds to […]
Small Business, Big Impact: Overcoming Sustainability Challenges
In recent years, the concept of sustainability has shifted from a trend to a necessity—especially for small businesses. Not only does enhancing sustainable practices help the environment, but it can also lead to increased profitability and customer loyalty. However, integrating sustainability into small business operations can be challenging. So, let’s explore how small businesses can […]
Small Business Startup Mistakes to Avoid
In last month’s Growth Capital blog, we walked you through some common mistakes small business owners make and how they can be planned for and avoided. Realizing that many people may still be in the dreaming and planning stages of small business ownership, we thought it prudent to also take a look at common mistakes […]
Avoiding Small Business Pitfalls
When it comes to successful small business ownership there are several things you have to remember to do on any given day—your to-do list is probably never-ending. Just as important as knowing what needs to get done is knowing what common mistakes you should NOT be making. Now, we’re not here to tell you that […]
Resources and Support for Growing Rural Small Businesses
Earlier this year we shared exciting information about the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) growing partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the support of rural small business development. Well, their support of increasing the economic power of rural communities does not end there. The SBA recognizes that rural areas have not been […]
Supporting Small Business Success: The SCORE Mentoring Program
In business, networking is essential to starting and growing something that will last. But in the beginning, it might seem like a monumental task to find and make connections that will have a meaningful impact. We think the best way to start your business network is with a business mentor, someone who has been there, […]
Strengthening Small Business Support in Rural Areas
In recent years, business researchers and analysts have taken a retrospective look at how far the U.S. economy has come since the The Great Recession of 2007-2009, and they have mostly shared the good news of steady economic growth since that time period. This unfortunately has not been the experience of many rural communities in […]
Stay Up to Date with Small Business News from the SBA Newsroom
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is constantly at work creating, administering, and reviewing the programs and services available to small business owners. All of that effort is for nothing if small business owners—current and prospective—do not receive information about the work being done. Luckily, the SBA created the SBA Newsroom—a one-stop shop for critical […]
Community Navigator Program: Helping Underserved Entrepreneurs Succeed
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was the Biden-Harris Administration’s response to the personal, medical, and economic hardships that millions of Americans faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. ARPA is responsible for creating programs designed to help individuals and businesses overcome these hardships—one such program is the Community Navigator Pilot Program. […]