Small businesses have done well in Ohio for various reasons, and a recent award highlights local achievements. On July 14, the National Federation of Independent Business/Ohio announced its latest Small Business Champion.
This annual award goes to someone involved with one of the 25,000 small-business members of the NFIB, according to a press release. The candidate must both be involved with the community and support small businesses through the NFIB. The 2016 Champion is The Flag Lady’s Flag Store owner Mary Leavitt.
Meeting the qualifications
Judging from the release alone, Leavitt has qualified due to her 30 years working with the NFIB and more than a decade on the organization’s local leadership council. Roger Geiger, the Ohio NFIB’s executive director and vice president said that Leavitt has stayed involved with the local entrepreneur scene and “continues to give back.”
“Mary Leavitt is truly deserving of the recognition by NFIB as our Small Business Champion for Ohio in 2016,” Geiger said. “She has demonstrated her dedication to the small-business community over her long tenure of service to the organization.”
Previous winners include Jack Buschur, who won the award in 2015 and owns the Minster-based Buschur Electric. Buschur had similarly taken part in the NFIB for 35 years before receiving the award, and did so with Geiger’s praises.
“The NFIB uses this award to highlight the small business community within the state.”
Community strength
The NFIB uses this award in part to highlight the small-business community within the state. A Business News Daily article from March mentioned community support as one of the key resources for local owners to take advantage of. Tech and PR firm owner Sue Grabowski said that the “very large, friendly community” can help Ohio businesses succeed. Companies can reportedly expect a strong response provided they put in the work to maintain local business.
This article also said that Ohio has developed into a promising location for new companies in the aftermath of the recession. In any case, business owners are clearly responding to the opportunities around them.
The Community Advantage Loan
With the Growth Capital SBA Community Advantage Loan Program, applicants can obtain capital and important business resources for Ohio-area development. Under this initiative, loans can be as high as $250,000, with one-to-one coverage on any necessary collateral. Any for-profit business in the manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, commerce or service sectors should consider obtaining this loan if they qualify.
It’s not just because it has “community” in the name: This program offers fluid funds for a variety of uses. Whether participants simply want to refinance existing debt or purchase new equipment, they can use the same resource to achieve their goal. No matter what they use this for, they’ll have the option to get assistance from our experts. Contact us to get started or click here to join our mailing list.