Public invited to breakfast Jan. 13
OXFORD,
Miss. – The Mississippi Small Business Development Center program
housed at the University of Mississippi has been awarded a federal
grant to help build a permanent facility.
A celebration of this
announcement is set for Tuesday (Jan. 13) in Holman Hall, Room 230. A
meet-and-greet is set for 8:30 a.m., and remarks and client success
stories follow at 9.
“The new building will bring a great deal
of pride to all nine offices across the state,” said Robert Forster,
associate state director of the MSBDC. “We form an integral part of the
service component that is part of the mission statement of the
University of Mississippi – service is the reason for our being.”
The building will provide a permanent home on the Oxford campus and allow the MSBDC to expand its visibility and commitment to quality and excellence in all aspects of its operation.
Ken Cyree, dean of the School of Business Administration, said he is grateful for the funds to build the structure since it will allow the MSBDC team to better equip small business owners to succeed.
“The MSBDC has been very effective in carrying out their mission of providing the services and support that will increase the economic impact of small businesses and help the state of Mississippi to become the leading environment for small business success,” Cyree said. “The School of Business is excited that the MSBDC will continue and expand their excellent service for their clients and the state.”
The MSBDC has been a national leader in effectiveness of advising small business owners, Cyree said. “The new facility on campus will be state-of-the art and allow them to provide expanded training for their clients. The work they are doing is very beneficial for small businesses and economic development,” he said.
The programs provided by the MSBDC for business owners help them improve management techniques and through their efforts, thousands of businesses are helped each year all across the state.
In many ways, MSBDC is “a hidden jewel” in the community, Forster said.
“The breakfast is for the university in a broader way, from deans to department heads, to know more about what the MSBDC contributes to the university system,” Forster said. “It’s time for us to tout ourselves.”
“We’re going to share what we’ve accomplished and how much money we’ve helped pump into the economy due to helping pre-venture, existing and start-up businesses as part of economic development. Graduates of MSBDC training and counseling will talk about what we do and why they’re now successful after going through our program.”
This project is funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA’s funding should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. All SBA-funded projects are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
For more information visit http://www.mssbdc.org.