Small Business Development Center

Seven Southwestern Illinois-based entrepreneurs and their innovative business concepts have been selected to move into the final round of the 2020 Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 7th annual regional business plan competition.

More than 25 entrepreneurs expressed interest in the regional competition this year, according to Jo Ann DiMaggio May, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at ...

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is part of a professional committee supporting local restaurants and retailers for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 28. This group, known as the Small Business Week of Southwestern Illinois (SBWSWIL), reached out to area chambers of commerce to create a unique and enticing shopping experience to support local small businesses.

The Greater Belleville, Collinsville, Edwardsville-Gl...

LaTonia Bornnard, owner of Shear Madness, LLC, a beauty salon and barber shop, as well as event space located in East St. Louis, began working with the Illinois Small Business Development Center for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville amid the COVID-19 pandemic to secure a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.

Bornnard was struggling with the countless challenges small businesses have faced during the pandemic and reached out to the SBDC for guidance. SBDC Director Jo ...

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing unprecedented disruption to the global economy, which is causing severe negative impacts to small and mid-sized businesses.

Through its federal partner, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) via the CARES Act COVID-19 supplemental funding, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network remains at the center of the national economic recovery effort, supporting small businesses, so they can survive, recover and position themselves for future growth....

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is collaborating with the Small Business Administration (SBA) Illinois District Office, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCEO) Office of Minority Economic Empowerment to present an online small business resource webinar at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Local business owners and entrepreneurs throughout southwest Illinois are invited to particip...

In these most difficult times, BARBERMURPHY Broker Associate Mike Pierceall continues providing real estate advice to start-ups and existing businesses in his voluntary capacity as a trusted affiliate partner for the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

BARBERMURPHY is the largest commercial real estate brokerage firm in downstate Illinois, while the SBDC serves as an essential resource for struggling business owners....

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is proud to celebrate the one-year anniversary and growth of its client Arch Equipment Group (AEG) LLC. Owner and President Lisa McQuade has worked with the SBDC and Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May since December 2019 to successfully build a fleet sales and service company.

AEG is a proud, woman-owned business providing professional, comprehensive management solutions for the entir...

Cone Huggys owner Jeff Hughart has worked with the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Business Specialist Marti Wieland since September 2018 to successfully create and launch Ice Cream Caddie, the world’s first ice cream cone to-go container.

Each Ice Cream Caddie contains any mess or dripping that may occur when transporting an ice cream cone. The unique, functional, multi-purpose design consists of a...

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the Latino Roundtable of Southwestern Illinois, Busey Bank (the sponsor) and additional partners will host the virtual conference, “Immigrants in Our Midst,” from 8 a.m.-noon on Friday, Oct. 2. The conference’s focus will be on how to better serve the U.S. immigrant workforce. 

SIUE alumnus Raffi Mikaelian is helping to coordinate the event that includes ...

A dozen Southwestern Illinois-based entrepreneurs and their innovative business concepts have been selected to move into the second round of the 7th annual Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC) business plan competition.

More than 25 entrepreneurs expressed interest in the regional competition this year, according to Jo Ann Di Maggio May, Metro East SBDC director and MESC coordinator. About half of the individuals...

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is proud to support its client, Profile by Sanford, in the opening of a new location at 146 Junction Drive West in Glen Carbon.

Owner Kevin Hill announced, “We’re extremely excited to bring this new weight loss and health coaching program to the area. Sanford Health is a well-known, highly-respected organization, and its team of health experts has pioneered this pr...

Beth Schwarz and her family have opened a Tropical Sno at 2134 S. Morrison Ave. in Caseyville. Schwarz has worked with the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Director Jo Ann Di Maggio May since early June to successfully plan and start the business, which officially opened Thursday, July 2.

The Caseyville/Collinsville location, “Where the last spoonful is just as good as the first!”, provides all Tr...

Entrepreneurs and new business startups are invited to compete in the 2020 Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 7th annual regional business plan competition.

The MESC is organized by the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at SIUE. The purpose of the MESC is to identify, encourage and support entrepreneurs and business startups across the SBDC’s service area, including Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, ...