Small Business Development Center

Entrepreneurs and new business startups are invited to compete in the 2021 Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s 8th 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 Challenge is to identify, encourage and support entrepreneurs and business startups across the SBDC’s service area, including Calhoun, Jersey, Madi...

Miss Jay’s Cafeteria, of Cahokia, has been awarded first place in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s inaugural East St. Louis food industry business plan competition, the Café of Champions Challenge.

Miss Jay’s Cafeteria representatives Cynthia Richardson, Jere Richardson and Shay Jones edged out the other finalists during the final round of competition which included a taste testing pitch. The first-place prize includes $2,000 and 12-months of rent and utility f...

JewelRide, a client of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, has been awarded Madison County’s Community Development COVID-19 Block Grant to provide transportation to the Madison County community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Removing barriers, such as transportation issues, increases access for people to get the COVID-19 vaccine to help protect themselves, their families, and the community,” ...

Five St. Clair County and East St. Louis Area caterers and foodpreneurs have been selected to move into the second round of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s inaugural East St. Louis food industry business plan competition.

Numerous entrepreneurs expressed interest in the local competition, according to Jo Ann Di Maggio May, challenge coordinator and director of the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE, and Ali Vlahos, SIUE Learning Resource Center program coordinator. Ten i...

For one highly successful St. Louis area entrepreneur, growing his business, Blue Stingray, meant making mistakes and learning what he valued. Now, Brian Rehg is able to share those lessons as a new board member of the Metro East Business Incubator (MEBI), providing valuable insight and mentoring to other local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Jo Ann DiMaggio May, director of the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is a fellow MEBI board member. “I ...

The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Director Jo Ann DiMaggio May have worked with client Kimberly St. Clair to grow OTEKA SOLUTIONS, a launching pad for innovative solutions that solve global problems.

After working in corporate America for more than 30 years, St. Clair decided it was time to apply her skills and knowledge and start her own business. With her experience in strategic marketing, planning and pro...

Caterers and restaurant entrepreneurs are invited to showcase their talents in the 2021 East St. Louis Café of Champions Challenge, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s first food industry business plan competition.

The opportunity is huge as the winning caterer or restauranteur receives the opportunity to operate their food business on the SIUE East St. Louis Higher Education Campus for students and the community to enjoy.

The competition is organized by SIUE East ...