About Iowa Small Business Development Centers

Overview

Established in 1981, the Iowa Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) provide free, confidential, customized business advice in all 99 Iowa counties to businesses with 500 employees or less. We also present affordable workshops that teach practical skills and techniques, conduct research, provide comprehensive information services, and offer access to subject matter experts in a variety of fields.

Our program is a public-private partnership that leverages the resources of government, higher education, and the business community to assist Iowa’s businesses to grow and be successful. Our 16 regional business assistance centers are hosted by the three Iowa Regent institutions, ten community colleges, and one regional economic development entity, all coordinated through the state administrative center at Iowa State University. Each regional center encourages unique local efforts, region to region and community to community, to meet small business needs throughout the state.

Our organization is the only nationally-accredited entrepreneurial development program in Iowa. We are an accredited affiliate of America’s SBDC, the national Association of Small Business Development Centers.

Our programs and activities have contributed significantly to economic growth in Iowa.

Funding Partners

The statewide Iowa Small Business Development Center program is hosted by the Iowa State University College of Business, helping the University to fulfill its land-grant mission by providing outreach services to Iowa’s business community. Funding support and resources are provided through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, by the State of Iowa through Iowa State University, and through support from regional host institutions. All services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.

Regional Center Host Institutions

Services

We unlock the potential of any business by providing business expertise normally reserved for large, established companies. If entrepreneurs have the drive to succeed, we can help make their businesses successful.

Our business counseling and training focuses on specific business needs including, but not limited to:

Our Mission

The mission of the Iowa Small Business Development Center is to have a positive impact on the economy of the State of Iowa and its communities. We do this by providing the highest quality assistance to current and future businesses and by collaborating with other federal, state, local and private resources to ensure maximum benefit to clients.

Our Vision

The Iowa Small Business Development Center is the preeminent provider of hands-on assistance to current and future business owners.

Economic Impact Data

From 2007 through 2012, Iowa SBDC clients:

• Created or saved 9,372 jobs
• Raised over $330 million in new capital
• Started 908 new businesses
• On average, grew significantly faster than the average Iowa business.

This was a direct result of our counseling 15,172 clients in nearly 79,000 hours! 

2012 Economic Impact:

• We spent 11,253 hours counseling 2,673 clients.
• These clients added or retained 1,926 jobs and raised nearly $49 million in capital for their Iowa businesses.
• We held 229 training workshops attended by 3,543 business people.
• We also helped 188 new businesses start.

Funded in part through a Cooperativ Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Interim Assistant Director of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, 3280 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.