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Save the Date! | |
3rd Annual
INVEST IN SUCCESS
State Wide Conference
April 23 - 24, 2012
Missoula, MT
Reserve YOUR spot today!
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Have you heard? | |
The Montana SBDC is now on Facebook! We will be posting links to helpful business articles, economic news in Montana, and open the flow of conversation between businesses, SBDC clients, and other economic development organizations.
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Our Resource Partner | |
The Montana SBDC is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration
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Did you know? | |
91% of SBDC clients who responded to a recent survey said they would recommend the SBDC to a friend.
82% of SBDC clients rated the counseling they received as Good.
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Introducing... | | |
 Joe LaPlante, SBDC Director
Joe is the currently the director of the Small Business Development Center in Havre. The Havre SBDC is hosted by Bear Paw Development Corporation.
Joe began working for the SBDC in 2006. As the SBDC director for a multi-county region, Joe tailors SBDC services to start-up and existing businesses in Liberty, Hill, Chouteau, Blaine and Phillips counties. The Havre SBDC provides no-cost confidential business counseling, training courses and financial assistance.
Joe holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with emphases in Marketing and Management from Montana State University in Billings. He has studied Computer Networking and Programming at the Helena College of Technology. As a result, Joe specializes in the counseling areas of marketing, management, computers and technology, as well as QuickBooks software. Joe is also certified as a FastTrac Facilitator, NxLevel Facilitator and is NDC (National Development Council) Certified.
When he isn't busy teaching business owners how to use QuickBooks or advising clients on effective management and marketing strategies, Joe enjoys the outdoors and almost never passes up a chance to go hiking or camping.
Since 2006, Joe and the Havre SBDC have been involved in more than $15,007,869 in total new capital, have provided more than 2,870 client counseling hours, and have created and retained 321 jobs. More than 20 new businesses have been created as a result of Joe's ongoing counseling.
Joe's favorite part about being an SBDC Director is seeing a business he has counseled be successful!
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SBDC Success Story: Grateful Bread | | |
For the past three years, Rick Neuwerth has put his passion for baking to work, making his living as the owner of Grateful Bread in Havre.
"I feel like I'm destined to do this," said Newerth, whose love for baking bread began as a child, while helping his mother make her old fashioned white bread.
Neuwerth first started thinking of opening a bakery in the spring of 2008. He sought assistance from the Havre Small Business Development Center to help make his dream a reality. With entrepreneurship assistance from Joe LaPlante and the Havre SBDC as well as financing from Bear Paw Development Corporation, Neuwerth opened Grateful Bread in May 2009.
Neuwerth started with a limited menu showcasing his cinnamon buns, coffee and special-order dinner rolls. The limited menu was met with great success, leading Neuwerth to expand Grateful Bread's offerings. The thriving bakery now features a daily soup, sandwiches, bread, and a variety of cookies and other sweet treats. Everything is homemade. Grateful Bread has received rave reviews from locals and visitors who happen upon the restaurant, which is located in the basement of the Atrium Mall.
 Follow Rick and Grateful Bread on the Grateful Bread Facebook page, where they post yummy photos and soup-of-the-day specials!
Pictured Below: "Our Baker's Club comes on toasted bread with turkey, ham, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce and mayo."
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Top 5 Reasons to Work with an SBDC in 2012 | | |
1. It's FREE
When it comes to the services that the SBDC's provide, you just can't beat the price. It is free to work with SBDC advisors because your tax dollars have already paid the cost. Usually the saying, "You get what you pay for" has a lot of truth to it, but when it comes to the SBDC the saying just doesn't hold true.
2. Bankers Love the SBDC
If you are looking to secure a loan, or may need a loan in the future, working with your local SBDC is going to score you some major brownie points with the bank. Bankers like to take referrals from the SBDC because they know if the business owner is smart enough to work with an SBDC advisor, they are probably committed to the success of their business, and to the full repayment of a loan. The SBDC has a number of resources, and the know-how to help you put together a strong loan application that will impress your banker.
3. Market Research
The SBDC has access to some very powerful market research tools. SBDC advisors can help you use these tools and locate accurate and relevant industry information. Find the information you need to know about your industry, including market trends, best practices, current conditions, industry leaders, and future industry-specific technology.
4. Accountability
When you develop a plan to grow your business who keeps you accountable? When you are the owner, sometimes it is easy to let goals and deadlines that you set for yourself slip by. One of the largest benefits of workings with SBDC is a partner in your business who will keep you accountable. Your SBDC advisor is going to help you do things like get your books in order, keep you focused on your customer, and help you develop a board of directors. These are tough things that you need to focus on now for the long term health of your business.
5. No Ulterior Motives
When you work with private small business advisors and consultants, you never know if they have ulterior motives when providing advice. Are they really on your team, doing what is best for you? Or are they mostly concerned with growing their own consulting business? SBDC counselors are not paid more or less if you are successful, so there is little room for them to have ill motives when providing advice.
Do you know someone who could benefit from the great value that the Montana SBDC Network's services brings businesses? Locate the closest Montana SBDC service center here. |
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"Guiding Montana Businesses to SUCCESS!" |
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