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BRAINERD — Planting the seed of possibility.
That’s what staff at the North Central Small Business Development Center hope to do in the community.
They work to provide resources for those interested in creating their own businesses, no matter what the idea.
“We just want to, I think, develop people’s potential to be successful,” Alison Medeck said. “And it really is just more about learning. You don’t have to know everything right this second.”
Medeck is the special initiatives director for the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation and also serves as a consultant for the Small Business Development Center.
To further the goal of planting that seed of possibility in people’s minds, Medeck taught Starting a Small Business 101, in September at Central Lakes College, a class aimed at helping those with business ideas get started.
“It really just starts with an idea and making sure you know what your resources are,” Medeck said. “And a lot of people who start businesses have no business sense when they start.”
And that’s OK.
September’s workshop covered topics like basic entrepreneurial skills, legal requirements, financial advice, planning tips and marketing strategies, all aimed at fostering a strong business and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Brainerd lakes area, according to Small Business Development Center Director Katie Heppner.
“I think we’re blessed to have a lot of thriving small businesses,” Heppner said. “And we have a lot of great downtowns, great industrial parks, but there definitely is a need for that next generation of business owners — whatever that looks like; whatever next generation means.”
Twenty-two people with varying business interests attended the class, which was hosted for the second time and served as the kick off to the development center’s fall training series.
We just want to, I think, develop people’s potential to be successful,
Alison Medeck
Another fall initiative is Biz Bites, a series of lunch and learn events catered toward CLC students. The informal sessions offer advice on exploring entrepreneurship, building a brand and selling online.
North Central Small Business Development Center
The North Central Small Business Development Center is an arm of the federal program, housed at Central Lakes College since 1986. The organization provides no-cost professional one-on-one business consulting and group training for small business owners and those looking to go into business for themselves.
The north central branch serves Wadena, Todd, Morrison, Cass, Crow Wing, Aitkin, Mille Lacs, Pine, Kanabec, Isanti and Chisago counties and the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs bands of Ojibwe.
“We can help businesses at all stages of their lifecycle,” Heppner said. “Whether an entrepreneur just has an idea that they want to flesh out a little further, or an established business is looking to grow or wants someone to help them with QuickBooks or refinancing.”
The center’s 17 consultants have varying areas of expertise, lending a wide array of business advice and services to clients. A new partnership with LegalCORPS out of Minneapolis allows the development center to offer no-cost legal help for those first setting up their businesses or looking for assistance with tasks like reviewing contracts.
A list of upcoming course offerings through the North Central Small Business Development Center is available at
mnsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events
, and the new Raider Family Discount makes the classes free for CLC students and their families.
Most other services through the center are free to use.
“So if someone is ready to go, they could register with us and start receiving free one-on-one consulting,” Heppner said.
THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa.
Theresa Bourke started working at the Dispatch in July 2018, covering Brainerd city government and area education, including Brainerd Public Schools and Central Lakes College.
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