Grandview Event to Help Local Entrepreneurs Learn About Growing or Starting a Business

TechColumbus and the Grandview Marble Cliff Chamber of Commerce will co-host an event titled “Grow Your Business in the Grandview Area” on Thursday, February 26, 2009 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at TechColumbus headquarters, 1275 Kinnear Road, in Columbus.

The free event is for local entrepreneurs interested in learning more about how to grow or start a  tech-related business. City and county officials, economic development professionals and financial advisors are welcome to attend.

 “Individuals will take home valuable knowledge from a number of resources about the types of programs and capital available for starting or growing a tech-related business,” said Will Indest, vice president of capital access and formation with TechColumbus. 

Representatives from TechColumbus and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will speak about programs and capital available to tech-related businesses and emerging companies. In addition to learning about what regional partners are doing to embrace this initiative, participants will hear from representatives from the Grandview Marble Cliff Chamber of Commerce.

“TechColumbus and the SBDC are great resources for local entrepreneurs with technology-based business development opportunities,” added Executive Director of the Chamber, Mary Hart. “We look forward to partnering with these organizations to help our local entrepreneurs start or grow their business.”
Participants will learn about TechStart, a program led by TechColumbus and supported financially by Ohio’s Third Frontier Program and 19 local partners. It provides early-stage funding and mentoring assistance to entrepreneurs with promising tech businesses throughout 15 counties of Central Ohio. TechColumbus worked with public and private partners throughout the 15-county region to win a $15 million award from the State of Ohio. Adding the $7.5 million from local partners, this 3-year $22.5 million project is the largest of its kind ever in Central Ohio.

TechStart is designed to advance the development of technology-based companies in the region by providing a systematic method for identifying promising technologies and innovations; providing business management oversight that emerging companies need for sustainable growth; and connecting technology entrepreneurs with access to early-stage capital. The program also provides coaching, mentoring, educational and market access to the most promising new companies, technologies and processes with targeted business development services. The 15-county region served by TechStart includes Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Hocking, Knox, Licking, Logan, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Perry, Pickaway, Ross and Union counties.

To register for this event go to: http://www.techcolumbus.org/en/cev/reg/364/

If you have questions, please call Laura Coffee at (614) 675-3755 or email at lcoffee@techcolumbus.org
About TechColumbus (www.techcolumbus.org)

TechColumbus is a nonprofit organization that focuses on technology-based economic development in the 15 counties of central Ohio. TechColumbus accomplishes this by:

• Providing professional development and technology business assistance to both large and small companies that rely on technology for business success
• Managing a 62,000 square foot technology business incubator that has been recognized as one of the best in the country
• Managing TechStart, the $22.5 million Central Ohio Entrepreneurial Signature Program, with a mission to create, finance and launch new tech companies in central Ohio
• Assisting in the development of facilities for tech companies
  Working with state and local organizations to attract new tech companies to the region

 For more information about TechColumbus visit www.techcolumbus.org.

About the Ohio SBDC

With more than 120 highly trained Certified Business Advisors® throughout the state, the Ohio SBDC Network provides free, confidential, in-depth business consulting in areas such as business management, government regulations, financing, international trade and product development.

The SBDC of Ohio program was created in 1985 through a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Ohio Department of Development. The program fosters a strong climate for small business growth through a statewide integrated system of small business service, advocacy and awareness, and more than 40 partnerships with chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, economic development organizations and Edison Centers. Today, these federal, state, and local partnerships contribute more than $10 million in cash and resources to the support of small business development.
For more information, visit http://www.entrepreneurohio.org/

About Grandview/Marble Cliff Area Chamber of Commerce

Celebrating its 60th anniversary as an integral part of the Grandview and Marble Cliff area community, the Grandview Marble Cliff Area Chamber of Commerce is a volunteer-driven organization of area business leaders, each of who serve the community in a variety of ways, but all of whom are dedicated to a singular purpose: the development, growth and success of the business community in the Grandview and Marble Cliff area.