Tag Archive for: SBDC

SOU’s Small Business Development Center to close

SOU’s Small Business Development Center to close

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University’s Small Business Development Center, which has served Rogue Valley businesses for 41 years, will close to the public at the end of December after the university and state of Oregon were unable to reach agreement on a plan to maintain U.S. Small Business Administration funding for the center.

SOU has historically augmented the federal funding, but the university’s plan to rebuild itself as a smaller, more resilient institution reduces its ability to help pay for all services. The university submitted a joint proposal with Rogue Community College to combine SOU’s Medford-based Small Business Development Center with RCC’s Josephine County-serving SBDC, but the state office that coordinates Oregon’s 18 SBDCs rejected that plan.

“We definitely knew that the budget environment would mean less capability to subsidize the SBDC’s operations, but we did in earnest work with the state to find a creative solution to continuing services,” SOU President Rick Bailey said. “We went back-and-forth with the state in our effort to create a single center for Jackson and Josephine counties – despite our budget issues – but ultimately were unable to move our proposal forward.”

More than 11,000 entrepreneurs and small business operators have tapped the services offered by SOU’s SBDC, which is located in the RCC/SOU Higher Education Center in Medford. The center works closely with SOU’s School of Business to teach and advise students and collaborate with faculty. It offers help to anyone who operates or is planning to open a business and also runs a Market Research Institute that can offer in-depth, applied market research to SBDC clients.

“The Rogue Valley owes a sincere debt of gratitude to all the amazing staff at the SOU SBDC and Market Research Institute for their service to our community and our region,” President Bailey said. “They have been role models of dedicated, heart-centered service.”

Small Business Development Centers are operated by each of Oregon’s 17 community colleges. SOU’s SBDC in Medford is the only one managed by a university, after Eastern Oregon University closed its SBDC office a year ago. Oregon’s SBDC offices are part of a national network and provide advising, training, online courses and resources for businesses throughout the state.

SBDC offices in Oregon are associated with both the U.S. Small Business Administration and Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency.

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New director hired for SOU’s small business center

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NEWS RELEASE (available online at https://goo.gl/4vVUdC)
New director hired for SOU’s small business center
(Medford, Ore.) — Marshall Doak, who has served previously with Oregon Small Business Development Center offices in Tillamook and Salem, began work today as director of Southern Oregon University’s SBDC office at the Higher Education Center in Medford.
Doak served most recently as executive director of the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association and has worked in a similar role in Sunnyside, Ore. He received his bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and his master’s of business administration degree from Pacific Lutheran University.
He replaces Jack Vitacco, who recently retired from SOU’s SBDC office. The university has had an affiliation with the SBDC for more than 20 years, and the current office in Medford collaborates with Rogue Community College’s SBDC office in Grants Pass.
All offices of the organization provide advising and training opportunities to anyone who operates or is planning to open a business. Oregon’s 19 SBDC offices are part of a national network and is associated with both the Oregon Business Development Department and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
SOU’s office of the SBDC – which employs a director, office manager, graduate assistant and two to four business consultants – works closely with the university’s business program to teach and advise students, and collaborate with faculty. The office also runs a Market Research Institute that can offer in-depth, applied market research to SBDC clients around the state who are seeking to grow their businesses and create jobs.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.