YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
The Missouri Small Business Development Center at Missouri State University is expanding its reach in the Branson area through an agreement with the Taney County Partnership.
SBDC Director Chrystal Irons said the organization would use Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding it received to pay the TCP for staff time. She declined to disclose the value of the contract, which lasts through March 2021, according to a news release.
Irons said the partnership makes the Branson-based economic development organization a satellite center of the SBDC at MSU. TCP employees would provide SBDC services, such as training programs for businesses.
"We want to ensure small-business owners have access to resources they need to recover successfully," she said via email. "This partnership will increase our staff capacity, allowing us to serve more small businesses specifically in the Taney and Stone County area."
Irons also cited the SBDC's efforts to help businesses in a tourism-heavy area during the coronavirus pandemic.
"We are just increasing SBDC efforts as we know the tourism industry was hit particularly hard and the southern portion of our region plays an important role in our state economy," she added.
The partnership with the TCP represents an expansion of existing services in the Branson area for the SBDC. The organization also has a regional small-business consultant in Taney County through its partnership with the University of Missouri Extension, Irons said.
Irons said the SBDC would consider expanding the partnership with the TCP after the extent of the contract.
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