Entrepreneur Assistance

Confidential assistance for entrepreneurs is available through several sources.

The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) is a cooperative program of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). NBDC offers planning and assessment assistance to get a new business started or to improve an existing business. NBDC consultants are MBA's, MBA candidates, and leaders from the Nebraska business community who focus on the particular needs of each client. Along with SBA loan packaging services the NBDC offers consulting in the following areas:

New business start up
Business growth
Lean enterprise for manufacturing
Pollution prevention and waste reduction
Obtaining and fulfilling government contracts
Technology and management

NBDC publishes Keys for Successful Business Start-Up which outlines rules, regulations, tax laws and business practices in Nebraska. Businesses can download and print PDF version (1.4M) or purchase the published version from NBDC's Entrepreneurshop, 10868 West Dodge Road Omaha NE 68154 (402) 595-1158.

The Nebraska Business Development Center's Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) is a non-profit organization that helps Nebraska businesses grow and generate new business by locating opportunities for business with the government. The NBDC PTAC offers free consulting services to businesses in Nebraska wishing to compete and win contracts with the government, and nominal fee-based services for locating daily bidding opportunities. The program is partially funded by the Defense Logistics Agency, and helped Nebraska businesses generate $45 million in revenue 2003. For PTAC Assistance contact Scott Knapp Telephone: (308) 865-8244.

The Director of the Kearney Service Center is Odee Ingersoll. The center is located at:

University of Nebraska at Kearney
West Center Bldg. Room 135C
1917 W. 24th Street
Kearney, NE 68849-4440
Telephone: (308) 865-8344
Fax: (308) 865-8153
Email: ingersollo@unk.edu

SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association entrepreneurs withered, confidential face-to-face and email business counseling and workshops are offered at 389 chapter offices by volunteers who are experienced entrepreneurs or corporate managers/executives.

Twice a year the Central Nebraska Chapter of SCORE offers a "Starting and Growing a Small Business" workshop to persons interested in starting or expanding their small business. For more information on this workshop or SCORE services contact:

Central Nebraska Score Chapter #300
16 West 11th Street
PO Box 2088
Kearney NE 68848-2088
Robert Hobbs - (308) 865-1354 Ext. 105 or mncaloans@mnca.net
(402) 461-2461 or jsvoboda@cccneb.edu.

The State of Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) provides business support services through the Business Development Division. Business Start-Up resources can be accessed at the DED's web site's Business Toolkit. For more information contact:

Dan Curran, Director of Business Development
State of Nebraska Department of Economic Development
PO Box 94666
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE 68509-4666 USA
Toll Free: (800) 426-6505
TDD: (402) 471-6513
Fax: (402) 471-3778
Email: dan.curran@ded.ne.gov

The Nebraska Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO) assists businesses by providing long term, lower rate financing for their growth and development.

The Nebraska Economic Development Corporation is an IRS designated 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation promoting economic development and job creation throughout Nebraska. NEDCO was established in 1987 and licensed as a Certified Development Company (CDC) by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to offer the SBA 504 Loan Program.

NEDCO currently has a $90 million portfolio and is presently assisting over 150 new and expanding businesses resulting in the creation of over 3500 jobs. Projects range from metro to small rural areas and to the four corners of the state. Projects have included manufacturing, professional services (medical, legal, accounting, etc.), motels, agricultural processing, retail, convenience stores, wholesalers, and many others.

For more information contact:

Ted Rowan
Senior Loan Officer
419 10th Street
Gothenburg, NE 69138
Phone: (308) 537-3100
Cell: (308) 529-0555
Fax: (308) 537-2767
Email: ted@nedcoloans.org

USDA Rural Development seeks to enhance the quality of life for all rural Americans by providing leadership in building competitive businesses that can prosper in both the domestic and global trading marketplace. Programs available in Nebraska include:

For assistance with Rural Business Programs in Buffalo County contact:

Kelley J. Kinney, Rural Development Specialist
4009 6th Avenue, Suite 1
PO Box 730
Kearney, NE 68848-0730
Phone: (308) 237-3118
Fax: (308) 236-6290
Email: kelley.kinney@ne.usda.gov

Lennis J. Hodgson, Rural Development Manager
4009 6th Avenue, Suite 1
PO Box 730
Kearney, NE 68848-0730
Phone: (308) 237-3118
Fax: (308) 236-6290
Email: lennis.hodgson@ne.usda.gov

Invest Nebraska is a non-profit organization which helps build a vibrant business creation market in Nebraska by assisting new companies and growth stage companies in accessing the resources they need to improve their business. These resources include education, capital, economic development, and business expertise. Invest Nebraska is focused on Nebraska-based businesses in most industries which are in their growth stage businesses that need assistance in raising capital, considering a buyout, or seeking other resources to fuel their business growth.

Invest Nebraska does not act as an investment bank, make investments or provide loans of any kind, nor does Invest Nebraska make recommendations to potential investors that ought to invest in any company. They make introductions to investors, advise companies on how to prepare to meet with investors, and make potential opportunities available to investors. Invest Nebraska has built a network of existing service providers throughout the state who are best capable to assist entrepreneurs and growth stage businesses in achieving their goals. Invest Nebraska guides entrepreneurs to these sources as appropriate.

For more information access the Invest Nebraska web-site or contact:

Bryan Fairfield
Invest Nebraska Corporation
4701 Innovation Drive
Lincoln, NE 68521
Phone: (402) 472-2063 or (402) 472-3224
Fax: (402) 472-4203
Email: bryan@investnebraska.com

Tammi Messman
Invest Nebraska Corporation
4701 Innovation Drive
Lincoln, NE 68521
Phone: (402) 472-2063 or (402) 472-3224
Fax: (402) 472-4203
Email: tammi@investnebraska.com

The Center for Rural Affairs Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) offers the small business owner or potential start-up entrepreneur …

Networking with other small business owners and managers.
Peer and direct business micro loans.
Business planning and management workshops and discussion topics at association meetings.
One-on-one technical assistance provided by REAP at no additional charge.
Women's Business Center activities including eCommerce training.
REAP Business Update newsletter and other special services and activities provided for members.

For assistance in the Southwest/Central Region (Nebraska Counties: Buffalo, Chase, Custer, Dawson, Dundy, Franklin, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Hall, Harlan, Hayes, Hitchcock, Howard, Kearney, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Perkins, Phelps, Red Willow, and Sherman) contact:

Dena Beck, Business Specialist
1662 32 Road
Minden, NE 68959
Phone: (308) 528-0060
Fax: (308) 832-1565
Email: denab@gtmc.net

For information on REAP contact:

Jeff Reynolds, REAP Program Director
PO Box 274
Plymouth, NE 68424-0274
Phone: (402) 656-3091
Fax: (402) 656-3091
Email: jeffr@alltel.net

The Women's Business Center is the first and only SBA funded Women's Business Center in the state of Nebraska. The Women's Business Center project is a center without Newell, using REAP's infrastructure with business specialists located throughout the state to deliver the WBC services to rural small businesses. The Women's Business Center serves existing and start-up self- employed women across rural Nebraska, improving the accessibility of REAP's basic business training across Nebraska for women, providing Internet training for women in business on a regional basis, participating in an on-line Women's Business Center (OWBC) co-sponsored by SBA, increasing REAP's outreach to provide training, technical assistance, networking and lending, targeting socially and economically disadvantaged women through our existing infrastructure.

For more information access the REAP web-site or contact:

Monica Braun, WBC Director
239 South St. #3
Seward, NE 68434
Phone: (402) 643-2673
Fax: (402) 643-2673
Email: mbraun@windstream.net

NebraskaEDGE is the umbrella organization for rural entrepreneurial training programs hosted by local communities, organizations and associations. Since 1993, the NebraskaEDGE has helped nearly 2,000 individuals, small business owners and their partners start and improve their businesses. Over 85 training courses have been held in urban and rural communities across Nebraska. Positive results of NebraskaEDGE programs can be observed all across the state.

For more information access the NebraskaEDGE web-site or contact:

Marilyn Schlake, Associate Director
NebraskaEDGE Program
Center for Applied Rural Innovation
University of Nebraska
58 Filley Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583-0947
Phone: (402) 472-4138 or (800) 328-2851
Fax: (402) 472-0688
Email: mschlake@unl.edu

Joy Marshall, Regional Coordinator
PO Box 57
Arthur, NE 69121
Phone: (308) 764-2252 or (800) 328-2851
Fax: (308) 764-2371
Email: jmarsha@neb-sandhills.net

The GROW Nebraska Program provides assistance to Nebraska residents - individuals or groups - wanting to develop as arts and crafts professionals through economic opportunities and training.

All interested Nebraska residents may take advantage of the non-juried services. These services are for beginning arts and crafts people needing resources and technical assistance to develop their business and marketing skills. Program staff can provide assistance at this level to prepare arts and crafts people for the juried portion of the GROW Nebraska Program.

Nebraska entrepreneurs whose works have been accepted through the GROW Nebraska jury process (a review to determine quality work) are eligible for the juried services. These services are focused on wholesale production. Entrepreneurs producing one-of-a-kind work or retailing only can benefit from GROW Nebraska's juried services.

Juried services assist the career arts and crafts professional in marketing their work regionally, nationally, and internationally. Entrepreneurs at this level should be prepared to respond to the volume of business that may result through juried participation in the GROW Nebraska Program. Active juried participants find their works in quality shops and galleries - and on the pages of major publications and catalogs.

For more information access the GROW Nebraska web-site or contact:

Jannell Anderson Ehrke
416 Central Avenue
PO Box 7
Holbrook NE 68948
Phone: (888) GROWNEB (888) 476-9632
Fax: (308) 493-5396
Email: janell@growneb.com

The University of Nebraska Food Processing Center provides comprehensive marketing, business and technical assistance to food manufacturers throughout the U.S. The Center is home to the nationally recognized Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program. It is the only program in the nation that provides complete assistance to individuals wanting to start a food business.

The Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program was designed specifically to assist food manufacturing entrepreneurs. It begins with a one-day “From Recipe to Reality” seminar that provides entrepreneurs with an understanding of the key factors that need to be considered when starting a food manufacturing business. Topics include market research, product development, packaging, labeling, pricing, product introduction, promotional materials, food safety, and legal and business structure issues. In one day entrepreneurs will gain valuable insight on the basics of starting a food business that could take them months or even years to research on their own. Following the seminar, participants may choose to enter the “From Product to Profit” phase of the program. During this phase entrepreneurs will receive comprehensive, individualized and confidential assistance from food scientists and business consultants with the development of their own business venture. The Center helps entrepreneurs build a firm business foundation and develop safe, quality products that will economically benefit the entrepreneur and your state.

For more information access the Food Processing Center web-site or contact:

Jill Gifford, Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program Manager
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
143 Food Industry Building
Lincoln, NE 68583-0928
Phone: (402) 472-2819
Email: jgifford1@unl.edu

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