Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation President George Robertson speaks to North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce members during the small business tune-up listening session at the Tippecanoe Township Building, North Webster.

NORTH WEBSTER — No cost and low cost services available to small businesses were highlighted at the small business tune-up listening session Monday evening, April 25, at the Tippecanoe Township Building, North Webster. It was a special program sponsored by North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce for interested members.

The information was presented Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation or KEDCO, Warsaw; Indiana Small Business Development Center, South Bend; and Service Corps of Retired Executives or SCORE, Warsaw and Fort Wayne.

KEDCO President George Robertson kicked the evening off by explaining the partnership between the three groups and how it benefits county business. ISBDC Director Alan Steele explained the mission of the national group the South Bend center is part of and how it is now reaching out into surrounding counties to assist businesses. Among its services are one on one advisors for aspiring entrepreneurs or businesses that have hit a growth plateau. This has no cost.

One of the key components of ISBDC is access to research data needed to establish and/or grow a company. Also available are problem solving, business evaluation by an expert, putting together buyers and sellers, seminars and workshops. Some of these services do have a reasonable fee.

Steele noted, “Seventy percent of businesses in the United States have no employees and are run by a single owner.”

Rich Dan spoke about SCORE. He is a resident of the Barbee Lakes area and volunteers as a business mentor through the chapter in Fort Wayne. Five of the members come from the Kosciusko County area.

Mentors help grow new businesses and expand existing ones at no cost to the client. SCORE serves early stage entrepreneurs who are considering starting a business but need help defining ideas, building a business plan and obtaining financing. Start up and established businesses can also use SCORE’s services.

“Of SCORE’s 2014 clients 56 percent were women, 39 percent were minorities and 13 percent were veterans nationally,” Dan pointed out.

Robertson talked with the group about what kind of programs might be needed by the North Webster business community. He mentioned Winona Lake’s Grace College Kauffman certified GrowthVenture class for established businesses as an opportunity to change and grow skill sets for business owners.

He asked what kind of challenges the local businesses represented are facing. North Webster Chamber of Commerce President Sue Ward replied, “We are having trouble finding good, year-round help.”

Robertson explained an advertising campaign to help young people move back to the area with their new skills. “Sell what you have here, safety, quality schools and available jobs. They grew up here and know the area but need to learn about what kind of work is open to them here and in the surrounding counties,” he suggested.

Another question dealt with filling empty buildings. Robertson threw out an idea the chamber would take a survey of what members need they can’t buy locally and of what specific products were in demand. Using this information, try to work with established and new businesses to fill the gaps.

Taking information from the audience, KEDCO, ISBDC and SCORE will work with the chamber to have programs that address issues that are deemed pertinent.