TSBDC helps businesses create 150-plus new jobs in 2005

Small businesses that sought assistance from the Tennessee Small Business Development Center experienced increased sales of $12 million and created more than 150 new jobs in the area in 2005.

These are two of the findings of a year-end summary report of the center, which is operated by Pellissippi State in partnership with Roane State Community College. The main center is based in downtown Knoxville; other offices are at local Chambers of Commerce in Oak Ridge and Maryville.

Larry Rossini, who became senior director of the center Jan. 1, says 20 new businesses started after participating in the centers’ workshops and one-on-one counseling. At least 600 existing businesses received more than 2,600 hours of consulting assistance to increase or improving business.

The center conducted nearly 100 training sessions in 2005 for more than 1,100 people. Businesses and business owners who participated in center workshops, seminars and other activities invested more than $10 million in their businesses, in addition to experiencing increased sales of more than $12 million, Rossini says.

The TSBDC serves a 15-county area of East Tennessee in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

A partner of the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership, the Blount County Chamber and the Oak Ridge Chamber, the center provides assistance to small-business owners and to people who want to start their own business.

For existing businesses, the assistance is provided by one-on-one counseling or consulting, while start-up assistance is given in seminars. Counseling services are available at no charge, and some seminars and training have a small fee. Other assistance includes access to resources helpful to business owners.

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Community Relations Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

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