Clinton County Port Authority is Proud to be an SBDC Ambassador for a Third Year

13 Mar 2023

News

Clinton County Port Authority (CCPA) is proud to be one of over 50 SBDC Day 2023 Ambassadors! SBDC Day — March 15, 2023 — is a national, collective proclamation of the impact America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) have on the success of our nation’s dreamers, innovators, and doers – America’s small businesses. The seventh annual SBDC Day theme is “Reimaging Main Street.” America’s SBDCs empower their clients during times of uncertainty and times of opportunity.

As small business owners navigate an ever-changing landscape, SBDCs continue to support and elevate their clients through innovative at-cost training programs and free advising strategies. Nearly 1,000 SBDCs across the United States and its territories serve clients virtually and from their offices.

Why is the Clinton County Port Authority enthusiastically serving as an SBDC Day Ambassador for the third year running? Because our partner since 2020, Miami University Small Business Development Center (MUSBDC) — also known as SBDC Miami Regionals — is doing great work here in Clinton County!

“The support the SBDC has offered to local businesses has been professional, thorough, and eminently impactful,” said Walt Rowsey, Clinton County Port Authority Board Chair.

Clinton County Port Authority and MUSBDC: A Winning Partnership

“The SBDC’s relationship with the Port Authority is a true economic development partnership,” said Alex Beres, Clinton County Port Authority Executive Director. “Jim’s [Buckner, MUSBDC advisor] expertise is invaluable in our ability to assist our local small businesses to grow and expand in Clinton County.”

The close of the fiscal year, October 1, 2021–September 30, 2022, yielded impressive outcomes for Wilmington-Clinton County small business engagement by MUSBDC for the Clinton County Port Authority:

628 business advising/consulting hours.
170 new jobs created, predominantly in manufacturing and construction.
$12.79 million capital formation. (The total amount of dollars received/distributed through commercial loans to Clinton County small businesses.)
$25.66 million in sales growth.

Part of the work of SBDCs is assisting with exit strategies. Three Clinton County business owners were helped to develop and implement an exit strategy. Two of the three commercial real estate sites have been repurposed and occupied by other small businesses.

Several restaurants were helped with extending business hours and expansion, including Kava Haus, a locally owned coffee shop in Wilmington, OH. MUSBDC assistance allowed Kava Haus to purchase a trailer — the Kava Kart — for mobile sales at regional events and open a second location in Xenia, in neighboring Greene County.

"Kava Haus is a rapidly growing small business that has received tremendous support and guidance from Jim Buckner and the Clinton County Port Authority,” said Brad Heys, Kava Haus owner. “Over the past year, Kava Haus has been grateful to have the CCPA as a resource to help grow and guide this business forward and help seek out new endeavors."

Additionally, several construction and manufacturing businesses that have been consistently working with MUSBDC are in their third straight year of growth.

Overall, the SBDC has been assisting business owners in Clinton County with everything from production capacity, supply chain improvement, and additional facility needs to talent acquisition, banking, and international trade.

Fiscal Year 2023 is Off to a Strong Start

In the first four months of the 2023 fiscal year, there have been seven business startups and $4.59 million in commercial loan approvals. All but one of the eight loans was an SBA loan.

Two Wilmington-Clinton County business expansions initially planned for out-of-county will now be kept in Clinton County. Both will represent significant owner investment, commercial financing, and job growth. A third existing business expansion opportunity is in the works.

Additionally, MUSBDC is working on the DRIVE (Downtown Revitalization Investment Vibrancy Effort) application process with two other small businesses in the DRIVE designated area for funds that would be spent on business expansion. The expansions are being driven by growing demand in the marketplace for their particular products.

Further MUSBDC Achievements

MUSBDC’s work doesn’t just happen here in Clinton County. At the Ohio SBDC Conference in November of 2022, MUSBDC and its advisors had outstanding showings. Out of all 27 SBDCs in the state of Ohio reporting, MUSBDC ranked:

#1 SBDC Center for Economic Impact (capital infusion, jobs created & business starts)
#1 SBDC Center for Jobs Created: 373
#2 SBDC Center For Business Starts: 72
#2 SBDC Center for Total Capital Infusion: $23.89 million

James Buckner, MUSBDC Vice President of Business Counseling, was recognized:

SBDC Mentor of the Year
Best SBDC Advisor
Most Jobs Created by an Advisor: 242

Karla Boldery, MUSBDC Business Development Director, was recognized:

#2 in Business Starts: 49

The fiscal year ended with even stronger numbers for MUSBDC than indicated by their awards:

Capital Infusion: $34.81 Million in loans and owner investment
Jobs created: 395
Business Starts: 73

National SBDC Numbers

According to the most recent Chrisman Survey, which collected data from SBDC clients in 2020–2021, America’s SBDCs provide measurable economic results. Nationwide SBDCs helped generate; 85,094 jobs, $10.1 billion in sales growth; $7.7 billion in capital investments; and started 14,487 new businesses, proving that SBDCs are leaders in job creation and economic development.

“Through adversity, we strengthen and grow, and nothing could be truer for the SBDC network and its thousands of clients this past year,” said Charles “Tee” Rowe, President & CEO of America’s SBDC. “This SBDC Day, we are celebrating the SBDC network’s reimagined approach to doing business and its direct positive impact on Main Streets all across America.”

Clinton County Port Authority

Clinton County Port Authority is the first stop for businesses looking to expand into Clinton County and local businesses seeking to grow. Established in 2004, the Port Authority was then designated as the economic development organization for Clinton County in 2019, and all county development efforts are now concentrated through it. Contact Clinton County Port Authority for more information!