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Business center at YSU to get $74,000
YOUNGSTOWN
The Ohio Small Business Development Center at Youngstown State University will receive about $74,000 this year as part of a federal grant of about $1.9 million for Small Business Development Centers in Ohio.
The development centers are part of the Small Business Administration, and the money comes from the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, which President Barack Obama signed in September.
Patricia Veisz, director of the Ohio Small Business Development Center at YSU, said she expects to receive about the same amount next year, although that could change. The one-time grant was meant to be distributed over two years.
“It’s all about increasing sales, increasing jobs and helping companies become stronger in their industries,” Veisz said.
Veisz said the center will use the money to help companies with tech projects and commercialization as well as expansion and growth into new areas such as international business or social networking.
Veisz said the center also wants to help the agricultural industry and family-owned businesses.
“We have a strong agricultural industry in this area, and they’re businesses, too,” she said.
Because the center is part of the university — located in the Williamson College of Business Administration — Veisz said it plans to tap into the resources of the university to help achieve its goals.
The Ohio Small Business Development Center is based in Columbus and has locations across the state. Jim Donato, SBA spokesman for the Cleveland district, said there are 11 in northern Ohio, including the one at YSU, which covers Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties; there are branches in Warren, Jefferson and Ashtabula.