Small Biz Development Center

Due to an increase in demand and support from the Telluride Venture Accelerator (TVA), an initiative of the Telluride Foundation, and the towns of Mountain Village and Telluride, the West Central Region 10 Small Business Development Center (SBDC) satellite office is expanding to include San Miguel County and Ouray County.

According to Region 10’s Small Business Resource Director Vince Fandel, the West Central SBDC program has been building slowly over the past year with robust programs in Montrose and Delta counties. After receiving requests from TVA and the Town of Mountain Village to expand its program to include San Miguel County, Fandel contacted the state’s SBDC office and the SBDC’s host, Western State Colorado University, requesting a full satellite expansion.

To celebrate the expansion, the SBDC is hosting a grand opening of the satellite office March 31, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Region 10 office, located at 300 N. Cascade in Montrose. Representatives from the state SBDC office, Western State Colorado University, and other community members will be available to answer questions.

A popular and invaluable service offered by the SBDC is free access to one-on-one business consulting and no to low-cost business training. According to Fandel, several consultants who live in the region have been screened, are in the certification process, and will be able to specifically serve the area’s entrepreneurs. Local companies will also have access to other consultants certified throughout the state. To access services, San Miguel County business owners register online and will be paired with a consultant to discuss in confidential meetings an array of topics like business planning, valuation, accessing capital, financial reports and analysis, just to name a few. Qualifications to become a consultant vary depending upon the individual’s expertise.

“With the start of TVA, more and more entrepreneurs and small businesses owners have emerged and requested access to mentors and advisors to help them grow their business,” explained TVA Director Thea Chase. “SBDC is a national resource that has provided this assistance for over 40 years, but until now service to our community was limited. We are excited to work with Region 10 and the Town of Mountain Village to build a robust network of consultants to help our local business community and entrepreneurs start and grow successful companies in the region.”