Steve Schillig is region director of the
Ohio Small Business Development Center
at Kent State University at Tuscarawas.

Four area businesses have made significant gifts to the Ohio Small Business Development Center (OSBDC) at Kent State University at Tuscarawas to enable the office to continue to provide consulting and advising services to new small businesses.

When an existing partner could no longer participate in the partnership, Steve Schillig, region director, and Jim Schoch, advisor, of the OSBDC, looked to area businesses for replacement funding. They contacted Martin Merryman of Ohio Heritage Bank, Dave Roberts of Farmer’s National Bank and Janet Jacobs of PNC Bank, who stepped forward with contributions to support small business development in the 10-county region the OSBDC serves.

“We are grateful to these businesses who are assisting us with funding for the first time,” says Schillig. “Not only did they provide dollars, but they worked hard to meet our reporting timeline, which was very critical. We are also grateful for the contribution received from Dorothy Skowrunski at the Coshocton County Port Authority. This is the second consecutive year the Port Authority has donated to the center.”

The Ohio Small Business Development Center at Kent State Tuscarawas is the lead center for the 10-county district, which includes Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Muskingum and Tuscarawas.

“It was very gratifying to be able to reach out to these organizations and request their support for our SBDC,” Schillig says. “The dollars will allow us to continue to meet our mission, which is to accelerate Ohio’s economy by helping people start, sustain and grow their businesses.”

The OSBDC provides services to assist small business through advising, assistance, training and development and networking. They provide assistance to move businesses through all stages of development – from a new idea, through start-up, development and into growth and expansion.

For more information about the Ohio Small Business Development Center, contact Schillig at 330-308-7479, by email at sschil10@kent.edu or visit the OSBDC website at www.tusc.kent.edu/businesscommunityservices/smallbusiness/index.cfm.