WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Restoring Hope, LLC, a client of the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains, has been honored as a winner of the 2015 University of Missouri Extension Business Development Program’s (BDP) Excellence in Missouri Business Award.
The award highlights outstanding achievements by firms that have worked with the Missouri SBTDCs, Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (MO PTAC), or the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC). Restoring Hope was one of 19 businesses around the state honored Feb. 3 during the BDP Advocacy Day in Jefferson City, Missouri.
“Missouri’s small businesses are the true engine of economic growth in the state,” said BDP Director Steve Devlin in an Extension news release. “These business owners work hard every day, and these awards are just a small measure of recognition for their efforts to bring prosperity to their communities.”
In addition to the award, Restoring Hope, a residential service provider to individuals with developmental disabilities, and the other honored businesses received legislative courtesy resolutions from their respective state representatives and senators, which were presented at a legislative breakfast Feb. 4.
Bronwen Madden, coordinator of the SBTDC office in West Plains, said officials with her office have helped Restoring Hope with financial analysis and marketing assistance that eventually led to the creation of 70 jobs in a largely rural, jobless area of the state and increased sales by nearly $3 million. Madden also pointed out Restoring Hope officials also credit support from the Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) and the City of West Plains for their success. Restoring Hope is a contractor with the Missouri Department of Mental Health and the Missouri Department of Social Services.
The BDP is a statewide network that assists Missouri firms with management, marketing, access to capital, international trade, selling to the government and competing against cheaper imports. Business counselors are located in individual county Extension offices and on the campuses of the state’s public colleges and universities. For more information about the BDP and how it helps area businesses every day, go to www.missouribusiness.net.
The SBTDC, which is part of the BDP network, provides assistance to individuals who want to start or run their own small businesses. SBTDC staff work with Missouri entrepreneurs and small businesses that are for-profit (not a non-profit charitable or educational organization). “Whether you are currently in business or thinking about starting a business, the SBTDC can assist you in your venture,” Madden said.
The West Plains SBTDC serves entrepreneurs in seven counties across the region: Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Shannon, Texas and Wright. Since it is funded in part through the Small Business Administration, virtually all of the services are free.
For more information about this workshop or any other programs or services offered by SBTDC, contact coordinator Bronwen Madden at 417-255-7966 or WPSBDC@MissouriState.edu.