College's expo provides help
Paul Peterson, from the Isle and Malmo area, attended workshops and sought information from exhibitors at the Minnesota Small Business Resource Fair at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.
The resource fair lasted most of the day Wednesday at the Business and Industry Center at the college.
Exhibitors included government agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions and lenders. Workshops covered topics regarding how to start a business, including finance, tax issues, marketing and selling to government.
Peterson is interested in starting an air quality analysis environmental consulting business. He said there are so many details involved in starting a business it is a long and complicated process. Wednesday he was looking for more sources of information.
"I'm just trying to get a grasp of what it takes to get a business going right now and some of the resources," he said.
Peterson said the resource fair was helpful. Central Lakes College reported more than 200 people attended the event.
"It's a lot of information," he said. "It will take awhile to digest it all."
Cynthia Collett, Small Business Administration economic development and loan specialist from Minneapolis, said the fair had a good turnout. People were still visiting exhibitors booths up to the last few minutes before closing. Collett said common questions included financing, how to obtain a loan, what technical assistance was available. She said most people were starting their own business or thinking about it and wondered what resources were available to them.
Collett said many of those questions are addressed at the SBA's comprehensive Web site at www.sba.gov/mn.
The U.S. Small Business Administration, Minnesota Small Business Development Centers, SCORE Association, People Connection/Women's Business Center and Central Lakes College sponsored the event.
RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.