New JWU Partnership Helps Small Businesses Survive and Thrive

Thanks to a partnership between JWU’s Denver Campus and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, entrepreneurs in the Northeast region of the city have access to a helpful new resource: a satellite office of the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Open for nearly a year and serving a growing number of clients, the center, which is located within JWU's College of Business, has provided more than 330 hours of consulting, at an average of more than 7 consult hours per client. In addition, SBDC-sponsored seminars like “The Economic Stimulus: What It Really Means for Small Businesses” have drawn consistent crowds.

The center has also engaged JWU business majors from various classes to provide additional services to small business clients. Students in a market research class conducted a needs survey of local small businesses; they then developed recommendations based on their findings. The SBDC will utilize these recommendations to improve community outreach and its overall suite of services.

For the 2009-10 academic year, the center has launched a new program called “Focus on Business.” Hosted at JWU, this quarterly series is equal parts networking event and candid conversation about the realities of starting and growing a successful new business. Each session airs concurrently on Channel 8. The first Focus featured eBags founder Jon Nordmark.

For more information, contact the Denver Metro SBDC.