About

Who We Are

The Southwest SBDC provides consulting, training and research to assist small businesses to start, grow and transition.

With our Regional Office at Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) in Marshall and Satellite Offices at the Enterprise Center in Hutchinson and on the Lower Sioux Reservation at the office of Dakota Futures, we provide entrepreneurs and business owners access to one on one consulting. 

​The philosophy of the Center is based on the state wide SBDC principle that helping our small businesses is critical to our economy and the quality of our communities. 

 We offer customized technical assistance and support to businesses at any point in their life cycle, from start-up to growth to exit strategies.

The Southwest SBDC serves 18 counties and two Native Nations in southwest Minnesota:

• Counties:
• Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Swift, and Yellow Medicine
• Native Nations:
• Caŋṡayapi Oyate (Lower Sioux Indian Community) and Peżihutazizi Oyate (Upper Sioux Community) 

Most every business begins as a small business. While some stay small in scale and scope, others continually grow and diversify. 

The Small Business Development Center works with businesses of all sizes and all stages. Whether starting out, expanding a successful business, or seeking help with an exit strategy, the resources of the SBDC are there to assist you. 

Minnesota SBDC program services are focused in three primary areas that include: -professional business consultation, training, and access to capital. Our professional business consultants provide confidential assistance at no cost to entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout southwest Minnesota. 

Our business consultants have longstanding professional relationships with lenders in their local communities and understand their perspective and needs. In fact, many lenders in southwest Minnesota require borrowers to work with their local SBDC professional before submitting a loan application.

No matter what the business, SBDC’s highly-skilled consulting team has experience in most every industry and every stage of business. They can provide expert advice in a number of areas, including business plan development, financial analysis, pre-venture planning, marketing, business regulations and licenses, franchising, human resource management, loan assistance and operational planning.

SBDC consulting arrangements are strictly confidential and are provided at no charge. Sign up for SBDC services to learn more and move forward with your plan.