Inc. Magazine White Paper Outlines How Ohio Offers Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners Access to Knowledge and Labor in Ohio’s Appalachian Region
COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ohio’s Enterprise Appalachia Region makes it easy for Ohio entrepreneurs to gain access to existing knowledge and labor by leveraging academic centers and skilled labor and support services when starting a small business and bringing new products to market.
“Any successful entrepreneur is going to say that the more insight you can get from a broader view, the higher your chances of success are going to be”
According to small business experts, access to knowledge and labor is one of four criteria that make up an ideal location for business development along with: access to business capital and support services, access to supply chain and markets and access to a balanced life. Inc. magazine has created a series of white papers that will help Ohio entrepreneurs evaluate potential locations for starting or growing a small business. Inc. just published the second paper, “Building Your Knowledge Base,” which highlights resources for entrepreneurs found in abundance in Ohio’s Enterprise Appalachia.
One example of small business development success is found at Enterprise Appalachia’s Ohio University. Ohio University provides entrepreneurs with small business development (SBD) counselors that help existing and prospective business owners evaluate their product and service ideas and their prospects for effective market launches.
"Any successful entrepreneur is going to say that the more insight you can get from a broader view, the higher your chances of success are going to be," says Shawn Mallett, director of the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Ohio University. "When you have your idea, it's time to look at it from a business standpoint to make sure it's a true opportunity that can make money."
Entrepreneur David Allburn, owner of National Fingerprint in Enterprise Appalachia, had an idea for a new fingerprint technology, but did not think he had a viable business concept until he spoke with the Ohio Small Business Development Center. The MBA students at the Small Business Development Center recommended that Allburn immediately patent his technology and start commercializing it. Today, Allburn’s patented fingerprint technology is being used in several countries spanning the globe.
Ed Burghard, executive director of the Ohio Business Development Coalition, said "Entrepreneurs starting a small business in Ohio’s Enterprise Appalachia are able to strengthen their knowledge – and business results, ensuring that their good idea is a profitable one.” He added, “Enterprise Appalachia offers an ideal start-up environment, providing all the criteria to develop a successful small business.”
Access to knowledge and labor is just one of the incentives entrepreneurs find in Ohio’s Enterprise Appalachia. Inc.’s “Building Your Knowledge Base” outlines a wide range of resources for entrepreneurs starting a business, including: online databases for competitive research; executive MBA programs; Small Business Development Center programs; executive coaching; and CEO peer organizations.
In addition to ready sources of knowledge and labor, Ohio’s Enterprise Appalachian Region delivers on other ideal location criteria for business start-ups: ready access to capital, access to supply chains and markets and access to a balanced life. To learn more about Ohio’s Appalachian Region, visit http://ohiomeansbusiness.com/enterprise_appalachia/.
About the Ohio Business Development Coalition
The Ohio Business Development Coalition is a nonprofit organization that provides marketing strategy and implementation to support Ohio’s economic development efforts. For more information, visit www.ohiomeansbusiness.com.
