Washburn SBDC Helps Our Economy Grow

The Washburn University Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) recently released its ROI fact sheet for 2005 and reports that the taxpayers' money is well spent -- $60.42 in state tax revenues are generated for every $1 the Kansas Department of Commerce spent on the Washburn SBDC in 2005.

The Washburn KSBDC, which provides counseling services and seminars for aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses owners, is housed at the "small biz one-stop" in the Chamber offices.

The Washburn University KSBDC Network provided 2,900 hours of free one-to-one counseling to 454 clients and conducted 58 workshops for 847 participants in 2005. Those WU KSBDC clients:

• Started 52 new businesses
• Generated 231 new jobs
• Saved an additional 381 jobs
• Generated $23.3 million in new sales
• Accessed $8.85 million in financing
• Invested $1.4 million in equity

"I appreciate everyone's support in helping us deliver our services," says Rick LeJuerrne, Director of the Washburn University KSBDC. "We could not achieve this level of success without the help and teamwork of partners like the Topeka Chamber of Commerce."

The Washburn University KSBDC is part of the Kansas Small Business Development Center Network, a unique infrastructure that combines public and private resources to help Kansans start, manage and grow their own businesses. The Washburn KSBDC serves a nine-county area including Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Pottawatomie, Riley, Geary, Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, and Jackson counties.

The Washburn University KSBDC partners with Washburn University, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Kansas Department of Commerce, the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, the Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation, and the Junction City Geary County Economic Development Corporation to deliver services.