Kruzan Announces “Mayor's Promotion of Business” Grants
Mayor Mark Kruzan announced last week that the City of Bloomington has awarded Mayor’s Promotion of Business grants to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Downtown Bloomington Commission (DBC), Franklin Initiative, and the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC).

“The contribution from the City of Bloomington reaffirms the Mayor’s strong commitment to small businesses,” said Brian Kleber, SBDC Executive Director. “The funding will support one of the top Small Business Development Centers in the state of Indiana and help us develop unique programs and facilities to serve all small business owners.”

With help from the City, the SBDC will construct a state-of-the-art conference room with presentation, teleconferencing and videoconferencing equipment to meet the demands of local entrepreneurs.

Radio Show To Focus on the State of Business Financing in Bloomington
SPECIAL SERIES
Brian Kleber, Director of inVenture and the SBDC, will be guest hosting a special three-part series entitled The State of Business Financing in Bloomington on the Bloomington Business radio show. The series will examine traditional and nontraditional business financing options available in the Bloomington area.

Saturday, February 12th: Small Business Lending: What options exist for small businesses. Guest: Charlotte Zietlow, SEED Corp.

Saturday, February 19th: Traditional Business Financing: The banker's perspective. Guest: Bonnie Patton, 5/3 Bank

Saturday, February 26th: Venture Capital and Angel Investments: What kind of deals investors look for and how can you attract their attention. Guest: Craig Hane, Ph D., local angel investor

Each show will be broadcast at 12:05 p.m. on AM 1370 WGCL. A repeat airing is broadcast the following Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and an excerpt airs each Tuesday during the noon news.

The Bloomington Business radio show is produced by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Giant Used Car Center at Bloomington Ford.

Food Handler Certification Deadline Passes
The deadline has passed for Hoosier food handlers to comply with a state law passed nearly three years ago requiring ServSafe certification.

Each establishment that serves food has to have one person that is a certified food handler. It doesn't necessarily have to be one person on each shift. The important thing is that each establishment have one person that is responsible to train others to be sure they follow the regulations when storing, preparing and serving food.

South Central Indiana's area economy is made up of many unique small businesses which often are overlooked. Each month learn about a local small business that you might have not known about!

MSP Aviation Inc.
MSP Aviation Inc. was founded in 1943 by a man named Lester Pitcher. Based in Marion, Indiana, the company originally manufactured tachometer drives for the US armed forces.

Now, MSP is a Bloomington-based, international manufacturer of clamps, bezels, and instrument housings for commercial, private, and governmental air and space crafts. Some of the current companies with whom MSP does business include Honeywell, Cessna, Raytheon, Bombardia Leerjet, and Boeing. The company is now owned by John Goode, Jr. and is managed by his team of 4 managers under his direction. MSP currently employs 14 persons full-time.

Finding Your Niche on eBay
Not sure what to sell on eBay? Learn how to research your ideas and find product sources in this excerpt from How to Start a Business on eBay.

A lot of eBay sellers start out by selling odds and ends they have around the house—and for good reason. For items that are in good condition, you'll probably get more money for them on eBay than at a garage sale. You probably have plenty of stuff that you'll never miss and you really don't need to store or dust anymore. And it's a relatively risk-free way to test the waters of eBay selling.

If you can't bear to part with anything you already have, start with products you know and have experience with. Choose things that have demonstrable market demand (you know people are buying them). Don't make the mistake of selling only things you like, or the trendiest, coolest things you can find. If your goal is to make a profit—and it should be! — then you need to be selling things people will buy.

The 2005 Wayfinder Business Guide is Now Available!
Ever thought about starting your own business but didn't know where to start? Then this is the publication for you!

The South Central Indiana Small Business Development Center has released the 2005 edition of the Wayfinder Business Guide. It includes a wide range of local resources available to start-up and existing businesses, as well as information on how to work with government entities, develop a business plan, and develop a marketing strategy.

Stop by the SBDC office to pick up your copy of Wayfinder at 501 N. Morton Street, Suite 106 in Bloomington, or call 812-339-8937.
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February 9: eBay - The Right Way
What: Learn how to sell on eBay the right way!
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Cost: $85 (includes lunch and book)
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

February 9: Business Orientation Start-up Session (BOSS)
What: Learn what it takes to start your own business and become your own boss.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Cost: $20
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

February 10: Business Planning Workshop
What: Learn how to use ActivePlans, an online business planning tool, to help your business idea become reality. Each participant will receive an ActivePlans account.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Cost: $69.95
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

February 15: Food Handler Certification
What: Get certified to mee the State's regulations to be a food handler.
Presented by: SES Environment Health Environmental Health and Safety, Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Development Center
Date: February 15th, 8am to 5pm
Location: 501 North Morton St., Suite 100B
Cost: $125 (includes class, textbook, and exam)
Contact: Melissa, 1-877-882-1925

February 16: The Launch Window
What: The Launch Window is an interactive half-day workshop that prepares entrepreneurs and inventors to develop a business plan.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 8:00 - 11:30 am
Cost: $59
Contact: inVenure, 812-355-7356 (registration required)

February 1-17: Small Business Planning Course Orientation Sessions
What: Thinking of starting a business? Attend an orientation session to learn about the SEED Corp. Feasibility and Business Planning Course. Upon completion of the course, you may qualify for $1,000 to $35,000 in loans. You need only attend one orientation session below to learn about the course.
BLOOMINGTON
Where: SEED Corp., 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
When: February 1, or 8th: 12:10 pm - 1:00 pm
          February 2, or 9th: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
COLUMBUS
Where: CEDC, 4920 North Warren Drive
When: February 3, 10, 17th: 12:10 pm - 1:00 pm
          or 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Cost: Free
Contact: SEED Corp., 812-323-7827 (registration required)

February 17: Business After Hours
What: Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce monthly Business After Hours
Where: Mayfields, 2100 Liberty Dr.
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Other: Open to all Chamber members. Sponsored by: Mayfields Ballroom

February 22: QuickBooks Basics
What: Learn the basics of accounting and how to set up QuickBooks software to fit YOUR needs.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 2:00 - 4:30 pm
Cost: $39
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

February 23: Business Orientation Start-up Session (BOSS)
What: Learn what it takes to start your own business and become your own boss.
Where: SBDC, 501 N. Morton, Suite 106
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Cost: $20
Contact: SBDC, 812-339-8937 (registration required)

• Small Business Development Center

• Bloomington Economic Development Corp.

• Bloomington Life Sciences Partnership

• Area Microloan Programs