BE YOUR OWN BOSS IN WESTERN IOWA
Small Businesses Flourish With Help From Available Resources
CARROLL, Iowa, (May 4, 2006) — Have you always dreamed of owning your own business? Do you have a great idea for a company or product but don’t know how to get started? Through assistance with developing business plans, financial assistance and programs like MyEntreNet, the eight counties of Western Iowa Advantage are helping Iowans realize the dream of owning their own business.
“Owning your own business or developing a breakthrough product is not easy, but it is possible in the right environment,” said Don Luensmann, executive director of the Chamber & Development Council of Crawford County, and a member of Western Iowa Advantage. “If you have the ideas, the creativity and the tenacity, Western Iowa is a great place to start a business and there are a wealth of resources available to assist you.”
Members of Western Iowa Advantage recently shared stories of successful independent business owners in the region who have been assisted by programs and guidance available in the eight county economic development region.
Cheryl Gerry of Sac City, Iowa, renovated a closed drug store on Main Street and opened Details in 2000 and her business has continued to evolve to meet the needs of this Sac County community. In the process, Gerry has evolved as a businessperson and entrepreneur by seizing opportunities as they unfolded.
“We focus on keeping customers and employees happy and engaged. Having passion for my craft and the support from surrounding communities has been key to the growth of my businesses,” said Gerry.
Details features gifts, floral arrangements, fresh flowers and an assortment of unique items. When the city’s only men’s clothing store closed in 2001, Gerry decided to take on the tuxedo rental business. When the cell phone business that was renting the other half of her building closed, she renovated it to fill a need in the community for meeting space.
And, as if that were not enough diversity, she also owns a tanning bed business and has completely remodeled the three apartments above Details into living quarters for her family. Gerry received assistance from the Small Business Administration through a local bank.
When Kenny and Laura Wulf of Denison, Iowa, wanted to turn two business ideas into reality, they worked with a team that included the Chamber & Development Council of Crawford County, their bank and a friend who happened to be a certified public accountant. Their businesses, Wulf Cycle and Cash 4 Cans, recently became a reality through variety of assistance. Wulf Cycle is a certified Ridley Motorcycle distributor and services all makes of motorcycles and other small engine machines, while Cash 4 Cans is a recycling center as well as a wholesaler of beer and soda.
“Motorcycles are our passion, but we knew it would take much more than that to make our business happen,” said Kenny Wulf, co-owner of the two businesses. “Having our team examine cash flow, help us with projections and access to capital were invaluable to getting the right start. The two businesses compliment each other in terms of cash flow and work space.”
The Wulf’s tapped their Crawford County economic development team to assist with their two business plans, map out financial resources and apply for a revolving loan through Region XII Development Corporation.
In addition to the broad base of information and services available from regional economic development professionals, entrepreneurs can find guidance and ideas from MyEntre.Net — a rural development and entrepreneurial accelerator with that provides technical assistance and support. Carroll County was recently selected as one of four regions in the state of Iowa to launch this program. Available to Western Iowa Advantage counties, MyEntre.Net is designed to provide expert information on marketing and access to capital, as well as other resources for people interested in starting or expanding businesses.
Participants in the MyEntre.Net program will receive customized assistance from the University of Northern Iowa’s (UNI) business center, the Iowa Small Business Development Center System, UNI’s Institute for Decision Making and Iowa’s John Pappajohn Entrepreneurship Centers.
Small business success in the Western Iowa Advantage region has been instrumental in keeping unemployment rates low. The region’s monthly unemployment rate decreased to 3.9 percent in March from 5.3 percent in March 2005, according to figures released from Iowa Workforce Development. Iowa’s unemployment rate was 3.8 percent in March from a revised 5.1 percent in March 2005. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in March.
