Catherine Glover of the NKU SBDC Shared the No-Cost Programs and Services Available to Support Small Businesses

Catherine Glover of the NKU SBDC Shared the No-Cost Programs and Services Available to Support Small Businesses

Written By: Autumn Ray, Ignite Intern for Stinger Media

Florence, Kentucky – January 25, 2021 – The Rotary Club of Florence, Kentucky held a meeting on January 25, 2021 with Catherine Glover and her colleague Nick Brophy. Catherine and Nick discussed their careers at KSBDC, Kentucky Small Business Development Center . Their job is to help small businesses any way they can. Catherine explained the obstacles they faced during the pandemic, as well as the accomplishments they have made. Catherine and Nick explained they help small businesses with planning, financial aid, connecting to different resources, etc.

KSBDC was originally located on the NKU campus, later moved to Morehead State University for six months. After the six months they relocated to back to NKU in The College of Business. Since February 2020, they have been virtual the entire year. Catherine and Nick have had roughly 700 Zoom calls over the past nine months. During the pandemic KSBDC has helped open 25 businesses, supported 715 jobs, 398 hours of service, 239 clients, and $9.1 million of capital infusion.

Catherine and Nick’s work of expertise is business coach, financial modeling, marketing strategies, connectivity to regional economic development ecosystem. If Catherine and Nick are unable to help their client with a specific problem, they will be able to find and refer them to a business or company that will help. Catherine recommended a website that the Economic Development Agency of the State of Kentucky developed during the summer. The website; SizeUpKentucky.com is able to show the clients competition, different opportunities, and ranges of advertisement.

KSBDC helps businesses with capital and cash flow. KSBDC may help a business with reserves or a loan access and support. Catherine discussed SBA and commercial loan assistance, support applying for loans, loan package support, and lender introductions. Catherine helps her clients get the paperwork needed to apply for a loan. They are always expanding their lender introductions, meaning they are expanding the business connections they make with new lenders and work to get to know the individual lender. This helps KSBDC to support their clients with a wide range of lenders.

KSBDC uses many different resources and workshops. One resource that is offered to clients for free is Industry market research which helps the small businesses to target their ads towards costumers who may be more inclined to purchase their products. Live Plan Training is an online cloud-based tool that is used to assign temporary licenses to their clients. The main reason for this is to build a business plan and collaborate with them online to make any comments or improvements. KSBDC offers a lot of business technology help whether they can help their clients to connect to other businesses or create online logos. KSBDC offers lots of workshops and trainings as well, some consist of QuickBooks training, Google workshops, Start Smart and Entrepreneurship through Acquisition. Nick explained the best place to find recent offerings is the NKU SBDC Facebook page.

Catherine mentioned in the beginning of the meeting that she would like KSBDC to be well known in the area. They are here to help and serve the community especially in such trying times, whether it be through training, workshops, loan package support, lender introductions, marketing strategies, connectivity to other businesses, etc. Catherine and Nick want to help in any way they can.

A recording of this presentation and past meetings of the Rotary Club of Florence is available on the club’s Facebook Page:

The Rotary Club of Florence, Kentucky (serving all of Boone County) is a community service organization focusing on “service above self”. The club meets weekly on Mondays via Zoom during COVID. Guests are always welcome. To learn more about upcoming speakers and events, please visit the club’s website at www.florencerotary.org or follow their Facebook page.

For more information about Catherine Glover and Nick Brophy and the SBDC visit: https://www.ksbdc.org/highland-heights

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatherineGlovr?s=09

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ksbdc/

LinkedIn: Catherine Glover – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcatherineglover

LinkedIn: Nick Brophy – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickdbrophy

Instagram: https://instagram.com/nku.sbdc?igshid=1gipid0uj5ihq