Ball State Partners With Small Business Agency

Trustees also approved a 1 percent room and board rate increase for the 2017-2018 academic year.

A new partnership aims to boost economic development and entrepreneurship in east central Indiana. Ball State University has joined with the Indiana Small Business Development Center, to serve as the agency’s east central regional office host.

The East Central ISBDC, which is located in Muncie’s Innovation Connector, serves 11 counties in the region. Regional Director Peggy Cenova says working with the university will help the agency serve the area’s small businesses and their owners.

"We are excited to welcome Ball State University as the host partner for the East Central ISBDC regional office located in Muncie," said ISBDC State Director Jacob Schpok. "With Ball State providing programmatic and capacity building assistance for the region, this further enhances the impact on small business development and entrepreneurial opportunities the ISBDC has on the area."

The ISBDC offers guidance and resources to entrepreneurs, such as one-on-one consulting, strategic planning, market research and loan assistance. The East Central office also maintains satellite offices in Anderson, New Castle and Richmond.