SBDC, Show Me Christian County enter partnership

Chrystal Irons: Partnership expands on Show Me Christian County's work.

The Missouri Small Business Development Center at Missouri State University entered its third service agreement amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Through the latest partnership with the Show Me Christian County economic development organization, the SBDC will expand outreach in the county, providing services such as training programs and counseling for businesses, according to a news release. Show Me Christian County will be part of the Missouri SBDC at MSU through the partnership.

"In these unprecedented economic times, we continue to look for ways to provide expanded outreach and services to the large numbers of new clients we’ve been assisting, due to the COVID outbreak and temporary business closures," SBDC Director Chrystal Irons said in the release. "Show Me Christian County does a great job connecting with and supporting businesses, and we look forward to the additional assistance we will be able to offer as the result of this more formal partnership agreement.”

Officials declined to disclose the financial terms of the contract, which is slated to last through March 2021. SBDC officials previously pointed to the use of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding it received for the partnership deals.

The agreement with Show Me Christian County follows similar partnership announcements with West Plain's Ozarks Small Business Incubator and the Taney County Partnership.

The Missouri SBDC at MSU is funded, in part, through a cooperate agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and provides consulting, training and technical assistance for small businesses, according to the release.