The Lone Star College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in conjunction with SBA Houston District and the North Houston Regional Center for Economic Development hosted a Small Business Lender/Borrower Matchmaking event.
“This was a tremendous event,” said Amos McDonald, LSC vice chancellor, Government and Public Relations. “New relationships were made and small-business owners found financial and business resources to help them continue building their businesses.”
The event was held at LSC-System Office in The Woodlands and attended by more than 60 business owners and entrepreneurs from the north Houston region and featured more than 20 lenders from area banks and credit unions. Breakout session topics included “Going Global with a Business”, “How to Do Business with LSC” and “The Right Strategies for Building a Business”.
Well-known Houston entrepreneur Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale was on hand and delighted the audience as the event’s keynote speaker.
“Get up. Get to work and make something of yourself. You can do anything you want if you want to do it bad enough,’ said keynote speaker Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale.
“The event was amazing,” said Cassandra Johnson, Portraitefx by CMJ Photography business manager, who attended the event. “I learned so much. Jim McIngvale was very inspiring. Everyone was so helpful and very, very pleasant. It was a great experience overall. I give it two thumbs-up!”
“Will and effort outweigh talent seven days a week,” McIngvale said.
Representatives from banks and credit unions were on hand to meet with existing and startup business owners to discuss funding for business startups, working capital, business expansions, refinance and commercial real estate.
“From these matchmaking sessions, businesses will get financing to start a business or grow an existing business,” said Tim Jeffcoat, SBA district director. “All small businesses need a banker partner and that is what they find at these meetings.”
“This event in a small way represents Lone Star College’s commitment to small business and the critical role they play in the economic vitality of our region,” said McDonald.
The LSC SBDC is part of the nationwide SBDC network that provides management and technical assistance to more than 1 million small-business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs each year. Locally, small-business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs can evolve to the next level of business through face-to-face business consulting at no charge. At-cost training is also available on writing business plans, accessing capital, marketing, regulatory compliance, international trade and more. Visit LoneStar.edu/SBDC to learn more.
About NHRCED
The North Houston Regional Center for Economic Development (NHRCED) serves as a regional source of community and economic development initiatives and programs in north Harris and Montgomery counties. NHRCED works in collaboration with local, regional and state economic development stakeholders and is committed to the continued economic growth of the north Houston region. NHRCED is an agency of Lone Star College within the Office of External Affairs. Visit LoneStar.edu/EconomicDevelopment for more information.
Known for its leadership, innovation and steadfast commitment to student success, Lone Star College provides high-quality academic transfer and workforce education / career training programs to more than 83,000 credit students each semester, and a total enrollment of 95,000 students. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to promote student success and economic prosperity. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, which consists of six colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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