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| | The Iowa SBDC has experienced counselors and resources to help you learn how to start, operate, and grow your business. Check out our trainings to start learning! | | | |
We Are Hiring!
North Central Iowa Regional Small Business Development Director
Iowa Central Community College is hiring a Small Business Development Regional Director to support entrepreneurs and small businesses across the region. This full-time role blends one-on-one business advising, program management, and community outreach—helping clients access resources, grow their operations, and succeed at every stage.
From leading workshops and building partnerships to managing center operations and driving regional economic development, this is a great opportunity for someone passionate about empowering small businesses and strengthening local communities.
📍 Fort Dodge, IA
💼 Full-Time
📅 Apply by April 17
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We Are Hiring!
Technology & Commercialization Director
The State of Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC), located in Ames, Iowa, is seeking applications for a full-time Technology and Commercialization Director (Program Specialist III).
The Technology and Commercialization Director will provide statewide leadership for technology-based entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialization services.
This senior-level role supports Iowa’s innovative and research-driven small businesses by delivering advanced advising, managing commercialization and innovation funding programs, and leading efforts related to SBIR/STTR and other federal, state, and private capital pathways.
The Director will collaborate closely with Iowa SBDC regional centers, Iowa State University, and partners across the entrepreneurial ecosystem to expand access to innovation resources statewide.
Click Here to View Full Description & Apply
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or
Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.
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DreamBuilder
Write Your Business Plan With Support & Strategy
Are you an aspiring entrepreneur or small business owner looking to make a big impact with a limited marketing budget? Look no further than “Marketing for Startups with a Small Budget – A Blueprint for Small Business Marketing.” This course is designed to empower you with the knowledge and strategies needed to effectively market your startup or small business without breaking the bank. In today’s competitive business landscape, creativity and resourcefulness can be your greatest assets, and this course will show you how to leverage them to achieve remarkable marketing results.
Wednesday Evenings February 11 to April 1, 2026 | 5:30pm- 7:30pm
In Person Event | 2210 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA
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Food Trucks 101 Workshop
Join the City of Des Moines' Small Business Support Center for a FREE informational workshop for prospective and existing TRANSIENT MERCHANTS within the City of Des Moines. Transient Merchants are a City licensing category that includes food trucks and other mobile vendors that sell goods and services from vehicles, trailers, and pushcarts. This workshop will bring together transient merchants and City staff for a detailed presentation and Q&A session covering all of the considerations related to transient merchant permitting within the City of Des Moines.
Monday April 6, 2026
5:30 PM- 6:30 PM
In Person Event | Des Moines' New City Hall, 1200 Locust Street,
Des Moines
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Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Food Innovation and Business Hub, a resource that helps Iowa entrepreneurs develop successful food businesses, will host a monthly “Lunch and Learn” webinar series in 2026 to support current and aspiring Iowa food entrepreneurs. The webinars are offered at no cost and open to all.
The series is specifically designed for food business owners, farmers exploring value-added products and individuals in the early stages of developing a food-based enterprise.
April 7, 2026
12 PM - 1 PM CST
Virtual Event
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This session will break down what SEO (search engine optimization) looks like now, how AI is reshaping how people find information online, and practical ways small businesses can use AI tools to support their SEO efforts without needing to be a tech expert. We'll focus on real-world examples, clear explanations, and takeaways you can put to work right away.
April 15, 2026
9 AM - 10 AM CST
Virtual Event
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How to Build a Sellable Business
Speaker Jeremy Vos, Exit Factor Des Moines Owner & Business Value Growth Specialist, grew up in a town of 80 people in Iowa and has built and sold four companies. He will walk owners through exactly what it takes to turn a business they've built on hard work and hustle into something that holds real value for the future. Additional speakers from Exit Factor Des Moines will share their knowledge as well.
This is a hands-on workshop for rural Iowa business owners who have worked too hard to walk away with less than they deserve.
April 15, 2026
10 AM- 2 PM
1501 W Townline St. Creston, IA 50801
Register Today, Spots are Limited!
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Child Care Series: How to Start and Grow a Child Care Business
Across four engaging 90-minute live virtual sessions and using recorded videos, experienced child care industry experts walk you through the essentials every successful owner needs to know—from deciding if child care is the right business for you to choosing the right location, setting tuition, securing funding, writing a business plan, designing a safe and compliant space, navigating licensing, and marketing your program to attract families. While the State of Texas is used as an example, the information applies to every state because all child care centers and home daycares are licensed by HHS (Health and Human Services), a federal agency.
This live series is moderated by Shannon Black, owner of Montessori child care centers in Austin, Texas, and a SCORE Mentor. She brings real-world experience to every session and is available for Q&A at each session. Walk away with practical, immediately usable tools to help your child care business thrive!
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Venture School
FOR STARTUPS ACROSS THE STATE OF IOWA
If you're looking to sharpen your entrepreneurial skills or validate a groundbreaking business idea in the state of Iowa - you've found your solution. Master the startup process with our premier statewide Venture School, an innovative training program designed for both emerging entrepreneurs and established business professionals seeking to drive innovation.
Some locations are hybrid, meaning the first and last class will be in person and all other classes will be online. In-person locations will be given via email once applied.
ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD FROM 5:30-9 PM
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Ivy Executive MBA
Iowa State University's Ivy College of Business
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The Only Executive MBA in Iowa!
This is not a traditional MBA—and that’s the point.
This program focuses on food, agriculture, and biosystems markets, as well as the allied industries of financial services, insurance, and information technology. Our industry-focused EMBA enhances your leadership capabilities by leveraging the extensive business experience of the cohorts. We work closely with our executive advisory council, so the curriculum is immediately applicable to current real-world situations.
Classes meet every three weeks on Friday and Saturday in Ames, Iowa.
18 months, 48 credits
Application deadline: July 1
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The Iowa Center
The Iowa Center is an economic development organization that empowers Iowans to launch, manage, and grow small businesses.
Their class and event lineup include business planning courses, special topics such as accounting, legal or marketing, networking events, and small accountability groups that can help you feel connected and supported.
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SCORE Upcoming Events
Workshops, Webinars, Events and Courses for Business Growth
Gain insights and skills needed to grow your business. Our small business training includes live and recorded webinars, in-person and online workshops, events and courses led by industry experts. Whether you’re starting out or looking to expand, we provide the educational tools to help you succeed.
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The Rural Business Innovators Podcast is live wherever you listen to podcasts!
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$10 million in funding to
America's SBDCs
Google.org is providing $10 million in funding to America's SBDC's, a national network of centers that provides training and resources to entrepreneurs. This funding will support the creation of an AI curriculum and AI Clinics to help 100,000 small businesses unlock the power of AI to grow. Building on cybersecurity, medical, and law school clinics, these efforts will bring SBDC advisors and university students together to provide local businesses with free AI services and training. America's SBDC will also receive over 500 scholarships to the Google AI Essentials course to upskill SBDC advisors responsible for activating small businesses in their communities.
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U.S. Small Business Administration
SBA offers a learning platform for online training programs, and development and growth opportunities designed to empower and educate small business owners. They also offer a large range of online upcoming events to further
educate yourself on your small business ventures.
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Changes to the tax code have made filing taxes for small businesses increasingly more complex. In order to meet the demand of small business owners who need assistance with filing timely and complete taxes, The Iowa Center has partnered with Intuit to launch Small Business Tax Services.
Small Business Tax Services is a flat-fee service for small businesses to understand and fulfill their tax obligations. You will meet with an Iowa Center Small Business Tax Preparer in their office to get caught back up with your tax filings and set up a plan to prepare for future tax success!
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SEC Resources
Did you know the SEC has a Small Business Advocacy Office? Check out their Roadmap to Funding a Small Business and explore other resources available on the SEC's Capital Raising Hub to help equip small businesses and their investors with the tools needed to navigate capital raising! there is even a glossary that helps cut through the jargon.
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CIRAS Training, Events, and Workshops
Follow the link below to view upcoming events provided by the Iowa State University Center for Industrial Research and Service.
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Scams, Webinars, Tax Tips, and More
Click the link below for more information from the IRS on current scams, upcoming webinars, tax tips, and much more.
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Addressing Mental Health
Mental Health First Aid empowers Iowans.
ISU Extension and Outreach delivers Mental Health First Aid training to:
• adult employees at workplaces
• school and human services personnel
• agribusiness staff
• other individuals who support farmers and their families
| | For more information, visit our America's SBDC Iowa website. | | | | | Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. | | Regional Host Institutions | | | | |
