Last week, Deschutes County commissioners approved a $50,000 grant for Central Oregon Community College’s (COCC) Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The award, which originated from the “COVID Relief Fund” (CRF) of the federal CARES Act, is allocated for costs including advising, course development, instruction and fall term scholarships for individuals whose businesses have been impacted by the pandemic.
“This award represents a huge opportunity for Central Oregon’s small business community and aspiring entrepreneurs,” said SBDC Director Ken Betschart. “Because of the pandemic, we’ve already seen a five-fold increase in the number of business owners we’ve assisted in 2020, compared to last year. This grant from the county’s commissioners will ensure we can meet the current training and advising needs of small business owners while supporting the innovative individuals in our region who are hoping to start new business ventures.”
The SBDC must spend the CRF grant by Dec. 30, 2020. For more information, including how to apply for an SBDC fall term scholarship, individuals should email sbdc@cocc.edu or call 541-383-7290.
