Join the Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) as they celebrate entrepreneurship and continue to foster and support the vibrant business community of our area.
Whether you’re looking to expand your skillset, or simply to connect with fellow professionals, the Missouri SBDC has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to learn, network, and thrive.
SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Missouri Small Businesses, Private Nonprofits, and Residents Affected by Adverse Weather
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to Missouri small businesses, private nonprofits and residents to offset physical and economic losses from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, heavy rains, large hail, flooding and flash flooding occurring April 29. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Gov. Mike Kehoe on June 21.
The disaster declaration covers the Missouri counties of Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Polk, Stone and Webster as well as the Kansas county of Cherokee, and the Oklahoma county of Ottawa.
Beginning Wednesday, June 25, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.
The DLOCs hours of operations are as follows:
Lawrence County Disaster Loan Outreach Center
- Monett Chamber of Commerce (200 E. Broadway Street, Monett, MO 65708)
- Opens at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, June 25
- Open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Closed on Friday, July 4
Newton County Disaster Loan Outreach Center
- Newton County Emergency Management (202 W. Brook Street, Neosho, MO 64850)
- Opens at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, June 25
- Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
- Closed on Friday, July 4
The deadline to return physical damage applications is August 22, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 23, 2026.
Upcoming Events
The Great QuickBooks Desktop Migration: Ditching the Desktop for the Cloud — Without the Chaos
Save the date for Tuesday, August 5 | Presented by Jonna Davis with AOE Bookkeeping
As QuickBooks Desktop support winds down, businesses must adapt — or risk falling behind. This session offers a practical overview of what the shift means, why it matters, and how to handle your transition with confidence.
Presenter Jonna Davis isn’t your average bookkeeper. She’s a heart-centered powerhouse with a mission: to bring clarity, confidence, and maybe even a little joy to business owners who usually dread looking at their numbers. With over 20 years of experience in accounting, finance, and operations leadership — including time spent as a government auditor and CFO — Jonna now channels that expertise into empowering small businesses across the U.S.
Be on the lookout for registration, which will be coming soon!
Early-Stage Business Boot Camp: Joplin (Seven-Week Program)
Thursdays beginning September 18 and ending October 30, 2025 | 4:30 to 6:30 pm weekly | In-person | Free to attend, thanks to U.S. Bank Foundation | Located at Plaster School of Business at MSSU
Are you an aspiring or early-stage small business owner? The Early-Stage Business Boot Camp helps entrepreneurs look at all aspects of their business, explore the feasibility of a new business venture, and learn how to develop a viable business model.
During this fast-paced, interactive, fun, and energizing program, attendees will discover the best practices, talk through real-life examples, and learn about valuable local resources designed to help small businesses grow. This multi-session Boot Camp is an accelerated program that helps build your foundational business knowledge and jumpstart your new business. This program is offered in conjunction with Missouri Southern State University and Innovate SOMO.
Participants of the program will receive ongoing coaching and mentoring to develop a growth plan and financial budget by the end of the program. Guest speakers and visiting entrepreneurs will bring their real-world experience to make the program topics come alive.
Learn more and register here.
Government Contracting Series
Multiple dates beginning September 10 | Presented by Allen Waldo
Join Allen Waldo for this series on government contracting! Waldo has worked with the Missouri APEX/PTAC since 2014. He offers counseling in government contracting for mainly small businesses and can assist your small business in registering to do business with the federal government and the State of Missouri. He also offers expertise in assisting small businesses in applying for various socioeconomic certifications.
The dates of each event are as follows:
- Wednesday, September 10, 2025 — Introduction to Government Contracting
- Tuesday, October 21, 2025 — Socioeconomic Certifications
- Tuesday, November 18, 2025 — Marketing to Government + Solicitations
Registration is coming soon for this event.
Introducing SBDC Fall Hours
In accordance with MSSU’s summer hours, the Missouri SBDC office is currently operating under summer hours:
- Monday to Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Friday to Sunday, closed
Beginning Monday, August 11, 2025, the office will resume normal business hours from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Looking for something different?
The Missouri SBDC values your input and wants to tailor their training efforts to your needs! If there’s a specific topic that you’re eager to learn about or an area where you would like to sharpen your skills, don’t hesitate to reach out and share your ideas.
To share your ideas with your local Missouri SBDC, click here.
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