BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation (CRI) will offer a presentation entitled “What is the Small Business Development Center and How Can It Help Me?” from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at its facility located at 3801 Bemidji Avenue North.

The brown bag lunch session format is a half-hour presentation followed by a question and answer period. Attendance is free and open to all who’d like to learn more about the topic. Participants are encouraged to bring along a bag lunch.

The featured presenter will be Jorge Prince, regional director of the Northwest Small Business Development Center, Bemidji.

Prince’s presentation will focus on SBDC services provided through one-on-one business consulting to existing small businesses and to those who wish to start their own business. Most services are provided at no cost to the client since the SBDC is a state- and federally-funded program, noted Prince. Those attending will also be introduced to the SBDC library from which they can select a variety of free material based on specific needs.

“Nationally, 80 percent of all new businesses fail within the first five years of operations,” said Prince. “Those that succeed do not do so by accident. They succeed through careful planning, sound execution and by using all the resources available to them.

Prince’s previous experience includes 13 years in the business world starting, managing, acquiring and selling businesses for a private investment partnership

The session is part of a series of training and informational presentations being offered by the CRI on the second Wednesday of each month. More information and a full schedule can be found on the Web at http://www.cri-bsu.org/BrownbagSeries.html.

For more information, contact the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation at (218) 755-4900; toll free at (888) 738-3224; or on the Web at http://www.cri-bsu.org.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
May 14 – noon – 1 p.m. – Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation Brown Bag Lunch Training Session on services offered by the Small Business Development Center. Location: CRI; 3801 Bemidji Ave. N.; Bemidji, Minn. Cost: free; participants encouraged to bring a lunch. For information: (218) 755-4900; (888) 738-3224; http://www.cri-bsu.org.