The Ohio Small Business Development Center District Three isn't here to run your business for you – we're here to guide you, to show you the options and resources available to you, and to share with you the best practices so you can be successful. 

At the Toledo Small Business Development Center (SBDC), we're all about people – and helping people achieve their dreams. Our clients own a variety of small businesses all over northwest Ohio, each with a unique set of successes and challenges. And our expert team of counselors is here to assist in any situation.

By Sabrina D'Onofrio, CGBP, CBA

Don't let yourself or your business suffer because of the myths that precede the concept of exporting abroad. If you believe exporting is too complicated or unnecessary then I highly recommend that you register for Export Success 2021. Export Success 2021 is now 100% reimbursable for eligible companies who apply for the IMAGE Grant from the State of Ohio.

On Oct. 15, 2020, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz announced that the second round of the Emergency Microenterprise Recovery Grant (EMRG) would begin to accept new applications at 9 a.m. on Oct. 19. The first round of the grant opened May 11 and closed May 24, and the second round will be the final round of the EMRG. A deadline for the application period has not been announced.

Though 2020 has been a difficult year for businesses not just here in the Toledo Region but around the country and world, it’s never a bad time to put in the effort to expand your business through exporting. It’s as important as ever to maintain confidence in your business’ future, and that means forging ahead. And you don’t have to do it alone.

​​By Sabrina D'Onofrio, CGBP, CBA​, Export Assistance Director

Beginning July 1, 2020, the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), or sometimes referred to as NAFTA 2.0, will replace the North America Free Trade Agreement, more commonly known as NAFTA. An agreement was made to modernize the 25-year-old agreement into a 21st century agreement with the highest standards.  

​​By Sabrina D'Onofrio, CGBP, CBA​, Export Assistance Director

More than 95 percent of the world’s population and two-thirds of the global purchasing power lies outside of America’s borders, yet less than 1 percent of the 30 million businesses in the United States export. Ohio is the ninth-largest exporting state in the United States, consistently ranking as one of the top 10 exporting states in the nation. This is something that, as the Director of the Export Assistance Network, I am very proud of and hope to continue to see Ohio stay within that top 10.

On May 3, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) created the Paycheck Protection Program Frequently Asked Questions document. This document contains more than 40 questions that business leaders may have regarding the PPP, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and more. The Toledo Small Business Development Center has laid out five questions you shouldn't miss from this document, and has created a spreadsheet, titled PPP Forgiveness Determination, to help you calculate the amount of money that can be forgiven by the PPP.

Yesterday, the Small Business Administration began to offer an advance of up to $10,000 on its Economic Injury Disaster Loan for businesses being disrupted by COVID-19. For businesses that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue, funds should be made available within three working days of a successful application. The loan will not have to be repaid. You can apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance by clicking here.